Do guppy fry need a filter?

**lacefacefish** · 04-07-2012, 02:00 AM

I have 15-20 guppy fry that are a couple of days old living in a 5 gallon tank with some java moss. I have a small filter for the tank but I left it out because I was worried that it would suck them in... are they strong enough to swim away from it? Or do they even need a filter if i do weekly water changes?

**homemadepopcorn** · 04-07-2012, 02:10 AM

You really do need a filter. An air-driven sponge filter is ideal. They're not all that expensive either, but yours wont be cycled which might present a problem.

Fry are especially sensitive to ammonia and nitrites, even nitrates come to think of it. You'll want to be doing large water changes to keep those way down.

**lacefacefish** · 04-07-2012, 03:34 AM

The water in the breeder tank was 75% from my big tank which is cycled and 25% new treated water. I have tested for nitrites and got a 0 reading so I think that the water quality is staying good, but I had a feeling a filter would be better. I was just worried when I saw how small they were that they would get sucked in. I think I will go ahead and put the filter in if fry are super sensitive to water quality. Thanks!

**pjaldave** · 04-07-2012, 04:58 AM

Benefical bacteria is not in the water, it is in the filter. So the water from your bigger tank that you are putting into the fry tank only consists of fish waste and other chemicals which in turn might ruin your parameters even more in the fry tank.

+1 to hp, an air driven sponge filter is the best for fry tanks.

**-Alex-** · 04-07-2012, 08:04 AM

I recently took a picture of my sponge filter to show someone...

This would be ideal for fry... If you type 'sponge filter' into ebay you can get them very very very cheap.

**homemadepopcorn** · 04-07-2012, 01:16 PM

Dave said it all, your bacteria which detoxifies the water sits in the filter and in the substrate (mostly in the filter). The best thing you can do IMO is remove a small piece of your media in the main tank and place it in the fry tank wrapped around the bubble filter. Leave it there for a period of 4 weeks, maybe 6 and everything should work out okay. Of course, by then, you platy fry might not be fry looking anymore lol.

**lacefacefish** · 04-07-2012, 05:41 PM

Thanks, I thought it was the tank water that was cycled not the filter... good to know. The java moss that i put in there was from the big tank, so would it contain the bacteria? Its a pretty big chunk. I will look up those filters, i'm new!

**Lady Hobbs** · 04-07-2012, 05:51 PM

You can also put some netting or a nylon stocking around your uptake tube for now but sponge filters are nice for fry tanks.

**Old Marine** · 04-08-2012, 10:57 AM

Sponge filter is the way to go in a fry tank!

**gypsydancer** · 04-22-2012, 10:32 PM

Azoo makes a fantastic sponge filter that you can even have running in your Betta breeding tank once your eggs hatch. It will also quickly start a biological colony for your newborns to feed from. Foster and Smith sell it and it's about $6.00 for one. I use them everywhere and they really keep the tank clear I love them. In my opinion a filter is a must. Namaste, Becca