Secure a nest of foam against the current
Foam nest of paradise fish Photo: Christoph Schöberl
A strong current in the aquarium can destroy the foam nest of labyrinth fish. This can also happen if the flow increases after a filter cleaning.
Some floating plants can ensure that the current is broken and a corner of the aquarium becomes free of current. If that is not enough, a flow protection can be made out of a hose.
Aquarium hose with a diameter of 8 to 16 millimeters is connected to form a ring, triangle or something similar. The open ends can be connected with silicone, wooden dowels or shrink tubing. The ring is sealed with silicone or adhesive tape.
The protective ring can be attached to the aquarium glass with suction cups. The cable of the rod heater can also simply be fed through the ring or the ring can be attached to a suitable object with a nylon cord.
Ready-made feeding rings from the pet shop are an alternative if you don’t want to do handicrafts.
How does a water change work when there is a foam nest?
If the nest of foam is destroyed by the turbulence of the water when changing the water, a flow-free zone can be created with suitable protection (see above). As a rule, however, it is sufficient if a thin hose, e.g. B. an air hose is used, through which little water flows, so that the flow is very small.
But a nest of foam is also easily destroyed by the change in water level. Then the water change can be carried out with two hoses. Water is drained with one hose and water is simultaneously let in with the second hose. Because part of the fresh water runs off again immediately, a little more water has to be changed than usual.
With an adjustable valve, the amount of water flowing in can be adjusted so that it corresponds to the amount of water flowing out.
When the fresh water is about 5 degrees colder, it can be filled with a wide pipe attachment at the bottom of the aquarium. Due to the wide tube attachment, there is little flow. Due to the colder temperature, the fresh water is stratified relatively well separated under the warmer old water. At the same time, the backwater is removed near the surface with a fine-pored foam attachment.
Before changing the water, all devices that swirl the water are switched off so that the two layers of water could mix too quickly.
If you don’t keep particularly sensitive fish or shrimp, there are no problems swimming through the temperature layer. The separation of the layers is usually not too sharp or the temperature differences quickly equalize. This essentially prevents the fresh water from being sucked off again at the top.
In a well-established aquarium, a water change can sometimes be omitted. Depending on the temperature, the young usually hatch after oviposition after 24 to 36 hours.
It takes 1 to 2 weeks at most from building the foam nest to hatching the young. In a well-functioning tank that is not overcrowded with fish, it is not a problem if, exceptionally, the water is not changed for such a long time.