Bucket Hatchery?

[fifefish]

can you put a heater in a bucket and use it as a fry hatchery?

 

[Tolak]

Sure, just keep it away from the sides, and don't forget a filter.

 

[fifefish]

how bout a sponge filter at the bottom and were would a put the heater? on some rocks or something?

 

[Tolak]

Sponge filter would work fine, dangle the heater from a strip of wood across the bucket.

 

[fifefish]

if i have a 20 litre bucket what sort of heater would you recommend?

 

[Tolak]

25w, Marineland Visitherm or Stealth.

 

[fifefish]

i have one that was for a 36 litre tank do you think that would be ok?

 

[Tolak]

Should be, as long as the thermostat works properly

 

[fifefish]

klkl..so what do you think?

 

[Tolak]

Looks good to me. I hatch & raise fry mainly in 5 gallons, which is about the same size. The heater & sponge filter are just tossed in, and it works great.

 

[fifefish]

good..so what sort of fry do you raise?

 

[Tolak]

Mostly angels, some corys, i got platys going over the summer due to a shortage at auctions. I've done bristlenose before, I might give them a try again. Everyone has done cons, some apistos, I'm probably forgetting a couple.

 

[fifefish]

im pretty new to breeding but have done it before.. im hoping to breed ram cichlid.. would u have any expertise that would give me a better chance of success?

 

[Tolak]

If you are from Scotland odds are you already have softer water with a bit lower pH. This is an advantage to breeding rams. Provide some caves to spawn in, live food if you can get it, and daily water changes of about 10% with water that is a few degrees cooler. When the fry hatch feed freshly hatched baby brine shrimp.

 

[fifefish]

ill try that thanks.
i already have coconut caves in my tank and bog wood with holes in it, so i have enough caves.
how long do you think it will take before they start to spawn?