Forums / General Forums / The Freshwater Forum

how do I change filters and not have a disaster?

rcyphermd — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:12:53 GMT

I currently have a 45 gallon tank with a sump, using a biowheel. I am changing it to a canister filter. It has been running well for over a year with huge cardinals that I do NOT want to lose! Should I just run both filter simultaneously for a while? Will there be another ammonia spike? (ugh!!) Suggestions?

Thanks!

Fish Compatible

Mtav80 — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:01:52 GMT

Looking at fish today and trying to make up a list of what I want in my tank.

55 Gallon tank 48" L, 13" W, 17" D

Want to make sure these guys are compatable, Which to add first. Make sure it isn't too many for my tank etc.

3 Blue Cobra Guppy
3 Red Wag Platy
3 Boesemani Rainbow
8 Golden white cloud Minnow

This list isnt set in stone so if I'm way off base let me have it!

Freshwater snails?

kyle sicard — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:59:58 GMT

I was rading posts and I saw a post by wilma talking about freshwater snails. I was wondering if anyone could psot osme info on them cuz I thoguth there were only slatwater snails. They'd be great additions to my tank so please post some info on here or at least a website with info on them thanks!

best freshwater filter

rcyphermd — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:40:13 GMT

I have converted a reef tank with a sump to a frreshwater tank (45 gallon). I am using a biowheel in the sump now. The pump in the sump is somewhat noisy and I really do not need a sump any more I am considering switching to a canister or hangon filter. It has been a decade since I bought something like that. What do you recommend for a brand that is quiet, easy to maintain in an office and will not leak? Thanks in advance!

Newbie hello and plant question

Quill — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:02:18 GMT

Hello, I have set up a freshwater aquarium and have question about adding plants. I recently purchased a potted amazon sword plant. Can you help or recommend a site for information on getting started with plants. I have a 39 gal with a eclipse natural daylight strip lamp. Is this enough light for plants? Also, I need to know about the Co2 equipment and when to know if you need this and why. My fish: 1 platy, 3 molly, 1 gourami (blue), 1 clown loach, 1 catfish (?), 2 cory, 3 giant danios, and 1 peacock eel. My aquarium is approx 3 1/2 months and well established. I would like to add more plants but really don't want to purchase more equipment at this time. Smiles, Quill

My filter/pump is acting funny

jensangel07 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:47:53 GMT

Hello I am new to this and I am having problems with my tank. Ok I received a 50 gallon tank from a friend and I have this pump/filter thing in the back that all it does is rattle and make lots of noise. I really don't want to go out and get a whole new pump when this one works great. How do I get it from rattling like this??? Please any comments would really work. I am new with the whole fish collection but I am getting there I have a smaller tank just for 2 beautiful tropical goldfish and the bigger 50 gallon has a cat fish, Sucker fish, and 3 goldfish. I didn't realize that when I had them in a smaller container when I was moving they were eating each other. All my goldfish are missing fins and their pore tails are all beat up and gnawed at. Why is that??? Please any help will be greatly appreciated. I am just trying to get rid of this rattle!!! Thanks, JENNIFER

nerite snails

snaillady — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:34:11 GMT

I know that many have wondered what has happened to wilma's web site and her snails. I have been busy the past few months redefining our program THE CAUSE Many of you know for many years I had taken up on myself to help many school children, the elderly and others without monetary means to enjoy the wonderful world of aquarium keeping. It grew and grew to where I needed to make a change so that I could continue to help others freely. To continue we realized that we would need to become a non-profit organization with 501(c) 3 status. One of our goals is to place aquariums in nursing homes, and schools. This can only be accomplished by donations , grants, ect. So the past few months have been spent completing all the paper work and building a web site
http://www.geocities.com/wilmas_thecause
Our site is still under construction. So please be patient. We will be offering gift packages of snails and later plant packages as a way of saying thank you for your kindness in donating to The Cause which stands for Create An Unusual Smile Everyday. Our organization does have a paypal account. Our email address thecause.cause@yahoo.com and this is also our paypal ID
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need more info on our gift packages and our organization.
Wilma, The Cause, INC
snaillady

Freshwater fish help

kyle sicard — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:13:18 GMT

I just set up a new tank and I wanted to know what kind of fish i should get it's a community tank. I'd like to get schools of fish like neon tetras ,but if no one wants to give me some suggestions i'm just going to buy like 30 of them so please before i spot a new fish and its to late to buy please tell me some cool fish to put in my tank.

How many cichlids?

meangreen — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:09:36 GMT

I have a 135 gal aqaurium with a 35 gal sump tank. I currently have 2-12" oscars and 3 4" cichlids. Is this an overloaded system or is this ok for the tank size?

New Tank Questions

mrpaquet — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:17:29 GMT

I have two salt water reef tank at home and absolutely no experience with fresh water!!! I'm setting up a 29 gal. fresh water tank at work to move our frog, huge albino frog, and would like to know what you guys think of the Emperor 280 Bio-wheel power filter from Marineland? I also picked up a nice piece of driftwood from the creek, cleaned it up and made sure there is no bark left on it, anything else I need to do to the driftwood? I'm also wandering how to weight it down?

Thanks for you help! Mia

Frogs & Fish

mrpaquet — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:21:48 GMT

I have a huge Albino frog at work that I'm moving soon to a 29 gal. tank and want to get fish as well. Last time I tried a plocastimus to help keeping the small 10 gal tank clean but it died!! I think the frogs, had two at the time, killed him???? I'm afraid to put fish in the tank for the frog to eat!! They would have to be big and probably somewhat agressive I suppose!!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks. Mia

Wanted nerite type snails

slowhand35 — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:10:17 GMT

Hello,

I'm a new member here and this looked like the right place to post this.

I am looking for Neritidae (Neritinidae) type snails the ones from asia.

Any help would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Bill

dkosnow@comcast.net

Oranda Goldfish on side when at the top of the tank

mgkrauss — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:17:47 GMT

I have a Oranda Goldfish(?) that that seems to have buoyancy issues. When it stops swimming it bounces back to the top. When it stops swimming at the top it lays on it's side. As long as it's swimming it looks fine. Have changed the water 1/3 of the tank (twice) in a week and have also noticed the foam sponge in the filter is PINK. Any idea what is going on? Other fish: Different Larger Goldfish, catfish, tetra seem fine.

Nitrite problem

rcyphermd — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:42:27 GMT

I have just set up a 220 gallon freshwater tank. (used to be a reef). I have not had freshwater in along time...so thus an elementary question:

My tank is up and running for about a month. Nitrite are very high, nitates low and ammonia 0. I lost a lot of fish, as I expected, as the nitrogen cycle/bacteria become established. I added "live bacteria" to help weekly. Will the nitrite drop rapidly, thus being safe to add fish? Or do I have this wrong? Thanks in advance!

light bulb options

rcyphermd — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:59:57 GMT

I am trying to light a 6 foot 220g freshwater tank with cardinals. I love the look of penplax aquarilux lights (kind of a pink color that really brings out the colors of the fish). But they only come in foot and it will take many to be bright enough because of the depth of the tank. Are there any new lights that offer simiar color as the aquarilux? Compact? VHO? Thanks!

Need Help

OSO13 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:35:20 GMT

Hello everyone, I’m new here and I hope I posted this in the right place.

I have a 20 gal thank 2 Pleco Hypostomus, 2 red fin sharks and 6 neon tetra that I want to keep. I want to get a new tank and have Cichlids. I’ve been looking at tanks with overflows and sumps. Is this kind of set up good for freshwater or just for saltwater. I eventually want to switch over to saltwater in the future once i know more about saltwater. If the overflow set up is good for freshwater, please help with brands and models of equipment would be best. This is the list of equipment I have been looking at

All-Glass Aquarium 120 Gal mega flow with 2 overflows built in (48x24x24)

All-Glass mega flow sump Model 4 (36x13-3/4x19)

Little Giant pump - don’t know what model yet

I don’t know if the sump will fit in a stand made for a 120 gal tank. Any info is very much appreciated. Thank you

snails for planted freshwater aquarium

flafishguy — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:03:51 GMT

I have a 125 gallon freshwater tank that is heavily planted. I have a slight green algea problem which i dont mind but i am getting the little dark hairy algea on the gravel and rocks. Will a snail help this or would it do more harm than good. I have heard that if there is algea, the snail will leave plants alone. Any help???

best biologic filter

rcyphermd — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:57:26 GMT

I am converting my 220 gallon reef tank to freshwater. I took out the bioballs years ago with the deep sand bed theory for reefs. I am planning on a thin black sand bottom. Should I just use the bioballs again? Biowheel? Something else? Thanks in advance for your help! I feel like a new hobbyist again!

Deionzied water

rcyphermd — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 18:06:29 GMT

Is it safe to use only deionized water for a freshwater tetra tank?

Rock and lighting questions

rcyphermd — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:43:01 GMT

I am sorry for the elementary questions, but I am converting a 220 gallon reef to freshwater. It has been a LONG time since a did a large freshwater tank, so I have some dumb questions. I love the way the old aquarilux/penplax pink colored bulbs make fish look, especially neons and cardinals. Do they make them still and what sizes? Or is there a compact fixture version?

Also, how do I tell what rocks are safe? I have dozens in my basement from years ago. Also, is petrified wood ok?

Thanks in advance!

cartridge filters and pump placement??

jcck1 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:39:06 GMT

Hi, I have purchased a 70 gal bowfront to install in the wall. It is predrilled and I was planning on using 2 Nu-Clear 530 or 533 canister filters underneath the aquarium. should the pump be between the filters so the media can act as a filter for the pump?? the pump is a 9.5 magdrive or a eheim 1250. I have had a 29 gal tank for several years but it has hang on filters. any help would be appreciated

best substrate for tetra tank

rcyphermd — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:09:21 GMT

I am converting a 220 gallon reef tank to freshwater. I am interested mostly in cardinals, and a few other small tetras. I will have access to only one side of the tank so I am concerned about maintenance....especially vacuuming the substrate. What would be the best substrate. I am not using an UG filter. I was pondering a thin (1/2 inch) layer of black gravel. Or a black sand?? Does anyone have experience with that? Thanks in advance for your help!

I have a question about Tropic Isle Tahitian Moon Gravel

FishFreak — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:55:37 GMT

Hello, I just got a 35 or 40 gallon hexagon fish tank given to me. I have been looking through pix on line and I would LOVE to have black sand (Tropic Isle Tahitian Moon Gravel ) in the bottom. My question is how do you put it all together...how do you add water without mixing up the sand and water...how long does it take for the sand to settle?

If anyone has had sand experience please help me out

My other 30 gallon tank has guppies in it and I want differant fish in this tank...Thanks in advance!

Fishie to BIG

polkajoe — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:01:35 GMT

I've a 150 freshwater tank with very few fishies. One of them, a 16+ inch Iridescent Shark is starting to hurt himself by running into the walls. Normally a very calm, peacefull guy, he just freaks out every so often. As iridescent sharks are known for this and I can't find a way to keep him calm I need to find a bigger home. The LPS has only smaller tanks and they don't know of anyone that has a larger freshwater tank than I do.

Here is my problem, what do I do with him? I've tried the zoo, local busnesses, etc, and if they have an indoor pond, it is to shallow (1 foot was the deepest) and he would probably jump out. Do any of you have a larger freshwater tank? Tho, not sure how to ship him...

plecosomus with white on nose (wound?)

60ndown — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:30:17 GMT

i have had 2 plecostomuses in my tank with a goldfish and a couple 'chebunkins' (sp?) few snails for 1.5 years approx, havent 'lost' a fish in almost a year

1 of the plecos has developed a white mark on its nose (looks like a wound?)

ive left it for a few weeks but it hasnt cleared up?

anything i can / should do?

thanks in advance.......

Lo pH

phishy — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:34:47 GMT

I am helping someone with their tank.. it is a 30g, has a Emperor 300, 3 severum, 3 silver dollars, 2 raphaels, a few catfish and a rope fish. The first day we tested water, the NO3 were about 100, pH about 6.0, KH is low, around 17ppm. They never performed any water changes nor cleaned the gravel. They also had an undergravel filterbed still in place (without the lift tubes)

We did not remove in UGF right away as I was concerned it would upset the tank too much, I wanted to get the NO3 lowered first.

After a few trips there of doing a 50% change and siphoning out the gravel, the NO3 has come around but the pH is still low. A few weeks after removing the UGF, the pH is still low but the gravel bed is fairly well cleaned up of left over UGF debris.

Was the UGF and all the funky stuff under it part of the pH issue? We have been doing 50% water changes, will the pH come around on its own ? I hate to add chemicals to the tank

please advise

A Tale of Two Cichlid Tanks

JTlanders — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:45:24 GMT

Alright, this is really bizarre. Two of my identical African Cichlid maintenance tanks at a home for the elderly have been doing great for about a year and a half. Out of the blue, every time I do a water change (15 days or so) on the tanks, the fish in one of them hide and act wierd like I filled the tank with hot water or something. A few of them stay on the bottom of the tank and list form side to side like they have no energy, and I have had a few casualties over the past month or so. By the time I come in again they seem alright, but still hide alot and don't eat very much - both very odd behaviors for Africans.

All parameters in both tanks are normal for an African tank - pH 7.8 to 8.0, Temp 78 deg., etc. So one tank is doing fine while the other has the problems listed above despite the fact that I do the same exact maintenance routines to both of them on the same day twice a month. I have 15 yrs. experience, but I'm stumped on this one. I changed the carbon in the filters just a week ago just in case. The only very minor differences are that the source water comes from two different spigots in the same building and the one with the problems has a bit more indirect light from windows in the room - no direct sunlight at all.

Any ideas at all? Thanks guys.

whats the best way to clean a canister filter?

60ndown — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:54:03 GMT

i normally dump everything out, clean everything and re assemble, but, every time i do it i end up with cloudy water for 2 weeks?

also do i need to replace the media? its kinda rock / ceramic / coral stuff and looks like it might never need replacing?

any advice appreciated

help identify this plant

iansue — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:14:25 GMT

I have had a bloom of these tiny leaved plants in my 80 gal freshwater aquarium...They started with a few & now they covered the whole top...they float not sink. There are thousands of them & they don't get bigger. They stay the same & multiply. I have a few various plants in my tank but nothing similar to these. They seem to have two leaves & a small threadlike root. Can these be grown larger? They block all of my light in my tank so I removed them.
I scooped them out into a tub & took some pics to post & hopefully I can post them on here. I tried before but the ad didn't go through so I'm trying again.
My personal email is isw@nbnet.nb.ca if the pictures don't go through, please email me to see them. Much appreciated!!

Puffy lips on Angel

phishy — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 09:54:42 GMT

What would cause an angelfish to look like they got a botox injection on the lips?

Fish otherwise acts and looks well.

cloudy tank

cmc1066 — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:10:33 GMT

I have a 55 gal freshwater tank,and it is cloudy.I have tried 2 fifty percent water changes and tried a few clear water conditioning drops.I have a sand bed and live plants,2 koi angels ,gold fish,coy cat, and 4 guppies,The filter is a marineland filter.Any ideas on what to do.Thanks Chris

fluval 404

maka — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:13:01 GMT

Hey guys, I'm having a weird output flow with my 404. It doesn't seem to be that strong, medium at best but occasionally would have a strong spurt of water spit out with air bubbles and all. Normally I don't see air bubbles coming out, so I don't know which one is the normal. But has anyone experienced this sporadic flow from the output hose or know what my problem is? Just before this, you could hear it coming from a noise from the filter itself.

Please tell me if you know anything on this subject as it is quite annoying to hear this noise every 10 seconds or so and getting inconsitent output flows in the water.

Thanks

Feeding Schedule

sharond444 — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:14:02 GMT

How often do you feed your freshwater fish? And how much (may be difficult to determine this). I've been feeding twice a day and someone told me they only feed once a day or sometimes every other day. Doesn't sound like enough food for fish that need energy to constantly swim. Thanks for your input.

Lighting Question

Jeff. — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:17:53 GMT

If I were to buy http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CU01606.html
would I be able to mount through the reflector (drill through maybe) to my existing self-made canopy? I would buy a premade setup like
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CU01006.html
but don't think that the hood is usable for mounting?

Any experience with these types of setups?

Thanks.

A little help with live plants and such...

neonoah75 — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:37:48 GMT

I am brand spanking new to the aquarium world. I want to have fish and live plants in my tank. I just want to know how you keep the substrate clean with rooted plants? Do you have to uproot them every time you clean? And as far as any of those fertilizers go (and especially the fertilized substrate), I assume they are safe for fish? Are there any aquatic plant fertilizers/substrates which might kill my fish?

Thank you very much for any info/resources you can share!

all my fish died from ich!

happynemo — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:34:57 GMT

My friend has a 55 gallon freshwater aquarium for several years. It only had about 4 fish - Angelfish, Pleco, 2 barbs. The angelfish and Pleco had been in there for about 3 years until a few weeks ago when I changed the decor (rocks & plants) and adding a few more fish (2 Angelfish and one Swordtail). I'm not sure if it was from changing the decor or adding the fish. I wanted to help my friend because she hadn't cleaned her aquarium in over 6 months - she only added freshwater. I think I may have disturbed the biological system when I replaced the filter cartridges and rocks. I didn't change the gravel though. I left it because I knew this would be too much stress on the fish. a couple days after the major water & decor change, I added the fish. Slowly, over about a week or two. The fish started dying, one by one. I was not able to see the fish before they died, but my friend said they had white scales.

Is this ich or did all the fish just get stressed out and die? I've never had problems like this before, even when I moved my aquarium across town, none of the fish died. I haven't had a change to test the water, but I plan on doing this.

If this was ich, what should I do to the aquarium? Does it need to be broken down or should I just do a large water change, get a few hardy fish and let it cycle all over again? Should I replace the filters or let them stay, to preserve bacteria?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

happynemo

koi carniverous?

60ndown — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:30:11 GMT

i have small fish dissappearing? i have 1 x 8" koi, 1 x 7 " goldfish and 2 x 6 " placostomus.

im thinking its the koi?

Nitrates and cardinal tetras

rcyphermd — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:43:15 GMT

I am new to this forum. I have kept freshwater and saltwater for 40 years. I currently have a 600 gallon saltwater tank that is fluorishing. But I cannot keep cardinal tetras alive! I am obscessed with trying!

I have a 45 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump (from a reef setup). I am using a biowheel. I have a couple of inches of gravel that I vacuum faithfully monthly, along with a 33% water change. My pH constantly drops to 4 and my nitrates are off the chart!

I even tried adding an undergravel filter (I know, that was stupid), with the same results. I just ripped it out. I just tried TLC to see if that would help. I have used a polyfilter, as well as carbon. About 3/4 of my biowheel was inactive (the spray bar was plugged), so I fixed that.

Any ideas or suggestions? The fish always look great when I buy them.

Thanks in advance,

Ron

need help with 2.5 gallon tank

crushingmyself — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:52:39 GMT

hello everyone i bought a 2.5 gallon all glass tank with a glass lid and fluorescent light with a 25 watt heater and a clear free corner filter i wanted to know if i can put 1 dwarf puffer in this tank also how long do they live and also i went to dwarfpuffers.com and they said they were freshwater only . thank you for your time have a great weekend , ps the tank size is 12 inches long , 6 inches wide , 8 inches tall ...

mollies and other fish

southbamaghosthunter — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:37:59 GMT

i just got started i got a 10 gal tank i put in 6 mollies then a man gave me 5 more i also have a alage eater i know i need a bigger tank i just want to know will adding salt kill the alage eater