Pump/filter Has Died

[Sofia]

My flatmate has a 5.7 gal fish r fun hexagonal tank with two goldfish in it, the pump/filter has stopped working, problem is she's in France for the next 10 days and I have no money to spend on a new pump for her tank. I do not want her fish to die in my care. Is there anything I can do to make sure the water is aerated enough and that the water isn't too toxic until she gets back and can buy a new pump.


Thanks for any advice!!!!


(Oh and before any one pulls me up on the size of her tank I know it is far too small for her fish and I did try and persuade her to get a bigger tank but she will not listen to me.)

 

[Colin_T]

If the pump sits outside next to the tank and normally blows bubbles into the tank, and is still running but not pumping air, then it is probably the diaphragm in the pump. They can be replaced relatively cheaply at your local fish shop.

If the filter and pump are one unit in the aquarium then it might have clogged up and need a clean. Turn the filter off at the powerpoint and unplug it. Take the filter out of the tank and put it in a clean bucket. Power filters can normally be pulled apart quite easily and if you can get it apart then you will probably find a dirty muddy sponge inside it. Squeeze this sponge out in a bucket of water from the tank. When clean put the sponge back in the tank. Tip the dirty water out and rinse the pump and filter housing out under the tap.
***NB - Don't wash the sponge under the tap. Only wash the pump and filter housing (plastic case) under tap water.

In the mean time don't feed the fish any more than twice a week and change half the water twice a week. Feed the fish one day and do the water change the next. Make the water up the day before you need it in a clean container that hasn't had cleaning agents or any other chemicals in. Add some dechlorinating agent (water conditioner) and stir the water up. Leave it overnight and then the following day take some water out and replace it with the clean water. Leave the fish in the tank when you do this, they don't need to be moved. Just siphon or scoop out half the water, pour it on the garden and refill the tank.

Make sure you don't have any moisturing creams, soap or anything else on your hands when you feed the fish or change the water.

 

[Sofia]

Thanks Colin T.

Unfortunately the pump/filter is in one sealed unit and I do not want to pull it apart. It's a weird one, not like your normal fluval filter. The impeller seems to be broken but I can't pull apart the unit to access it. When I poke it with a cocktail stick it starts going for a little while but stops again. I'll take your adivce on feeding and change their water every couple of days.