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Comment by TCLynx on February 22, 2012 at 7:47am

Sorry to tell you Bob but I seriously doubt that pump will be enough all on it's own.

When they call it a 500 lph pump that amount of flow is if the water is not being lifted at all.  At it's max lift of 1.4 meters, it won't be moving more than a dribble of water if that.

But then you area talking about a fish tank that is an IBC?  so you should be moving more like 1000 lph to begin with and you will need to lift the water a little bit so even a 1000 lph pump isn't going to cut it.  You need a pump that can provide about 1000 lph of flow at probably 2-3 foot of head.

Comment by David Owens on February 22, 2012 at 6:55am

Thanks Jon. I was kinda panicing because it was such a small space and they were so aggressive I didn't want them both to lose the chance at motherhood. Instead it looks like there was some assault then kidnapping going on. It has been a great experience and the babies are so much fun to watch. They get so big so fast and are jetting around the tank. I went and got another 29gal tank for the next batch

Comment by Bob Vento on February 22, 2012 at 5:40am

Here is a link to the solar fountain pump I am planning on using in my system TCLynx . Check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.esolarlighting.com/5-Watt-Solar-Fountain-Pond-Water-Pump...

Comment by Dave & Yvonne Story on February 22, 2012 at 5:15am

all great stories.

Comment by Dave & Yvonne Story on February 22, 2012 at 5:13am

David O.

Thank you for sharing.

Great story.. We are stuck making decisions. Right or wrong, hopefully we learn.

Comment by Jon Parr on February 21, 2012 at 9:56pm

Yes, congrats David. I'd say 10 gallons is a bit tight for 2 brooders. Next time you're short of space, try a simple 5 gal bucket. I currently have 3 brooders in a 30 gallon tank (which actually lowers to 20 gallons during the flood cycle). The mamas scrap a little, but have always kept their eggs. First-time mothers have smaller batches usually, but I've had 4" mothers carry over 300 (not her first rodeo). In fact, she is such a consistent breeder that she doesn't grow anymore, stunted at 4" because she gets right to business when returned to the main tank, producing about 350 fry every three weeks.

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on February 21, 2012 at 9:28pm

How fun, David! From what I understand, females are totally arbitrary in their behavior when brooding. Some will do as yours did & fight others. We had one once who did the opposite--she picked up and carried another female's eggs. We've also had two brooders carry together and protect their fry together. You just never know.

Your territorial female may have picked up the dropped eggs & nurtured them.100 seems like a lot for a 5" fish in her first brooding, but it's hard saying. She may just as easily have eaten them. (They'll eat any eggs that don't develop), although other than bad eggs that are already in the mouth, they don't eat while brooding.

I'm glad you're having so much success!

Comment by David Owens on February 21, 2012 at 9:07pm

I've been reading this forum and separated 6 fish from my 175 gal tank to a 50 gal tank. I attempted to sex them but was unsure which were which, possibly because they were fairly small around 5" each. I set the heater to 85 degrees and waited 2 weeks reading this thread and watching them change colors and establish a pecking order. The largest fish swept the gravel clean in front of a clay flower pot and 2 days later 1 of my fish had eggs in her mouth. I caught her and moved her to a clean 10 gal tank with only a heater and an air stone. She dropped her eggs during the transfer but scooped 98% of them back up a few hours later. 2 Days later I had another female with eggs in her mouth and no more tanks so I cut 1 of my foam rafts for veggies into a barrier and split the 10 gal tank in 1/2. Two days later I noticed both females on 1 side of the barrier. Apparently, the more aggressive smaller female wormed her way under the 1" gap at the bottom and was picking on the larger female (the one added to the tank 2nd) The 1st fish was attacking the 2nd fish and made the larger female drop all of her eggs! She did all of this with a mouth full of eggs! So not having another tank I removed the no longer pregnant female and the extra eggs disappeared? Six days later, The small female had about 100 babies. This has been a great experience and I wanted to thank everyone for all of the knowledge. The female that lost her eggs was placed back in the 50gal tank with the rest and now has another large mouthful of eggs. Looks like I am going to have quite a few fish soon 

Comment by TCLynx on February 21, 2012 at 4:48pm

Bob, I fear you may find you need more of a pump than a little solar fountain pump.  You want to make sure to move at least the volume of your fish tank once each hour.

I've never seen a little solar fountain pump that would more anywhere near 200 gallons an hour, let alone do it while lifting the water more than 18 inches.

Comment by Jon Parr on February 21, 2012 at 4:26pm

If by "crays" you mean redclaws, then I don't see them giving your tilapia any trouble. Redclaws are very gregarious and more vegetarian than other crays. However, tilapia tend to settle on the floor at night, and I wouldn't put it past a hungry crawfish of any kind to sample a sleeping fingerling. Also, when hungry, tilapia may sample a crawfish leg and find it tasty enough to ruin the peace.
Tilapia and crays both will escape a tank if allowed to, redclaws are quite prone to 'walkabout'. Screening all tanks is a good idea, keeps predators out as well.

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