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I'm looking at doing 2 (1m/1f) black cichlids in the above mentioned -- interested in breeding and was wondering what type of filtration was reccomended -- i've read that sponge filters are the best because they will not catch the fry in the tank -- but it just seems that sponge filters are not that efficent? (I'm new to this so i could be very wrong) -- i also dont quite understand the concept of how an airstone driven sponge filter works... and if i would need more then one perhaps? Thanx in advance for your help.

Could you give the scienctific name of the species.


Sponge filters work on the "air lift" principle. This filter is better suited for fry tanks only as they are not the most efficient. Depending on what species you are breeding I would not use them in the main tank.

Last edited by openwater at 26-Sep-2005 23:26

Sorry about that -- forgot the full name -- Black Convict's -- but the fry tank and the main tank are the same -- as i'm going to let the parents raise the fry (and from that point i'll sell the fry to my LFS... i can always put in another, more efficent filter when the fry are removed or not hatched yet.

and from that point i'll sell the fry to my LFS...

have you discussed this with your lfs? most lfs (around here anyway) won't buy convict juveniles because they can get them so cheaply from their suppliers. convicts are one of the easist fish to breed so there's always an over-abundance of them.

Never mind selling them, sometimes you can't even give them away. The sponge filter is reccommended for your situation.

After looking around it looks like i may have to order them online (liveaquara.com looks good) -- If they wont buy them i have a friend that will take alot of them... (owns a pet store in a different city) -- If not i can feed the fry to my oscar friend -- better then keeping them all in such a small tank.

The sponge filters are very efficient for what they do. The main goal of the sponge filter is not to clean the water of detritus and such, this is what you do weekly water changes for. They will take out some detritus and such, but their main goal is bennificial bacteria growth. As well, they keep the surface of the water aggitating and thus O2 and CO2 exchange are taken care of. Sponge filters are an excellent filter for breeders. In fact, most big breeders only use them in their tanks. Out of my 124 tanks, I use sponge filters in 90% of them. The only time I clean them is when I do water changes. And the way I clean them is just a large squeeze of them over a bucket. I never rinse mine, nor scrub them. Just take the filter out of the water, hold over a bucket, and give a good sqeeze. You will see dirty brown water come off of it. Then place it back in the tank. This removes any build up of dirt, and does not harm or remove any of the bennificial bacteria growth.

HTH...

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There is always a bigger fish...

Awesome -- i will definatly use a sponge filter for this -- quick question about the DIY aspect of this -- as i've read its pretty simple -- just take a sponge and a peice of pvc pipe (long enough to break the surface of the water) and cap the end that goes in the sponge -- put holes up the length of the pvc pipe and insert an airstone fed to the bottom of the pvc -- as per above -- clean water/rocks/sponge once a week just making sure this is as easy at is sounds.

I would not waste my time with a DYI, as they are not very expensive in the first place. Get a number 2, 3, or 4 for your tank. The ones made for your aquarium will last longer as well. And the holes are small enough to prevent any fry from getting sucked/stuck in them. The fry will eat off the sponge filter when they first start eating, as it contains a load of infusoria. Besides, they don't look all that great in the first place, in a tank. And the bought ones will at least give it some kind of astetic appeal.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Try JEHMCO online. They have great prices on box/sponge filters and also heaters and other supplies. Check them out. Cool site and good people.