Powerhead for L144 / 60 litres aq.?

martijn · Post by **martijn** » 02 Feb 2006, 23:01

Hi there,

My plan is to put my 2 L144 (M+F) in a separate aquarium. It's a Juwel 60 aquarium. I would like to make current in it. In order to do that, i want to put in 2 powerheads (like a Hydor or so).

1 will always blow (i will attach it via PVC pipe to a sponge filtre) and the second one is for additional strong current once in a while.

What pump capacity would you advice me?

Bye

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 03 Feb 2006, 10:27

I would add an extra internal filter instead of a basic powerhead. The filter in a Juwel 60 isn't particularly powerfull or good at coping with huge amounts of waste [it's adequate, but not great].

Soemthing that does 4-600 liters per hour would probably be just great for your L144's. Make sure it's small enough to fit in the tank tho', as the Juwel 60 isn't the biggest of tanks...

If you're going to breed these fish, you'll pretty soon need more filtration - and you'll probably need another growout tank. When these fish are young, you can easily get 40 babies in one spawn, and further spawns will most likely happen every 4-5 weeks. It takes about three-five months to grow them to a saleable size around 30 mm/1.25" - depends on how well you feed them and keep them clean..

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Mats

martijn · Post by **martijn** » 03 Feb 2006, 11:27

Hi Mats,

I forgot to mention that i have cut out the black box, containing, among other things, the little juwel pump.

I didnÂ´t like the space it took in the aquarium.

That's why i had the idea of two power heads. I have seen a picture in the tank talk section of a diy pvc construction with the powerhead on one side, and a sponge on the other side. (for the filtration part)

I also have ons eheim 2326 in my attic. I think this filtre will flush out the fish, if i install it for the juwel 60 aquarium???????

Maybe you have an idea? Or else, i just try it next week!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 03 Feb 2006, 11:49

I agree that the Eheim 2326 might be a bit _TOO_ much.

I'm not a great fan of simple sponge filters, but I guess that's just a personal opinion. I'd probably just buy a Rena or Eheim "box" filter.

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Mats

martijn · Post by **martijn** » 03 Feb 2006, 12:41

Hi Mats,
Have you bred the L144?
I am planning to put my male and female in the tank or will the chance of breeding be bigger with 1 male - 2 females in the tank (or 2 male 1 female)? Than i have to go to the LFS for 1 L144 extra.

Bye

I will obtain a box filter from eheim

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 03 Feb 2006, 13:04

Let me start by saying that I have NOT bred L144 - Have, however, bred the normal coloured , which may not be the same but similar enough to take the experience to other fish. I think, with your tank-size in mind, that two fish is what you want to have - more will just make it crowded.

A decent hiding space for the male will be important. Giving him a choice is even better. Tight fit for the male is important, so he can "keep" the female and the eggs in there without trouble. There's LOTS of material on breeding Ancistrus, and there's an article in Shane's world on L144 specifically.

By the way, I've seen web-sites advertising L144 which isn't L144, but rather just plain old Albino common bristlenoses. The difference is that the L144 has black eyes, albino's have red eyes... I've never seen a real L144 other than in the pictures in the Cat-eLog here and in Aqualog "All L-numbers".

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Mats

martijn · Post by **martijn** » 03 Feb 2006, 13:19

This is the male swimming in my aquarium in the living room

Bye Martijn

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 03 Feb 2006, 14:19

Very nice L144.

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Mats

martijn · Post by **martijn** » 03 Feb 2006, 14:52

Thanxx it to me hours to make the picture, but it was worth the effort. I also like him very much. (Almost just as much as he likes cucumber)

Mats, do i heave to measure him, in order to know the measurments for the cave (s). Or will 4 centimeter by 13 centimer do?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 03 Feb 2006, 14:57

No need to measure - just eyeballing will do.

4 cm wide entrance sounds about right, and maybe 1.5-2cm tall, and a bit longer than the fish [guessing that your fish is around 8 or 9 centimeter per the cucumber size - unless it's unusual sized cucumber of course].

He'd probably be happier to get some Courgette/Zucchini instead of cucumber - it contains a good amount more substance than cucumber - in fact, cucumber contains more water than you'd find in natural seawater...

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Mats

martijn · Post by **martijn** » 04 Feb 2006, 20:58

O.k. Mats,

I will put it on the grocery list ;)

By the way what do you advise me, making a L144 hole from clay and put it in the oven, or could some rocks glued together with silicone will do also?

FuglyDragon · Post by **FuglyDragon** » 04 Feb 2006, 22:50

I use 2" diameter bamboo stuck to wall tiles with aquarium silicone. the joint in the bamboo makes a perfect cave.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 06 Feb 2006, 09:58

martijn wrote:By the way what do you advise me, making a L144 hole from clay and put it in the oven, or could some rocks glued together with silicone will do also?

If you have access to a ceramic centre where you can make your own cave that would work just fine, but others have used slate or other "thin" stone, as well as wall-tiles, glued with aquarium silicone.

My first spawn was in a "ancistrus designed" cave under a piece of slate. Yes, they know how to dig a hole if they have to... In fact, I think they PREFER to...

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Mats