The pair circle each other and after a short time the pair stops circling, the female releases her eggs and the male simultaneously fertilizes them. The males then remain on their nests to fan and guard the eggs. The 29 gallon tank is equipped with a Whisper 1 power filter with a home made water current dissipator at the discharge. In their natural habitat there is virtually no water current present. I am able to get adequate filtration with minimal current.
Aeration is provided by a bubble wand attached to the back of the tank.
To help satisfy their requirement of lower light levels, the light is attached to the back of the aquarium stand above the tank and a thick growth of Water Sprite is maintained on the water surface. This arrangement reduces the light intensity significantly while still providing enough light for adequate viewing. The adult Blackbanded Sunfish will be wintered outside in my shed and housed in a 20 gallon high aquarium. Filtration is provided by an adjustable flow Visi-Jet 100 internal power head attached to a sponge filter and an air driven sponge filter. Lighting is provided by a florescent tube suspended above of the tank.