Hagen Marina I25 Filter Media Change?

[CletePurcel]

I have a small tank for my daughter's goldfish. It is only 14 litres and has one fish. The tank came with a Hagen i25 filter. These small filters have a cartridge inside that is supposed to be changed every few weeks. I just had a look at the cartridge (it has been running a few weeks now) and it is quite green/brown and stained presumably with bacteria. However if I change the cartridge as the manufacturer suggests surely I will lose all the bacteria and harm my fish?

There is no way of cutting into the cartridge sponges to put a bit of the old filter media into a new cartridge. It seems specifically designed so you can't do it. Should I get a different filter?

 

[BigIan]

as long a the flow rate is ok you shouldn't need to change the filter media. However i`m not familiar with this filter and as to weather you hould get a new filter other people may be able to adevise you of theire experiences.

 

[fluttermoth]

I wouldn't change the filter media; I suspect it's a ploy to get you to spend more money!

Just give it a good rinse in old tank water.

I feel I should warn you that your tank is far too small to keep a goldfish in...you will either have to buy a bigger tank or think about re-homing it in the very near future, sorry.

 

[CletePurcel]

I wouldn't change the filter media; I suspect it's a ploy to get you to spend more money!

Just give it a good rinse in old tank water.

I feel I should warn you that your tank is far too small to keep a goldfish in...you will either have to buy a bigger tank or think about re-homing it in the very near future, sorry.

Thanks for your replies.

How big should a tank be just for one or two goldfish?

It is a shame that shops sell these starter kits only for you to find a short time down the road that they are totally inadequate.

 

[BigIan]

a goldfish will grow to about a foot and a half long so you would need a very very large tank, probably at least a 4 x 2 foot floor plan.

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, I know

It's the one thing that gets us more experienced fish keepers more angry than anything else...

The minimum size for 'fancy' (that is ones with short, fat bodies and a double tail) goldies is around 40 litres.

If it's a 'normal' goldie, then it really should be in a pond; they're really not suitable for tanks; they can get to 12" and live for 40 years in a pond.

In the meantime, make sure you have some dechlorinator that removes nasties from your tap water and do plenty of water changes.

You can't really do too many; this will help keep the fish healthy while you decide what to do

 

[Timmy_Bee]

make sure it is a goldfish though... There are lots of fish that kind-of look like gold fish but arn't and stay much smaller.
I cant for the life of me remeber what they're called, but maybe someone else can help me out here?

 

[fluttermoth]

make sure it is a goldfish though... There are lots of fish that kind-of look like gold fish but arn't and stay much smaller.
I cant for the life of me remeber what they're called, but maybe someone else can help me out here?

Well, I guess we can hope!

Could you post a pic of the fish, CletePurcel, just so we can be sure of its ID?

 

[CletePurcel]

I think it is a 'comet'.

I'll try and take a picture a bit later.

The shop said I could have 2 of these in the tank

 

[CletePurcel]

This is the fish.

 

[fluttermoth]

I think it is a 'comet'.

I'll try and take a picture a bit later.

The shop said I could have 2 of these in the tank

2? 2?!!!



I'm really sorry you've been given such terrible advice. Unfortunately, you're not the first and you won't be the last to come here with exactly the same problem

Well, it is a comet; a type of goldfish. Pond only for that little guy I'm afraid...unless you want to get a HUGE tank for it!

While you're looking for a pond (unless you have one?) lots of regular water changes, using a dechlorinater as I mentioned earlier will keep him healthy until then.

Goldfish are very messy creatures and he will easily pollute such a tiny tank with his 'wastes' if you don't keep up the water changes.

I hope the shop ddin't tell you that he'll "only grow to the size of the tank" because that isn't true; all that happens is the the fish is stunted while its internal organs continuee to grow and it gets very sick (if the poor water quality doesn't kill it first...)

Good news is, there are things you can keep that will be happy to live in such a small amount of water, though you'd have far more options and find it easier if you got something larger; everyone here will be more than happy to advise you

I hope your daughter isn't too upset, but it would be worse for her to have him die, I think. Best of luck finding a home for the little chap; he's a very handsome fish, I shouldn't think you'll have too much trouble finding someone to have him.

 

[CletePurcel]

I'm thinking of setting up a pond in my garden so that may be the solution.

Would there be any cold water fish that we could keep in the small tank?

BTW I am doing water changes and monitoring water quality with a test kit. (I am also setting up a much bigger tropical aquarium which I am currently fishless cycling.)

 

[elisew]

To be completely honest with you, 14 ltrs is tiny and I personally don`t think it would be fair or morally right to put any kind of fish in there, sorry.

Have you thought about having shrimps instead? A few Red cherry shrimp would be ok in a tank that size.

If you or your daughter aren`t really into shrimp then the only sensible option would be to buy your daughter a bigger tank.

It really does make me so mad when shops give the wrong information, it`s not only disheartening for the customers when they realise they`ve been mis-informed but it`s cruel to the fish!

 

[CletePurcel]

To be completely honest with you, 14 ltrs is tiny and I personally don`t think it would be fair or morally right to put any kind of fish in there, sorry.

Have you thought about having shrimps instead? A few Red cherry shrimp would be ok in a tank that size.

If you or your daughter aren`t really into shrimp then the only sensible option would be to buy your daughter a bigger tank.

It really does make me so mad when shops give the wrong information, it`s not only disheartening for the customers when they realise they`ve been mis-informed but it`s cruel to the fish!

Thanks for your advice. I am moving towards getting a pond. My daughter's room isn't big enough to have a large tank in it.

What annoyed me the most about the store is that they go through all the pretence of giving you the right advice and actually fill out a form that stipulates all the things you are supposed to have in place (tank size, water checks, filters, age of tank etc.) before you can leave with the fish. They also test your water. But it is all a sham really. They are either dishonest or have no real idea what they are doing.

I have been reading a lot on forums and in books lately and now know a bit more about it. Some of these pet shops should be closed down.

 

[waterdrop]

I agree, a comet really is a pond fish, although we actually do have a few members who like goldfish enough to supply the large tanks they need. Our usual recommendations for minimums are 30G for the first comet-type goldfish and 10G additional for each succeeding one, but usually these numbers are for people wanting to give them enough room prior to relocating them to a pond. Fancy goldfish (with the triangular tail) can go with 20G for the first, followed by 10G followups.

A medium sized (20G-40G?) common tropical community tank is an absolutely wonderful experience for a child and the whole family. Its often well worth the trouble to identify a place in the house, even if it can't be in the child's room, where this experience can be played out. Tiny tanks are quite difficult both to stock and also to learn on.

~~waterdrop~~