Tropical To Cold Water

[remf179]

I was given recently, a fantastic 450 litre tank complete with fish from some friends who unfortunately were seperating.

The pump on the internal filter wasnt working so they offered me the tank for nothing just needed a new pump. To cut a long storey short we moved the fish at short notice but could find a replacement pump for the filter so I bought a fluval fx5 used all the sludge and original tank water and was up and running only loosing one silver shark in the move through stress.

Ive had the tank now for a good 6 months but no matter how many tests, water changes and all the other maintenance done I have lost fish a loveley catfish, huge firemouth big dollars and silver sharks. I have rehomed some as they were to big for the tank (18" pengasius and 10" tinfoil barbs).

Ive just lost my biggest clown loach and am gutted.

The wife and I have had enough and are going for the easy lower maintenence option. We have found homes for all our fish to go to (12" silver sharks and the rest of the clown loach and also our BIG silver dollars)

We plan on fitting an undergravel filters but are not sure as to how to connect it to our existing filter (FX5) and put my sons goldfish in the tank as they are now outgrowing their current home 120 litre tank and having a cold water setup.

Can anyone reccomend a way to use the fx5 with under gravel filter ?

 

[raptorrex]

i am not convinced you can. the two filters work in totally different ways. though there are applications for UGF, most, even cheap, internals leave it standing as a aquarium filter.

 

[shroob]

I'm not sure I understand your question, could you rephrase it?
Having said that, why not run both the FX5 and undergravel, that way you have plenty of filtration.

BUT
If I understand your question, is it you want to know a way to power the undergravel using the FX5?

 

[remf179]

Thats right, fx5 to power the UGF.

Having read a few post on here I see that UGF are not favoured as much.

Didnt think of an UGF and also the FX5. Good idea that.

The plan is for a well planted and stocked cold water tank, so the above would be good I think.

Any other cold water fish except gold fish reccomended?

 

[shroob]

I dont think UFG are that good for plants, their roots clog them up.

Not too sure about this, but if you put the return pipe (from the FX5) to the UGF, and make a reverse undergravel filter. Though you would have to ask someone with alot more experience than me to confirm this. It may work in theory but I wouldnt bet on it.

On a side note, wouldnt the FX5 be big enough to proide filtration on its own, it says rated for aquariums up to 1500 litres.

 

[raptorrex]

or just fix an air pump to the UGF and run both

 

[shroob]

or just fix an air pump to the UGF and run both

Yep, what I'd do, simplist by far.

 

[raptorrex]

i must admit i would still pull and junk the UGF, they do have their uses. but thing have moved on and the problems with plants and proper cleaning make them less useful than they were.

 

[remf179]

Why an air pump on the under gravel???