Filter Too Strong?

[bigred0489]

Hey, new to this!
Just bought myself a tank and three zebra danios an two minnows. The filter that i have (COOPET Q112.. i think?!?) also has a tube which sits above the water for oxygenating the water. This can either sit above and oxygenate the water or below water level... Either way, it seems to be producing quite a bit of a current! The fish seem to almost struggle sometimes, although they do appear to be swimming into in directly sometimes!!! The tank is only 15litres, could this filter be dangerous for them? also, when i have the tube on for oxygen, it makes quite a lot of noise! tend to remove it when we're at home and put it back when im out.
Any help appreciated!

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum BigRed.
A filter that is moving water near the surface, disturbing the surface, is doing all that needs to be done to put oxygen into the water. The bubble thing on my tanks has been pulled off and put into storage in case I ever decide to sell the filter. That way I could sell it with the filter and brag about how great it is for the fish. (which is BS)
Your stock level concerns me more than the bubble thing. You are heavily stocked for a tank that size and my guess is that you did what the local fish shop told you and let the water in the tank for a day or two before adding fish. If you did, you are in good company but you have been misled. The filter that you get with a tank is just a mechanical device that one day could provide a home for beneficial bacteria that your fish need. Fish produce ammonia that is poisonous to them, that ammonia can be removed by frequent large water changes but it is better to get the bacteria established in the filter that will convert ammonia to nitrites. Nitrites are also bad for fish but other bacteria will convert the nitrites to nitrates. Nitrates are much less harmful to fish, so if you can get those 2 kinds of bacteria to survive in your filter, you will be on the road to trouble-free fish keeping. The key to having healthy fish during the time that it takes to establish the good bacteria is to do lots of big water changes every time that ammonia or nitrites get near 0.25 ppm.

After about 4 to 6 weeks of almost daily water changes, most tank filters will get to where they can handle the ammonia and nitrite and make the water safe for fish. There is a link in my signature area to a fish-in cycling thread that will help you understand what you need to do better. The key to the whole thing, if you have any doubts about what to do at any point, is to do a 50% water change before you spend too much time thinking about it. In the end it will probably end up being the right move.

All water changes are done using a decent dechlorinator, sometimes called a water conditioner. New water should be about the same temperature as the old water.

 

[bigred0489]

Yeh, thats pretty much it! Im already looking at getting a bigger tank. Well thanks for the advice, suppose i should go clean the water now! I bought a testing kit for amonia etc, so il be able to keep an eye on those kinds of things. Thanks again! much appreciated

 

[Dakota789]

Hey, new to this!
Just bought myself a tank and three zebra danios an two minnows. The filter that i have (COOPET Q112.. i think?!?) also has a tube which sits above the water for oxygenating the water. This can either sit above and oxygenate the water or below water level... Either way, it seems to be producing quite a bit of a current! The fish seem to almost struggle sometimes, although they do appear to be swimming into in directly sometimes!!! The tank is only 15litres, could this filter be dangerous for them? also, when i have the tube on for oxygen, it makes quite a lot of noise! tend to remove it when we're at home and put it back when im out.
Any help appreciated!

I'm not familiar with that type of filter but does it have a waterfall coming out of it? If so, this site will help you:

Link removed

It's REALLY easy, it's a good way to recycle and it works SO good!!!! My betta was SOO happy and he could actually utilize the rest of the tank without being pushed around!!!

I hope this helps!!