quickie diy egg tumbler

[Spot86t]

I added a new filter to an existing tank which housed a pair of albino Taiwan Reef.  I didn't know at the time that the female was holding and I guess the commotion and new current caused her to spit way too soon.  At least this is what my trusty pal Raul tells me might have happened.  This all discovered when I saw a little blob wiggling on the tank floor - right next to Mr. Giant Pleco.  I recovered 8 from the tank and put them in a container with an airstone to provide circulation.  Today I rummaged through what I had on hand and made this egg tumbler.  Those of you who know about breeding these guys and using egg tumblers, please have a look and tell me if you think it'll do what needs to be done.  Pics are below, I can take more if you want more details.  

Items used were:  Housing for powerhead filter sponge, a thin piece of open cell foam, length of airline tubing to hold sponge to bottom of housing, heater holder thingy, rubber band, and of course airstone and tubing.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: quickie diy egg tumbler

Put a tube on top of that odyssea sponge container and have the airstone up there....that way the force inside the tumber is not that aggressive.
Might wanna put some netting around the container cause once they become free swimming they will find their way out.
Third, I would probably turn the thing upside down so that fresh water can be pulled from the bottom up.....use the stainless sink strainer for the bottom possibly double layer so that the other fish outside can't suck the egg sack's through.

[Spot86t]

Re: quickie diy egg tumbler

I had a tube on top, but it was so buoyant I removed it. I'll have to dig out another heater holder thingy and stronger rubber bands so I can replace it.  Meanwhile do you think just raising the stone a little higher would help?  I can also turn down the air a bit to it also.  Should I do both?

I also had a piece of the same sponge material around those side vent holes, but in fastening it to the side of the tank it came off.  Plus since it was grey, I couldnt' see thru it to check on them.  I have some netting I will use instead.  For tonight they should be fine.  The only inhabitants in the tank they're now in is a pair of kribs.  They have a ton of babies that they don't wander far from when not in their flowerpot cave.  

By turning it upside down - so that the tube on top points down and the airstone is fastened up inside it?  I was hoping more flow would pass thru the  bottom sponge - and it might if it were thinner sponge.  I thought about using some floss instead but was afraid the fry would get tangled in it.  Do you think if I replaced the sponge material with a couple of layers of course netting, or one layer of finer netting that it would be better?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: quickie diy egg tumbler

Buoyant? Shouldn't be since it's just plastic....but yes a tube on top and have it so the wigglers softly "tumble".

As for flipping it.....have the open end at the bottom with screening or netting so that fresh water can be drawn in by the airstone as if it were a sponge filter. same concept almost....

[Spot86t]

Re: quickie diy egg tumbler

yea, like super-buoyant.  I was quite surprised.  Some of the air gets trapped under the black "lid" and that doesnt help.  Plus the bubbles trapped in the sponge on the bottom.  

What if I just took a large piece of netting and wrapped nearly the whole thing with it - removing only the bottom sponge.  The bottom (under the sponge) has lots of holes.  This would cover the side holes too and allow more water to come on thru the bottom.  Wanted to "tape" over the side vents, but don't have any 'fish-safe' tape to do that with.  hrm, maybe some clear plastic wrap??  not Saran though, I've heard weird/bad stuff about that, but maybe fishbag plastic?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: quickie diy egg tumbler

Well if you had the tube like a riser tube for the old UGFs then that would rise above the top of your "tumbler" area then it wouldn't get trapped and would cause the thing to be some buoyant.

as for the sides you could just bag it and leave the bottom blocked off with the sponge stuff but fine netting is probably gonna be better so that the wigglers don't get caught up.

[jeffr1218]

Re: quickie diy egg tumbler

did it work??