We are setting up a 90 gal. native tank. I think I have my husband convinced not to use just gravel for a substrate (he had aquariums 30 years ago). His last hold out is that he is worried that spawning sunfish will move it all around and muck up the water. Any ideas?
Will sunfish move the substrate when mating?
Started by
Guest_jrhodo_*
, Sep 02 2009 08:06 PM
6 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_UncleWillie_*
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Posted 02 September 2009 - 08:43 PM
In short, Yes, most sunfish disturb the substrate when spawning. The male fans out a spot of his choice and defends that territory. He shouldn't be 'mucking up' the tank if the tank is kept clean. 
They can certainly blow sand and some smaller gravel around with ease when fanning violently.
They can certainly blow sand and some smaller gravel around with ease when fanning violently.
#3
Guest_donkeyman876_*
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Posted 03 September 2009 - 07:18 AM
The malr fanning will move the sand but as long as it isn't full of poop it will all just selle back in with minimaal problems.
#4
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 04 September 2009 - 05:32 AM
Most sunfishes are far less prone to moving gravel than some cichlids of the aquarium trade since the former largely restrict their nest constructing techniques to tail sweeping. Exceptions are redear, redspotted and blackspotted sunfishes that will move rocks by mouth and sometimes lots of rocks. As for the mucking up, that ismore a function of the keepers custodial investment. Sunfish breeding / digging often easy to suppress by increasing number of tank mates or having someone that can dominate tank.
#5
Guest_joshuapope2001_*
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Posted 08 September 2009 - 01:31 AM
Many of my sunfish like to move the gravel around......I clean the gravel once or twice a week to keep it clean...I also use two large canister filters,on a 125 gallon tank to pick up any of the floating particles....It seems to work pretty well....
#6
Guest_nativeplanter_*
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Posted 10 September 2009 - 11:45 AM
I think I have my husband convinced not to use just gravel for a substrate...
I think the question here might be whether a sunfish would muck up a tank with a soil substrate (under the gravel)? My guess is yes, but I don't have direct experience on that one. I suppose the issue could be solved by only having one sex. Maybe someone can chime in on how deep the disturbance usually is.
#7
Guest_centrarchid_*
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Posted 10 September 2009 - 08:09 PM
Sometimes my sunfishes would dig nearly 4 inches down but usually only a couple. In part a function of males size. I no longer use gravel but could greatly reduce digging in unplanned (by me) areas. Even in planted tank with gravel, you can get males to build nests in bucket bottoms that contain gravel. Works with most species. Bantams would make use of bowls only 3" across.
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