DIY Fry Saver - Step by Step

 

Shopping List
1x Ice Cream Container
Fiberglass Fly screen
Aquarium Safe Silicone
Clear Pipe up to 20mm - 25mm or 20mm PVC pipe if you have this available
Polystyrene
Air stone
Airline tubing

Tools Required
Stanley Knife or Box Knife (Sharp knife)
Silicone Gun
Drill - drills & spade drill bit

DIY Fry Saver - How to build - Step by Step

 

This is what the finished product will look like

Rough up opposite edges of your Ice Cream container. It needs to be rough because this is where the polystyrene will be attached. I used a stanley knife to do this, you can also try a wire brush.. You will also need to cut up some polystyrene pieces to attach to keep the Fry Saver afloat.

On the opposing two side you will need to cut out two panels, a Fly Screen panel, this is where your fry screen will be attached. PS. Don't throw these panels away they make a great template for cutting out the Fly screen.

After you cut out the Fly Screen panels, rough up the edges so that the silicone can attach the Fry Screen to the container.

Next you need to Drill a hole into the base. I used a spade drill bit. This size needs to be a relatively tight fit for your uplift tube.

The rougher the hole the better the silicone will connect the uplift pipe to the container.

Prepare the uplift tube. Cut your pipe to the appropriate size

Drill the uplift tube, this hole will be be used to pass an airline tube through it.

As you can see I want it to be a tight fit, so I shape the airline tubing so I can push it through a little easier.

The air stone used should be an appropriate size and no more than 3/4 of the size of the tube. I use plastic air stones because when they block up, they can be easily cleaned.

Rough up the tube, so that the silicone will have a good surface area to attach to.

Push through the tube and ensure that the sizing is correct. Then silicone into position

Using the panels you previously cut out, cut up the Fly screen so there is plenty of overlap. If you want it to look a little better try using a ruler to cut them, unlike myself.

Put aquarium safe silicone around the fry screen panel.

Place the Fly Screen onto the silicone, then I place another layer of silicone over the top. Then smear it through the fly screen. I find if I layer the silicone like this I get better adhesion.

To the other two edges attach the polystyrene. I was a little slack on the photography side and never got a decent shot of the polystyrene. It needs to be enough to cause the whole device to float.

Allow to cure for at least 24 hours before use, give it a good rinse with fresh water and it is ready for use. NB. Please note the netting across the intake at the base of the uplift tube. This must be in place other wise you will catch your fish in this trap. This has happened to me in the past with the loss of fish Eg. a breeding female Ps. demasoni was once caught. So please ensure it is in place prior to use.

I was very happy to have designed this modification to an Ice Cream Fry Saver. It works well and it is very good for the fish. However I could not see the fish easily and it also looks like something designed for fish keepers not "others" .

So I tried a few different things. I tried a clear version, just using a clear plastic container. This way I could at least see the fish. But it still looked DIY.

I now build and sell these Fry Savers.

They have many advantages over the DIY version.
Clear, allowing you to view and care for your growing fry.,
Inbuilt filter, that allows bacteria to colonise it, this means that after the filter has cycled, the water in the Fry Saver will be better than in the main tank, ie lower levels of both ammonia and nitrite.
Powered by a single airline, so no moving parts to break
Fry Savers models to suit tanks with and without rails, custom units can also be built.
They look great and are suitable for use in tanks that are used for display purposes.
Plus all of the other reasons why you would want to put fry savers into your fish tanks

A person generally buys one or two, shortly after they find that their "other half" loves to see the fry grow and develop, then they order more. If you are interested in a Fry Saver or more, please have a look here.

If you would prefer to buy rather than build please have a look here.

cya Matthew Begaud

Disclaimer: These articles are intended to inform and educate. Always use safety equipment and please be extremely careful. By building any of these DIY projects you agree not to hold the author or the owner of this Website responsible for any injury or bodily harm you may cause to yourself or others.