Last night I set up a 10 gallon fish tank to accommodate all the fish that have been breeding in my tank lately. I set it up much like my 55 gallon tank, but changed a few of its features to make it better for the baby fish.
I added a lot of shelter to the tank. Most species of Fish are notorious for cannibalism of their own children and there are only a few breeds of fish that won't devour all their offspring just days after they hatch. I set up a section of glass beads with plenty of spaces for eggs and baby fish to hide in. Most fish spend their first day after hatching just resting on the bottom while they get used to the outside world. If they're not hidden, they often never live past that day. These glassy "rocks" give them this cover that's so critical to their survival. I also put in a lot of dense plants, especially ones that give them places to hide. Even when the bigger parent fish are removed from the tank, small fish feel safer and are less stressed when they feel secure among plants. They say the biggest danger to fish at any time is stress. Fish can actually die from bad conditions, and baby fish are especially vulnerable.
I also took steps to reduce the overall current in the tank. I left out the bubble wall because these cause a strong upwelling current. Heaters can also cause a bit of a current so I put mine right at the bottom of the filter which also causes a weak current. The water is generally pretty calm which also makes life easier for the weak swimming baby fish.
I'm letting the tank set up for a day or two with some bigger hardier fish to get all the biological balances right before I put the babies in. I have about 6 baby guppies to put in there, along with a cherry shrimp whose carrying a whole brood of baby bright red shrimp. The baby mollies and the rest of the baby guppies are now big enough to live in the 55 gallon tank. I can't believe how much they've grown.
Every man dies, but few truly live. Live your life to its fullest, every day as if it were your last.