1 quick question

[fishwatcher]

How often/how much should you remove for a water change in a 10-gal? I think I somehow caused a mini-cycle, either by ich meds a few weeks ago, or from doing to many/too large of water changes. I typically take out 2 1/2 gallons, 2 x a week.
Is that too much?
Thanks... ! )

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishwatcher

Your tank is heavily stocked, so I think you have a good routine. It's pretty hard to do enough water changes to cause a tank to have a mini-cycle.

The ich meds might have caused that to happen though.

 

[mlee0332]

Your tank is heavily stocked, so I think you have a good routine. It's pretty hard to do enough water changes to cause a tank to have a mini-cycle.

The ich meds might have caused that to happen though.

I agree. You should consider getting a second filter for your tank as well. This will help make more area for bacteria to grow and it will help cut down on all those minis...

 

[fishwatcher]

Should have figured, when you try to help them, you end up hurting them!
The way the lid is made I can't add another filter... is there one that goes all the way in the tank?

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

Yes, they do make internal filters. I have them in my 5 gallons and the thing I don't like about them is the amount of space they take up inside your tank. But if it's the only way you can get a second filter in there, I would do it.

 

[Torrean]

yeah it's called an internal filter. It has a removeable clip that goes on the rim. take off the clip and add the axtra suction cup that goes with it. then put the lip just above water level.

 

[fishwatcher]

I have a Whisper 5-15 on it now, what size do I need to add?

 

[mlee0332]

you should get a whisper internal 10-20i... I really dont like whispers, but what ever floats your boat , it might sink it in the end, but its alright for now j/k

OR you can get a small fluval (dont know about those numbers...)

If you do get an internal, you can prolly decomission your heater... Give it a few days first...

And option number two...

Buy a small canister and put all the media from you whisper in it and remove the whisper completely.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishwatcher

You could also consider getting an air pump and a box filter. This is an old fashioned way of doing filtration, but it still works great. With an air pump you can split the line and add an airstone, or (if it's big enough) run filters in two tanks. It's also an inexpensive way of doing it.

This is what I mean:

Air pump:

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/catego...d2=;breadcrumb=

Filters:

http/www.wetthumbaquatics.com/Supplies%2...box_filters.htm

Air pumps come in many sizes and prices, but for your tank, a small one would be fine.

 

[mlee0332]

o yeah! Forgot about sponge filters...

How effective are they?

 

[Inchworm]

o yeah! Forgot about sponge filters...

How effective are they?

Hi mlee0332

Sponge filters, which have to be attached to an air pump, can be quite effective. Since they are made of sponge which has tiny holes throughout, they provide lots of surfaces for beneficial bacteria to live on. This is the biological part of the filtration process.

What they are not good at, however, is in the mechanical part. By this I mean removing particles of dirt from the water. They are good to use in fry tanks or where additional biological filtration is needed, such as in fishwatcher's tank.

Here's what I am talking about in case anyone reading this is not familiar with them:

http/www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/produc...ategory_id=2979

 

[fishwatcher]

That's great, Inchworm.
Thanks!

 

[mlee0332]

Thank you inchworm! That's good to know, as I have a whisper 5-15 in my fry tank, and I have to wrap suff around the intake to keep from murdering them...