My friends earth eaters had babies - what to do about filtration?

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johnnytaboo

johnnytaboo

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 4, 2005
1,123
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MD, DC, VA
I'm not a cichlid guy personally, but my friend loves them. He has two Earth Eaters (no idea which Sp.) that recently had a whole ton of babies. They're in a 27 gallon tank and he had an AC70 on it. I suggested he take it off and use a sponge filter while they were really small. He did, and everything's been ok for just over a week now.

He went out of town for a family event, and asked me to check in on his fish. I went over last night to change 4-5 gallons of water on the earth eater tank. I noticed the water looked somewhat less than pristine (actually it looked gross). I was wondering if he could put the AC70 back on the tank, and maybe put a sponge over the intake to prevent the fry from being sucked in.

Ideas? Or better yet, what do you all do with cichlid babies?

Thanks in advance for any help!
- John
 
Most people who intentionally breed fish (I realize it doesn't count 100% here) have pre filters on their intakes. Now if you need something in a pinch, there are a few options for you. One is to take the sponge off the sponge filter and attach it to the intake (you may need to use rubber bands to tighten it on). Another option is to buy the sponge filter media for the 70 you have, cut a slit in the narrow end and slide it over the intake. Some people will simply wrap their intakes in a paper towel (make sure you get the tough kind like Viva).

Have any pictures?


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I can post some tonight. I'm going to stop by and check on them again after work.

The sponge filter he's using is one that I know will fit over the intake of his aquaclear. I just wanted to be sure that the babies would be ok with that kind of flow. The parents seem pretty protective, and I have yet to see any of the fry stray too far from the bottom of the tank.

Thanks for the feedback Patrick.
 
The bigger sponge you can put on the filter intake the better. If there's more surface area there's less current at any one spot so it's less dangerous for the fry. That should work though.
 
johnnytaboo said:
I can post some tonight. I'm going to stop by and check on them again after work.

The sponge filter he's using is one that I know will fit over the intake of his aquaclear. I just wanted to be sure that the babies would be ok with that kind of flow. The parents seem pretty protective, and I have yet to see any of the fry stray too far from the bottom of the tank.

Thanks for the feedback Patrick.
Click to expand...

They should be fine with the flow. You will have to set it up outside the tank of course. Otherwise the parents will go ballistic. LOL


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