Inherited A 5 Gallon Tank

[M.G.]

Greetings y’all…

My daughter just inherited a 5 gallon tank from a classmate that was moving away. From my little knowledge of aquariums I am able to right away see the fish are just to big for the small tank. The two Goldfish are each about 6 inches long now. Still, for the time being, I am content to leave them in the same tank.

My main question is about the filter. I have heard some say that you should not change the media, instead you should simply rinse it in tank water that you are discarding with you periodic water changes. The reason I am concerned is that the water flowing through the filter appears to be backing up and is almost spilling over the back of the unit into the tank. (HOB filter from Tetra, see picture below)

So, I guess the advice I am looking for is what to do about it to ensure better/optimal flow. Rinse it in tank water or replace it?

Thanks….

 

[drobbyb]

I happen to have one of those little filters. The problem with them is that the filter insert hold everything, bacteria included. If you replace it you will put the tank into a fish in cycle. This is bad. That tank is way overstocked with those 2 fish and I'm afraid that if you change the insert you will lose them and have to start all over.

 

[loraxchick]

id rehome those goldfish (which are too big and make too much waste for that tank) and get a betta. that would be a nice home. just keep the filter media so it will be loaded with all the good bacteria you need when you get another fish.
best of luck!

 

[M.G.]

...I'm afraid that if you change the insert you will lose them and have to start all over.

Hmmm, that started me thinking. How about for now if I just yank the insert during the next water cycle, rinse it off in the out going tank water then drop it back in the tank while putting a new insert in the Terta? Leave it tethered to one side of the tank for a week or two (?) while the new filter media gains a little "culture". Any flaw with this plan? Seems like it would keep the good bacteria in the tank while allowing bacteria to grow on the new insert. Then I could just donate the used media at the local pet store to make someone really happy!

First time doing this...

 

[Tolak]

Keeping the used media near the filter flow will help with the transfer, this is what is normally done when replacing media. Fast the fish for 24 hours before switching, and feed lightly, about 1/3 normal for the next week.

Other than that it sounds like a good plan, but those fish will need a new home. To me it sounds like a good reason to get a 55 gallon, but I'm a terrible enabler in that respect, total bad influence.

BTW, welcome to TFF! Hope you enjoy yourself here, and congrats on the free setup!

 

[afishdude]

Leave the black plastic sponge part and change the white cartridge.

 

[M.G.]

Keeping the used media near the filter flow will help with the transfer, this is what is normally done when replacing media. Fast the fish for 24 hours before switching, and feed lightly, about 1/3 normal for the next week.

Perfect. Thank you for that feedback. And no, a 55 gallon tank is not a possibility You enabler!

Leave the black plastic sponge part and change the white cartridge.

I will get some new media tomorrow and tear it apart to see if I can do just that.

Thanks everyone. I do have a feeling these two goldfish are destined to be in some nice little backyard pond real soon.

 

[cowboy507]

a pond would be great, this is where they are supposed to be. Your plan seems great, you have done your home work. we are proud! The tank would be great for a single male betta.

 

[mooey65]

Aww they look so sad rehome them as soon as you can. Tank would make a nice little shrimp tank.

 

[M.G.]

Aww they look so sad rehome them as soon as you can. Tank would make a nice little shrimp tank.

Yes, they do look sad, but at this point they are healthy and I just want to keep them that way till I can find a home for them. I have a couple of offers, but one "pond" looks like a mud puddle in someone's back yard and the other I have not seen a picture of yet. The people at the pet store said they would take them and would get them new homes real fast. I guess Goldfish in the 7" range are hot at this time of year.

Will need more help from you people soon, rebuilding that little tank....

 

[afishdude]

I think that's the tetra 10i.

There should be a black sponge inside a black plastic holder. That is the media. You never want to change that.

There is also the white filter cartridge, you was and replace as needed. Tetra whisper medium is the cartridge you need for replacement.

 

[bagu]

i think a betta tank would be nice ^^ if its 5 gallons =]

 

[M.G.]

I think that's the tetra 10i.

There should be a black sponge inside a black plastic holder. That is the media. You never want to change that.

There is also the white filter cartridge, you was and replace as needed. Tetra whisper medium is the cartridge you need for replacement.

I believe you are correct on the type of filter. But the type of media I received from the previous owner does not match your description. Here are a couple of picture to clarify.

The media is a gauze like bag containing a plastic frame that is segmented to divide carbon material into like six areas. The carbon material is loose in the bag and any attempt to transfer the old gauze like material to cover the new carbon media would prove a mess, and by association, huge wife agro! (She allows me to live in her tank most of the time, LOL)

Anyway, I had my water tested at a local fish shop after having done several partial water changes. It had been 4 days since the last change. NO3 was 20ppm. The fish shop said I should get the fish out of there, but also said that I was doing a good job on controlling waste apparently. So, I did as suggested and with today's water change took the old filter media out and gave it a vigorous shake in the outgoing tank water. An amazing amount of material came off it. I put it back in and will see how that goes. I am not sure on how to make the decision on when the old media must be replaced.

OMG, I was sooooo close to just buying a nice shiny all included 20 gallon kit when I was at the store.

Thanks for the responses. I hope other newcomers can learn from the thread. I know I have from pouring over other old and new threads....

 

[cowboy507]

i would recommend the 20 gal, but only if you can afford it.
this tank will be easier to maintain, larger tanks are usually.

you could transfer the old media into the new tank, and getting bio and mechanical filters a much easier for larger filters.

 

[M.G.]

Ok, going to start preparing this tank for some other small fish. Plan is to add some gravel that I want in the tank and remove 1/2 of the existing substrate. I will give it one week and then replace the remaining old substrate with new gravel. Then wait a few more days to stabilize everything and re-home the Goldfish and introduce the new victims to the tank.

Have I over complicated this?

Water test from yesterday. Guess low pH just means I need more frequent water changes with those ### Goldfish.

Temperature 73.9
pH 6.1 (Tap 7.4)
Ammonia 0
NO2 0
NO3 20
Notes 3 days following a 50% water change and a vigorous media shake.

Oh, for giggles, a picture below of my next dooor neighbors tank. Apparently there are 7 Danios(?) and a couple of bottom feeding fish in there. He asked me to check his water, which I will do today. Any bets on that outcome? LOL