Filtration for Breeding Fish Tanks

Fish owners know that buying fish can be an expensive endeavor. Many times the fish will not adapt properly to their new environment and die. Other fish have a very short lifespan that makes keeping them difficult. Luckily, there is a solution to these problems that is not very expensive, but will give you more fish. You can set up a breeding tank for your fish and help young fish grow up to reproduce again. It is important to remember that proper filtration is vital to breeding fish.

  1. Why Filter

    • The purpose of filtration systems in fish tanks is to clean the water. There are many things that can be in the water including debris, ammonia, nitrates and harmful bacteria. The filter removes these items from the water and aerates it as well. This allows the fish to have a better environment to breed in. In fact, many fish will not breed -- or will eat their progeny -- if the water conditions are not just right.

    How a Filter Works

    • Every filter has a three-pronged approach to cleaning the water of particles, chemicals and bacteria. The first approach uses good bacteria that are able to properly grow on the filter itself. These bacteria help to break down chemicals that fish produce as waste. They break down harmful ammonia into nitrites, which are then converted into less harmful nitrates. The second approach is mechanical due to the filter's ability to trap large particles that flow through it. The last approach is chemical. Chemical filtering is generally done through activated charcoal, which removes medications and heavy metals from the water.

    Choosing a Filter for Breeding

    • For breeding purposes a foam filter is a good choice, according to Breeding Aquarium Fish. A foam filter can work well for breeding because it does not create a strong current. If the current is too strong, the young and tiny fish may be sucked in through the filter.

    Special Concerns for Breeding

    • In order to properly breed fish you need to make sure that the environment is suited to let the young fish grow to reproductive age. The parents of the fish may try to eat their young, so you may need to move them to a separate tank until the young fish grow large enough to be safe.