Pitafish
-
Posts
20 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Feedback
0%
Content Type
Forums
Downloads
Store
Events
Blogs
Gallery
Profiles
Posts posted by Pitafish
-
-
The ONLY reason I started doing this was the fish were dying so I thought maybe unclean. Honestly the sponges in the tank maybe get the siphon stuck on them but have not been out and squeezed. The fluval got changed as the impeller got clogged.
So now I’m wondering if changing the sponges is necessary as my plan wasn’t to change them as my tank is clear. I don’t know why the neons are dying—maybe just neons but they were all doing great and then just bam….
-
On 10/16/2022 at 2:12 PM, Minanora said:
I have the original sponge media in my canister, over a year old now. Except the polishing pads, I've added more as the old ones get thin.
Original sponge in my hob on my son's tank, almost two years now. I only clean my media when I can see the water isn't as polished as it usually is, or the flow decreases.
Same thing with my sponge filters.
I would probably replace the pot scrubbers if they are falling apart so they don't get all over in the tank or on the filters.
So the round sponge filters you have put in your external filters?
I do rinse fairly frequently as I’m use to with my turtle tank as it gets cloudy.
I suppose my question stems from all my neons recently dying and I can’t figure out why. I’m worried they have that neon tetra disease and as I’ve only found two worried other fish are eating them and my entire tank will die.
amyway. Guess I won’t toss my sponge filters as they appear to be functional
-
I have A LOT of filtration. I rinse my pot scrubbers until they seem to be falling apart or just can’t seem to look clean. I’ve noted recently to replace the sponge filters at 6-9 months.
does everyone do this or just keep rinsing?
just curious.
thanks!
-
No ammonia today after a 50% water change and cleaned one of my three filters.
The tetras are all eating and doing well. Everyone is very active.
but tonight I noticed a cory not active at the bottom. Feed and everyone eating but this Cory. Use pelafix yesterday maybe 30 minutes before my water change. Just reading it can hurt their lungs.
I have two other tanks I can move them to. (I have five Cory’s)not sure what is happening. Everything was great until I added some amano shrimp and nerite snails from aqua huna.
my Cory’s are my favorite and if I’ve killed them …..I’m throwing in the towel.
looking at him, he does seem a bit smaller than the others but he’s been fairly stationary for past hr.
ammonia 0
nitrate 20
nitrite 0
pH low 7.6
pH high kit maybe 8.2
my water is soft from a softener. Chlorine is 0 but I still add prime
I was hoping it would fix issues without having to move any fish. I usually look up things before I use them but just checked if it was okay for my shrimp and snails.
any help appreciated.
H
-
Ammonia zero, nitrite zero and nitrate 40 (I use the co-cop fertilizer. Everyone is eating well except the
well crap. Ammonia is high. Doing water change. I’ve been feeding too much likely.
-
I recently added some amano shrimp to the tank for algae clean up. A week passed and now multiple neons are missing and one did get pulled by filter intake. Could not see evidence of disease until today.
my fancy tetra as a white lesion (doesn’t look like ich). I was going to treat with kanaplex but would it harm my plants or invertebrates? I can do a hospital but not quickly.
I don’t want to loose anymore!thank you
Parameters good. I can do hardness if needed.
-
FYI! She’s doing great!! We did treat with antibiotics and anti fungals.
just wanted to let everyone know!
thanks again!
-
On 6/20/2022 at 12:35 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said:
@PitafishYou are growing plants, you can see the growth from March to now. You are still at the point where things are balancing out. You have some algae big deal if you grow plants you also grow algae it is just finding a balance. You are now out of the cycling portion of things and now heading toward maturation of the tank. This is balancing the stocking, filtration, nutrient loads and beneficial bacteria to find the elusive middle road of aquarium keeping.
Full disclosure I have black beard algae and it plagues my 45 display as it was on the wood I got from buying some things second hand. But it has happened to all of us and many people with high tech setups struggle with black beard algae. Some tanks I actually like a little bit of filamentous or string algae, I even add extra iron to make it happy sometimes, it makes certain setups looks natural and is a good food source along with green dust algae for baby fish and other organisms like neocaridina shrimp. I have otocinclus in most of my tanks so its what they need and want to do their best. I usually only clean the front glass and let the sides and back go green.
This really leads to the more philosophical aspects of fish keeping: what do you want from your tank? Is it healthy fish and plants? Because if that is the case you have that maybe not YouTube ideal but that is truly an artificial construct. Is it a beautiful George Farmer/Green Aqua scape? A high tech scape requires regular trimming, dosing, monitoring and it takes a while just like a low tech tank to dial it in. Many aquascaping channels never show you the ugly phases of their tanks or they dedicate so much labor to it behind the scenes it is just unfair to the average hobbyist. There are many paths and you will need to focus in on what you want to do.
So in terms of black beard algae the black pom pom looking stuff, it likes to be close to the flow, loves heavy nutrients (ferts, food and waste), too long a light cycle and blue light. Is the outlet for the filter close to the Val? If so I would reposition the outlet of the filter maybe aim toward the front glass or more at an angle and trim off the leaves with the BBA. I would reduce the feeding and continue the present regimen of fertilization. Turn off the blue light on your light. You could go with a shorter light interval or just wait it out. Then wait for 2 weeks and see what happens. Then make another change.
We are a community and have all been where you are right now. Hang in there. Its the journey not the finish that is the true enjoyment and challenge of the hobby.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply.
ha ha ha. You are absolutely right, the V is right by the outflow. I actually have two HOB filters and the one it’s near only has potscrubbers in it with some bioballs. I could just remove all together. My tanks 20 years ago used HOB, I have some canisters (Penn Plax) I could use but cleaning them from my turtle….just needed a break.
I had no idea of YouTube aquascape channels. But might have to jump down that rabbit hole!thank you again. I think I will focus on keeping them happy (plants) and make sure all my fish flourish!
-
1
-
-
On 6/20/2022 at 3:17 PM, Brandon p said:
I love this tank! Great job. I feel like o could be at the lake or stream.
@Pitafishthis is some one you should ask
This is amazing!! Please post when you get some fish!!
I have a 20 gallon I’m about to break down and start up a 30 gallon and my wallet is screaming knowing what’s coming! I love this!
thank you @Brandon p
-
1
-
-
On 6/19/2022 at 1:14 PM, CJs Aquatics said:
do you know the specs of the light itself? I didn’t want to look up the wrong one and give you incorrect information. Overall, In my personal planted tank experience, they aren’t very picky about what the lights look light, rather the amount, lumens, K, etc. based on the plants your trying to grow. A vague answer to your question is theoretically it would work but to dial things in we need to take a look at the specs which I don’t know off hand, perhaps another Nerm does and can chime in. I know color spectrum plays a part in different things as well, just not well versed in the science behind that, it couldn’t hurt to try and monitor, and adjust as you saw fit…
I have anubas, buce, Java ferns, swords
the vallisnera is spreading but is getting black tuffs on its tips
the ludwigia melts if I plant immediately so I let it float (assumed it needed better light) and it does well, I will then plant. They do best in my 15 gal flex.
I love the look of a planted aquarium. I would like them to fill in more. Below is when I started the tank (March)
above is the tank now
-
One at far right.
lumens 2550
59 w
i can control blue, purple, pink, white, cyan
-
I want my plants to thrive a bit more. I have a fluval marine light (model 14517) that came with my 100 gallon I bought on marketplace.
I am going to get the Bluetooth running as it is preset at this time.
my question—will this light work for freshwater if I change to a brighter setting. I have the LED lights that came with the topfin kit.
I was hoping the topfin would penetrate deeper and I’d getting better growth. I use the coop fertilizer.
(It’s cleaning day so ignore dirty glass)
thanks so much!.
-
I keep trying
I have written two updates and couldn’t get them to post.
started kanaplex. Doing a water change today. Got an aquarium medicine book to help guide me a bit more. I have a 30 gallon I might try to get her to move him in to make the hospitalization easier.
I dropped the ball on the cytology and got caught up at work and never got it done.
can try Monday morning so it’s as fresh as possible. But fish is still swimming -
Thank you for the replies. We are at day five I believe. The plan was to through all the anti fungal and antibiotics. Doing cytology today.
-
Have an oscar that had been fighting with tank mate. They are separated but this one isn’t eating. As you can see the left Is pretty ripped.
Anyone have some experience here?thanks!
-
1
-
-
On 4/10/2022 at 1:28 PM, nabokovfan87 said:
Add some anibias and just give the tank time. Easiest plant to keep going and won't cause too many issues. You shouldn't need a HoB for clearing up the water. You can wrap the sponge filter in some filter floss for a day or so and that might do the same thing. If you have issues after 3-4 days then you might have some dead spots or be struggling to cycle.
Keep an eye on ammonia and nitrates and see what happens. Just have to give the tank some time for the filter to work.
If you have a HoB sitting around, then by all means. But I wouldn't go and get one just for this. It'll work itself out eventually.
I use pillow stuffing as floss, would this work here? I have a 100 gallon turtle tank and use the pillow stuffing as floss.
-
Thank you! I’m new to sponge filters so thank you for answering my question!!
-
Any thoughts on some filler plants? Other scaping ideas?
I do have black film to place on back but you can see the tank in two rooms so I’m not sure I want to cover a side.
from other threads I will replace this heater tomorrow.
I have some other glow tetras, platys and neons currently in quarantine that will move in next weekend if no more fish die.
there is one ghost shrimp in there and a nerite.
-
I’ve put together a 10 gallon tank for my daughter with a sponge filter. It just cycled and is super cloudy (it’s been getting more and more cloudy). The sponge came from a previously cycled tank but the other tank has additional filtration. Is it normal for it to be so cloudy with sponge filters?
This is my first tank without real plants. I let her pick out all the decor….she’s five and wishes unicorns were real so just imagine the tank.
I’m thinking just add some real plants? Or get a HOB filter or give it time?
thank you!
Replacing sponge filters?
in General Discussion
Posted
I have two large co-op sponge filters, fluval C4 and top fin with pot scrubbers and bio balls.
it’s a 55 gallon planted with six (likely soon to be five) tetras, 2 neons, 5 Cory’s, six large amanos and three platys (with one tiny baby). Been going since April-ish.
I noted an ammonia spike after adding amanos or maybe all the fish eating all the fry I thought she was pregnant but never saw any fry so thought she was fat until I finally saw a baby recently. Plus saw a tetra eat a fry that had been hiding.
here’s a pic