How Do You Feed Fish In Fluval Edge Without Filter Outlet Sinking Flak

[johnabenna]

Hi,

I have a Fluval Edge tank. The filter outlet comes out into the top of the tank in the space where you remove the lid to drop the food. Only thing is though, within a few seconds the flake food passes under the outlet water flow and gets pushed down into the tank and the fish seem reluctant to eat it from off the sand.. I've tried turning the filter off for 10 minutes to let the fish time to eat the food but sometimes they don't want to eat it immediatly and I've heard you're not meant to turn the filter off for more than a short period.

Also have made a mistake putting in a white sand substrate (tank will eventually have shrimp and maybe rainbow crab in so thought would look cool), but now the sunken food, poop, sit on the sand and my siphon cleaner cant clean the sand because it just sucks up the sand as well as the dirt. Any ideas how I could change the sand without having to empty tank and remove fish/ornaments?

Thanks

 

[fatheadminnow]

For the feeding, you can turn your filter off for a while,just make sure the media inside stays wet.

For cleaning sand substrate, I always found it effective to hover the vac about a CM or so above the surface of the sand, and spin the vac in a small circular motion. This tends to agitate the debris/poo enough to get sucked up, but not enough to suck up the sand.

These really are not the best tanks, as you can see.

-FHM

 

[joeskandal]

look great, not very practical.
Thats why i went for the biorb life 60L.
Again, probably not the most practical, considering the hole in the top is about the size of a beer mat.
I wanted to eventually breed some guppies, but that wont be happening.
The Fluval Edge is a great looking tank though.

 

[johnabenna]

Thanks Integra and Fish Fanatic. Good tip r.e. swirling siphon. it lifted a bit more poo and dirt than just stirring it. I have a 60L with glass cats, diamond eyes, a frog and a plec as well. Wanted Edge to do shrimp and crabs in so should be fine for that I think (I hope).

I would have liked a BiOrb but they were bit more money than I could afford. edge only cost me £80. Well when say 'only' its a rip off but im a sucker for nice looking things!

Any ideas on how many shrimp would be ok in an edge?

 

[joeskandal]

fish fanatic is merely my rank, my username is a little higher. Joeskandal.
i coudlnt tell you how many shrimp one would fit inside an Edge.
Personally shrimp are better eaten...
hehe

 

[fatheadminnow]

I like the name Integra! lol

You could get a lot of shrimp, maybe 20 or so?

-FHM

 

[kelly528]

What on earth are you still doing with flakes?! Ditch them and get some pellets. I just hate how flakes blow around the tank (regardless of shape) where the fish can't eat them. I was able to keep a far cleaner tank when I switched to sinking pellets/granules and it is way easier not to overfeed. Plus flakes are more expensive gram for gram.

 

[johnabenna]

oh my goodness fatheadminnow and joeskandal! im so sorry haha! can you tell I'm new to this haha? really sorry! You can tell i know nothing about cars obv! haha

i was going to get cherry shrimp but guy in my LFS said that there were some with a purple tinge to them which breed easier.

hey kelly528. Thanks for the advice. any brand that you'd reccomend? so would the pellets still go under the surface when hit filter but then bob back up?

 

[kelly528]

hey kelly528. Thanks for the advice. any brand that you'd reccomend? so would the pellets still go under the surface when hit filter but then bob back up?

They should ot some extent but it sort of depends on the brand. But they sink slowly and it is also easier for the fish to pick them off the bottom. Two pellets I really like are Hikari Micro-Wafers and Hikari Micro-Pellets. Pellets are also hailed as more appetising to fish and unlike flakes the filter doesn't suck them up.

 

[johnabenna]

brilliant thanks!

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Hikari also carries food for shrimp, which you might like when you get yours.

 

[kelly528]

Hikari also carries food for shrimp, which you might like when you get yours.

Yes! I was alarmed to see my shrimp running from all over the tank when I dropped some Shrimp Cuisine in for them the first time

 

[bitteraspects]

Use a feeder ring, or simply turn the filter off for 2 minutes during feeding.

 

[johnabenna]

thanks again so much for info on food shrimp like too. and feeder ring as well.

a guy on these forums told me about a japanese aquarium designed who does 'nature aquariums'. they are amazing! These shrimp are a test for me. if i can keep them OK i may venture into the marine world.