How do I seed a sponge filter

hike13 · 05-26-2006, 04:47 PM

Recently, and unexpectantly, my Julii cory's spawned. I moved the eggs into a samll 2 gallon tank. The fry hatched about a week ago and have been doing fine. I've been doing 50% daily changes but since I wasn't prepared for this I don't have a filter. I was thinking of putting a small sponge filter in the tank but I was hoping to seed it by running it in my established tank first. What would be the best way to do that? Just set it up and let it run for a few days or do I need to do something else to get the bacteria going.

joephys · 05-26-2006, 05:18 PM

You pretty much have to just put it in there. It will take longer than a few days though. Probably about 2 weeks. There is already enough bacteria in the tank for the fish load so they won't be spreading to the sponge filter all that quickly.

Are those true Julii cory's? I just found out today that the true Julii corys are like 35 dollar fish. The 3-4 dollar ones are often called julii but actually aren't. I have the cheap ones, the other common name for them is three stripe corys. I sure was suppriesed when I went to a new lfs today and asked for three julii cories and the guy said, "Wow, your gonna spend a hundred bucks on fish today?"

hike13 · 05-26-2006, 05:49 PM

Wow and Wow! OK so by the time I get bacteria on the sponge filter my little fry will be bigger.

As to having true Julii corys I'm not sure. Mine were $3-$5 as well and were sold as Julii corys. There is only 2 stores in my area that have them for sale (small chain called PetClub) That's news to to me about Julii's being that expensive. Whatever they are I like them so that's all that matters I suppose.

Just curious but is there any way to tell between true and "imposter" Julii's???

joephys · 05-26-2006, 06:02 PM

The real Julii:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...dora/378_F.PHP

Just looked this up, seems to agree with what the LFS told me.

The Julii that we have:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...dora/508_F.PHP

I can see the difference that they mention.

hike13 · 05-26-2006, 06:24 PM

I think you're right. I think I'll still call them my Julii cory's because Corydoras trilineatus doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

Daveedka · 05-26-2006, 09:15 PM

If you have any media you can sppare from your running cycled tank, just bag it and hang it in the new tank beside the sponge filter. As said it will take a couple of weeks to seed it in the big tank, but setting it up in the little tank you can add seed that isn't part of the filter. Putting it close to the new filter willhelp with waterflow across the Bacteria bed, and additionally the bacteria may spread directly to the new filter a little faster if set up this way.

Either way with small fry the seed needed won't be huge, and the filter will have time to colonize as the fish grow. Your biggest enemy will be excess food, But most folks couple hevy feeding with frequent water changes when Raising fry.
Dave

hike13 · 05-27-2006, 12:38 AM

Haha, love the new sig Dave.

I do have a bag of Biomax in my current filter. I might be able to hang that in my fry tank. We'll see how it goes. And you're right, I am over feeding (It's hard not too) but I'm also doing at least 50% daily changes. My wife would kill me if any of the fry die at this point.

joephys · 05-27-2006, 10:10 AM

Your wife is going to kill you then. Not only will some probably not make it, but you will probably need to cull some of them.

hike13 · 05-28-2006, 11:19 PM

I should rephrase that. She'll kill me if I do anything stupid and they die. I've had a couple losses since they hatched. That's the way it goes I suppose. I never considered that I would have to cull some of the remaining group. Since this is a first for me how do know which ones.

Emg · 05-29-2006, 04:52 AM

You'll know. You may see some that just aren't thriving....or some "tail draggers"...fry that stay close to the bottom and drag their tails around when they move. If you were a serious breeder you'd also ditch the ones that don't measure up to whatever standard you are trying to breed....but, if it's just a hobby/fun thing for you, I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Congrats !! I have a few pairs of panda cories that I wouldn't mind getting some fry from..but they haven't cooperated at this point....lol.....though I havn't really seriously tried doing anything to encourage them at this point. Just hoping the do the deed on their own.

joephys · 05-29-2006, 12:22 PM

On some fry that I have had, it was very obvious that they had a curved spine, they looked like an S and never straightened out.

05-26-2006, 04:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	How do I seed a sponge filter Recently, and unexpectantly, my Julii cory's spawned. I moved the eggs into a samll 2 gallon tank. The fry hatched about a week ago and have been doing fine. I've been doing 50% daily changes but since I wasn't prepared for this I don't have a filter. I was thinking of putting a small sponge filter in the tank but I was hoping to seed it by running it in my established tank first. What would be the best way to do that? Just set it up and let it run for a few days or do I need to do something else to get the bacteria going.

05-26-2006, 06:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,393	The real Julii: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...dora/378_F.PHP Just looked this up, seems to agree with what the LFS told me. The Julii that we have: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...dora/508_F.PHP I can see the difference that they mention. Last edited by joephys : 05-26-2006 at 06:07 PM.

05-26-2006, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Daveedka in memory of Rusty Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,974	If you have any media you can sppare from your running cycled tank, just bag it and hang it in the new tank beside the sponge filter. As said it will take a couple of weeks to seed it in the big tank, but setting it up in the little tank you can add seed that isn't part of the filter. Putting it close to the new filter willhelp with waterflow across the Bacteria bed, and additionally the bacteria may spread directly to the new filter a little faster if set up this way. Either way with small fry the seed needed won't be huge, and the filter will have time to colonize as the fish grow. Your biggest enemy will be excess food, But most folks couple hevy feeding with frequent water changes when Raising fry. Dave __________________ I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

05-29-2006, 04:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
Emg Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northeastern Ct Posts: 3,265	You'll know. You may see some that just aren't thriving....or some "tail draggers"...fry that stay close to the bottom and drag their tails around when they move. If you were a serious breeder you'd also ditch the ones that don't measure up to whatever standard you are trying to breed....but, if it's just a hobby/fun thing for you, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Congrats !! I have a few pairs of panda cories that I wouldn't mind getting some fry from..but they haven't cooperated at this point....lol.....though I havn't really seriously tried doing anything to encourage them at this point. Just hoping the do the deed on their own. __________________ Blog of my tanks and critters....come check em out and don't forget the archives ! http://emgstanks.blogspot.com/ Eileen Last edited by Emg : 05-29-2006 at 04:55 AM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-26-2006, 05:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,393	You pretty much have to just put it in there. It will take longer than a few days though. Probably about 2 weeks. There is already enough bacteria in the tank for the fish load so they won't be spreading to the sponge filter all that quickly. Are those true Julii cory's? I just found out today that the true Julii corys are like 35 dollar fish. The 3-4 dollar ones are often called julii but actually aren't. I have the cheap ones, the other common name for them is three stripe corys. I sure was suppriesed when I went to a new lfs today and asked for three julii cories and the guy said, "Wow, your gonna spend a hundred bucks on fish today?"

05-26-2006, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	Wow and Wow! OK so by the time I get bacteria on the sponge filter my little fry will be bigger. As to having true Julii corys I'm not sure. Mine were $3-$5 as well and were sold as Julii corys. There is only 2 stores in my area that have them for sale (small chain called PetClub) That's news to to me about Julii's being that expensive. Whatever they are I like them so that's all that matters I suppose. Just curious but is there any way to tell between true and "imposter" Julii's???

05-26-2006, 06:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	I think you're right. I think I'll still call them my Julii cory's because Corydoras trilineatus doesn't roll off the tongue as well.

05-27-2006, 12:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	Haha, love the new sig Dave. I do have a bag of Biomax in my current filter. I might be able to hang that in my fry tank. We'll see how it goes. And you're right, I am over feeding (It's hard not too) but I'm also doing at least 50% daily changes. My wife would kill me if any of the fry die at this point.

05-27-2006, 10:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,393	Your wife is going to kill you then. Not only will some probably not make it, but you will probably need to cull some of them.

05-28-2006, 11:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
hike13 So long summer..... Join Date: May 2006 Location: SF, CA Posts: 415	I should rephrase that. She'll kill me if I do anything stupid and they die. I've had a couple losses since they hatched. That's the way it goes I suppose. I never considered that I would have to cull some of the remaining group. Since this is a first for me how do know which ones.

05-29-2006, 12:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,393	On some fry that I have had, it was very obvious that they had a curved spine, they looked like an S and never straightened out.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)