I had my fish for 17 years now and some of the little fishes (fry) were able to survive by going under the gravel and living there until they get big enough to fend for themselves against the other fish on top. The little fish were able to survive under the gravel because of these plate/rack things with little tiny slits in them (I don't know what they're called or can't find the right word to describe them. sorry!) that I put on the bottom of tank that provides probably 1/2 inch of space - the gravel would be spread out on top of that plate/rack thing. After 17 years of raising these fish the plate/rack things are starting to crack and since I am getting busier and busier, I tend the clean the tank less often so some of the fish would grow pretty big in there. I want to find new plate/rack things, newer ones that would provide more space for the fry that escapes in there, but I can't seem to find them. Can anyone help me find them? Or have any alternative ideas? Thanks a bunch
2007-01-05 07:35:22 · 6 answers · asked by see_detachment 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Wow, 17 years, impressive!
Yup, like everyone said, it sounds like the bottom rock for an undergravel filter. Go to your local petstore, Petsmart, etc, and they should carry undergravel filters. You may have to buy the whole thing.
You can also buy a large piece of egg crate: http://www.collins-consulting.org/orchids/eggCrate.jpg. Hardware and farm supply stores carry it. Cut it to size, spread gravel, and voila. Your fish store may also carry it, as they are also used to distribute the weight of heavy rocks in malawi cichlid and salt water tanks.
If you cannot work with those, you can also try a few layer of large flat pebbles instead of gravel - this will create lots of space between the stones that the fry can hide in. Lots of java moss and other plants helps, too.
2007-01-05 07:49:00 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a filter itself, UGFs are great biolocial filters but pretty bad in trapping particulate waste in the substrate. A canister or power filter would be better in my opinion. You can leave the existing plates in place for the fry to hang out in or add driftwood, rocks and perhaps floating plants for alternate hiding places.
Removing the plates will stir up the bottom layers of the substrate, these can contain a lot of accumulated organic waste and possibly nitrogen gas. Unless you have already done so, I'd say leave them there unless you are ready for a complete makeover... adding new ones is just as painful, it would require you to remove all the existing gravel, lay the plates and place the washed gravel back over them.... It's a lot of work.
If this is the only filtration you have, then it is just as important to leave the UGF running as you risk loosing the cycle otherwise. If you decide to go with a different filter, add it to the tank and leave the UGF running for a month or two, this should allow the new filter to take over biological filtration without cycling problems.
Hope that helps
2007-01-05 08:49:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you are currently using basic UGF plates(under gravel filter). I would suggest using egg crate(the plastic kind that makes alot of small squares) and cut out a few squares and place under the UGF.This would lift the UGF higher. You can usually find egg crate in hardware stores. Otherwise I'm not sure if there are "deeper" UGF plates than the standard ones, but I doubt it. Egg crate would fit the bill nicely.
2007-01-05 07:44:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It actually sounds like the plates for an undergravel filter??? They have a 1/2 inch clearance under the gravel....
2007-01-05 07:43:32 · answer #4 · answered by <^^Em^^> 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the basic under gravel filter.
2007-01-05 07:46:19 · answer #5 · answered by angelmwilson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try tape. If that doesn't work go to wal-mart.
2007-01-05 07:52:40 · answer #6 · answered by justin r 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋