the importance of cleaning filters

[The-Wolf]

I'd just like to say how important it is to regularly check your filters.

I have a clearseal internal sponge that does 3500ltr/ph
gives a great current for my danios, anyways I guess that I overlooked checking this on the last few water changes.

I have just heard a big clunking sound turned round to see it spitting out loads of flotsum. I turned it off and investigated, only to find a botia dario inside the impeller (dead of course). now the only way this could've got in to the impeller was to swim against the current, something that under normal flow is impossible (I can't even keep my hand near the outlet).
checking the sponge, it was absolutly saturated with debris and therefore reduced the flow enough to allow the botia to swim into the filter.

Please all of you learn from my error and check your filters now to ensure they are running at full capacity.

botia dario (queen loach)

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss, I agree with what you say, I always keep an eye on the flow to make sure it isn't blocked up with waste.

 

[Matchu]

I have just got a juwel rekord 120, and it doesnt seem to have much of a flow at all!!! Does this seem right for this type of tank? No bubbles or anything - cant really feel a flow if I put my fingers next to the hose

 

[WILDER]

Have you attached it right, as I have the same tank for my community fish, turn it towards the glass upwards, mine has a good flow.

 

[Elisabeth83]

I agree...I also have sponge filters. In my 26 gallon where my pleco lives I have to rinse the sponge out every week. He is just that dirty I just had some fry born the other day and today I decided I'll rinse the sponge out...well then I found 3 dead fry in it Good thing I checked today because I'm sure my ammonia would of sky rocketed

Anyways I now have a nylon placed over the holes so no more fry should get caught

 

[WILDER]

You have done the right thing my putting a pair of tights over the filter as fry do tend to get sucked into the filter, sorry for the little guys that ended up in the filter.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Yeah...well usually I put a nylon over the filter holes but these fry are balloon mollies and they are quite bigger than my swordtail fry so I thought they would be too big to get sucked in. Guess not

Theres still 15+ left though

 

[The-Wolf]

I'm not talking about fish getting sucked in the filter, although that is also a thing to watch out for.
My poor botia swan into th filter throught the bit water comes out.
I.E. the flow on the filter was minimal to allow this, you could almost say it was not even working.

Holes are a big draw to any fish, but especially loaches.

 

[endilliteracy]

I am not sure of what filter I had but it was the one that comes with the Walmart package for the 10 gallon and everything was fine and the flow was normal but my orange finned botia (botia modesta) swam right up it and got into the filter. I was watching him while he did it, so I scooped him out as soon as he swam up into the filter. After I released him, he started to do it again for a couple more hours. Then after he got tired of it I guess, he stopped.

 

[Elisabeth83]

My fish love to swim in the current but I've never seen them actually swim into the hole where the water comes out I guess my current is too strong...or maybe danios are just strong little buggers LOL

 

[Matchu]

I have just got a juwel rekord 120, and it doesnt seem to have much of a flow at all!!! Does this seem right for this type of tank? No bubbles or anything - cant really feel a flow if I put my fingers next to the hose

) Heh, just noticed that I had the fine (cotton wool) filter in with the other filters instead of on top so It couldnt draw sufficient amounts of water.

Was wondering why the tank was so calm