Tanks and Thanks

[moss_fanatic]

Hi everyone,
Its been a while since I posted.
Was busy with my school stuff and etc, and now, I am back into the killies "scene"!!

Firstly, I got myself a rack and now, what I need is to find tank makers which can custom make about 3-4 tanks of size 12inch by 6inch by 8inch.
Hope that it can be cheap too as I am still a student with shoe-string budget. Any recommendations?

Secondly, from what I know based on AKA forums, people overseas are using this dimension of tanks for killies breeding. But however, from what I know, the bowl for spawning is quite big and for a width of 6inches, is it even possible that the bowl can fit in?

Thirdly, where to buy those spawning bowls for peat? The one which has a small "mouth" and big body?

Hope to get all these ASAP as my next batch of eggs from Au SL is about to hatch in 1 month time.

Lastly,
Thanks everyone!

[CM Media]

Hi Garrett,

I suggest you get those standard 1ft tanks fron LFS as it's much more economy as compare to getting contractor to cut according to your sizes.

The size on AKA is just a guide. It will not affect you when setting up the tank for breeding. I would suggest if you want to customise the tank sizes, try to do it according to your racks. This will be much more better choice. (If you could recalled my multi layer rack with all the tanks cut to a specific size that suits the rack).

As for breeding bowls, go to the nursery located near to Ang Mo Kio Library. They have those bowls suitable for annuals. Sad thing is you'll have to patchup the little hole at the bottom of the pot. I've tried that and it's very effective.

[moss_fanatic]

Hi Au,
The 1ft tanks in LFS quite expensive. Cost around $20, and need to bring home 3-4 of them!!! Imagine bringing 4 tanks home without transport

As for the bowls, I will drop by the Ang Mo Kio nursery to check them out.

[CM Media]

Hi Garrett,

I think the tank cost around $10 each. Please check around before you decide. You can also use those plastic tanks for a start which cost around $6 each.

The choice is yours. Do look around as there is always alternatives and cheaper stuffs around.

[milkyway]

Im using a plastic breeding bowl which is actually a flower vase
actually. It floats and I use a stone to weigh it down

As for tank-wise, Im using a 1 feet x 17cm wide x 25 cm tall
one

Its been quite a success with my Fundulopanchax gardneri trio
Maybe because they are quite an undemanding species

Think the dimensions of the tanks of the tank may not matter tat much
Of course not tat too please

[kennedy_ng]

I think you will be able to get a fairly decent price for the 5 plan tanks at nature aquarium. They are selling the L, M, S size tank for $13, $12, $11 respectively. If you find this too expensive, you can also buy a 2 feet tank and add partitions to it. It can hold roughly around 3 pairs of average size killies.

[hwchoy]

Hi Au,
The 1ft tanks in LFS quite expensive. Cost around $20, and need to bring home 3-4 of them!!! Imagine bringing 4 tanks home without transport

As for the bowls, I will drop by the Ang Mo Kio nursery to check them out.

the 1ft cube at NA is well built, comes with styrofoam and cost $16 for single units. You could partition it into two which will give you 12×12×6 for each of the compartment, very close to what you were looking for.

[moss_fanatic]

In fact, I have a 2ft tank lying around and maybe, I might try to partition the tanks myself.
Any idea how many compartments can a 2ft tank be separated into?

[kennedy_ng]

I think if you can divide it into 4 compartments giving you a 6 inches by 12 inches area.

[RonWill]

In fact, I have a 2ft tank lying around and maybe, I might try to partition the tanks myself.
Any idea how many compartments can a 2ft tank be separated into?

Garrett,
IMHO, 4~5 partitions is reasonable for a pair or trio of Chromaphysosemion, allowing slightly more space for a pair of larger Fundulopanchax.

What's important is the gap between partition and glass, where slimmer fishes or juvenile can slip through. A slit-through airtubing can be inserted to reduce the spacing.

Here, I have temporarily rigged a 2-footer into 4-partition breeding setup with Henri filtration.


Instead of acrylic, you can also use 3mm glass, provided one have access to people who can custom-cut them.

[ I used to patronize a shop along Woodlands Road, for the partitions in the main tank rack. Redevelopment took over and demolished all the pre-war shop houses, darn! If anyone knows of such services, or a better way of doing things, let me know... I'm always willing to learn ]

As for peat bowls, you can use disposable drinking cups weighed down with pebbles. In one of the breeding partitions, I have 2 trios of Simp fulminantis, 2 'peat cups' and it works reasonably well for shoe-string budgets. Besides, I get to watch flaring males vying for females' attention :wink:


Good luck with your project and keep us updated.

[moss_fanatic]

Hi Ronnie,

Is it best to silicon the partition so that water flow would'nt reach another compartment? I have heard about disease outbreak in one compartment can reach into another compartment easily if the water gets into contact easily e.g using partition with partition holder without siliconing it.

As for the acrylic partition, would it be better if I used coloured ones instead of transparent ones as I am afraid that other species of males would scare the females from the next compartment.

As for the peat bowls, would'nt the peat get spilled out of the bowl and make a mess on the tank bottom if I were to use cups instead of small neck flower-pots?

Pardon me for asking so many questions, just want to get to know more about setting up the tanks for killies as I am just a noob.

[RonWill]

Is it best to silicon the partition so that water flow would'nt reach another compartment? I have heard about disease outbreak in one compartment can reach into another compartment easily if the water gets into contact easily e.g using partition with partition holder without siliconing it

Garrett, if you're running only one or two tanks, a permanent partition is best. Bacterial/fungal infection can be kept in check and treated away from the rest.

Be mindful that a small body of water will pollute very fast if you feed as generously as I do. A partitioned tank works pretty much like a flow-through system where one main filtration for each tank, will service the light bioload.

As for the acrylic partition, would it be better if I used coloured ones instead of transparent ones as I am afraid that other species of males would scare the females from the next compartment

Yes and no.

An opaque white/blue partition isolates the breeding pair from others, less distraction, but somehow it also makes them skittish and withdrawn. A translucent partition instills some sense of false security, allowing the fishes to be more relaxed and more displayable. I suspect it's environment-influenced and YMMV.

As for the peat bowls, would'nt the peat get spilled out of the bowl and make a mess on the tank bottom if I were to use cups instead of small neck flower-pots?

In the heat of spawning and diving, there will be spilled peat no matter what you use. If you have only a pair, then go ahead and invest in a nice bowl. I need more than a few, so it's best I keep my toys in check.

Pardon me for asking so many questions, just want to get to know more about setting up the tanks for killies as I am just a noob.

No question is stupid if we are to learn but I'll ignore SMS-styled posts :wink:

[moss_fanatic]

Hi Ronnie,
Thanks for your help. I am going to embark on my project right away now!

Any idea where to get cheap acrylic partition?

[moss_fanatic]

Hi all,

Completed my 2ft tank partitioning it into 4 compartments. Took me like 2 hours to cut the tubing, and the worse part was, the acrylic partition alone fits my tank just nicely. Imagine squeezing 3 acrylic partitions with air tubing!!! Its hella lot of hard work!

Also, I was wondering if I should paste oyama paper at the back of the tank or not. Any suggestions?



Sorry for the bad picture quality, was taken using handphone camera.

[shortman]

Imagine squeezing 3 acrylic partitions with air tubing!!!

Air tubing, are you squeezing between the edge of the partition and the tank wall to prevent fish squeez itself over.

Sometime small fry will make their way to the next partition.

if I should paste oyama paper at the back of the tank or not. Any suggestions?

It is a good ideal to stick oyama at the back of the tank. It looks nicer that way.