Well due to my Gran moving to a hostel and me and Mum cleaning out of her house, I now have at least 50 various storage tubs (Gran had an obsession with em LOl) So I upgraded my two Pearlscales to the cycled tank I had set up for a bubble eye goldfish and instead am setting up a new tank for a bubble eye. Just wanted to see what you thought?

It's only for the bubble eye and is 17.3g US or 66l, I've ordered a new adjustable pump for it which turns over 600l/ph which should be plenty, it'd provide ten times filtration.

From what I've read ornaments are a no no and so is gravel, but wouldn't a fishy get bored to pieces in a tank that only has a filter in it?

As for the filter I'm gonna build it myself so was thinking of having the pump in its own box with drilled slits with filter floss stuffed around it and then placed in another box with ceramic media in it. The outer box'll have slits in it, but should I add a sponge around the outer box to cover the slits so the bubble eye dosnt get caught?

Is there any other special precautions they need? or is there any type of ornament they can ave? it just seems kinda boring to have nothing to do but float around and without gravel to scavenge in.

I still havnt actually managed to locate a bubble eye that costs less then $30 but I will find one somewhere LOL.

Emma

Hi Emma Yes there is one ornament that works very well with bubble eyes..plants! They are soft and can be based in small pots that look attractive. My bubble eye is the biggest plant nibbling fish I have...she just loves to swim in and out and around the plants and snack on them too that's all I have in there in the barebottom in the way of ornament.


The filter slits should be okay if they are very narrow. If you feel worried people use stockings as filter covers. My bubble eye has always been fine with the filter slits though.

Good luck making your filter and setting up. Would love to see a pic when you're done

LOl what about silk plants? The tubs dont have lights and aren't near windows (there actually underground in a basement style area LOL) so growing plants dosnt really work, I actually havn't managed to grow anything but java moss anyway.

Well once the filters built will try it without a covering over the slits and see how it goes. Hey what about water current? I cant imagine a bubble eyes a very good swimmer, should I turn the filtration level down a bit?

Yes I find my bubble is a little slower as the eyes are heavy they seem to have a distinctive slightly pointing head down swimming style. A strong current would not be good. Silk plants- be very careful...some have spiky bits that the leaves are attched to and if they fall apart the spike would be exposed. You could have a look though and see if you can find something that is really safe I suppose.

Otherwise think about smooth large river pebbles/ glass marbles/pots, tunnels etc all with smooth edges.

I do just want to say one thing, it really depends on the plants. Koko sent me a huge Anubia plant,and for anyone that's had Anubias,they know that the leaves are a bit tougher,more leathery feeling.
I recently witnessed my biggest Bubble Eye,Monkey,(who has huge bubbles BTW) try to swim right through the darn plant,and somehow ,he managed to pop his bubble So right now,he's got one bubble that I swear has to be at least 2inches big,and the other is this tiny new bubble starting to grow back again
Now in general,mosat plants are much softer,but I did just want to mention my experience.

Oh Devs that's horrible! Scary! I hope Monkey is making afull recovery. Well mentioned though, these bubbles are so delicate and you just never know I suppose what will be a hazard. You have to be very careful indeed.

Well I bought some nice black and white river pebbles, and my new pumps arrived today, can anyone tell me what the best setting would be for a bubble eye? should I just stick with the ten times per hour or turn it down?

If anyones interested I just finished setting up a tank and filter

The whole tub

The pump is in here surrounded by filter wool which acts as a prefilter

Then it's sprayed into here, which will hold ceramic media, but the media is currently cycling in a separate tank

Then through the small holes in the pot and back to the tub

Lol I love the way one can make filters cheap as, the materials for this were a $2 lunchbox type container(prefilter) a long planter ($2) some tubing to fit the pump ($0.50) filter wool ($0.50) and of course the pump. This also takes the place of what an airpump'd be used for as it provides heaps of surface agitation thus allowing the water to be more oxygenated. Hopefully it'll also lessen the current so fishy dosnt get blown around.