Suitable external filter?

[[email protected]]

A couple of years ago, I was given three white cloud mountain minnows
as a present! This is the gift: http://www.minnokubes.co.uk/. They came
in a small perspex box of about 1 gallon (from memory). Well, despite
the absence of pump of filtration, they seemed quite happy, but my
concience got the better of me and I purchased a larger beginners tank
complete with internal pump, bio wheel etc. It's about 6 gallons, which
for 3 minnows sounded like a big improvement. (If you're thinking at
this point "total fish novice alert", you'd be right!)

I have no intentions if increasing the collection and am happy to let
the fish lead their natural life and be as happy as possible after
which the kit will go into permament hibernation! (Don't get me wrong,
I do like the fish and wouldn't want to get rid of them, but I don't
plan on making a hobby of this.)

Now the problem is that despite the fact that my three minnows seem
very happy, the internal pump is loud. Not to me in the room but to the
fish. If I put the tank to my ear, it's like having an electric drill
attached to my head. Can't be much fun for the fish seeing as they're
more sensitive to vibration than me with those lateral thingies that
fish have! So, I reckon I need an external pump. I think. Problem is,
the only ones I can see a) cost lots b) seem to shift enough water to
cause a small whirlpool and probably suck up the three minnow in the
process.

Any tips on what to do about a pump?

Thanks in advance
Mark

[Steve]

wrote:
> A couple of years ago, I was given three white cloud mountain minnows
> as a present! This is the gift: http://www.minnokubes.co.uk/. They came
> in a small perspex box of about 1 gallon (from memory). Well, despite
> the absence of pump of filtration, they seemed quite happy, but my
> concience got the better of me and I purchased a larger beginners tank
> complete with internal pump, bio wheel etc. It's about 6 gallons, which
> for 3 minnows sounded like a big improvement. (If you're thinking at
> this point "total fish novice alert", you'd be right!)
>
> I have no intentions if increasing the collection and am happy to let
> the fish lead their natural life and be as happy as possible after
> which the kit will go into permament hibernation! (Don't get me wrong,
> I do like the fish and wouldn't want to get rid of them, but I don't
> plan on making a hobby of this.)
>
> Now the problem is that despite the fact that my three minnows seem
> very happy, the internal pump is loud. Not to me in the room but to the
> fish. If I put the tank to my ear, it's like having an electric drill
> attached to my head. Can't be much fun for the fish seeing as they're
> more sensitive to vibration than me with those lateral thingies that
> fish have! So, I reckon I need an external pump. I think. Problem is,
> the only ones I can see a) cost lots b) seem to shift enough water to
> cause a small whirlpool and probably suck up the three minnow in the
> process.
>
> Any tips on what to do about a pump?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Mark
>

You can get a small external air pump to drive a small foam or box
filter that goes within the tank. If you do this, keep the bio-wheel
running for several weeks, until the new filter is populated with
helpful bacteria.

The fish would go from pump noises to bubble noises :) . Would it be
possible to disassemble and clean your current pump, perhaps making it
quieter?

Steve

[[email protected]]

Sounds good. The tank actually has a little channel along the top in
which sits two little foam thingies and a bio wheel and the water runs
along this. I can easily get replacements for this, so all I need then
is a small external pump (not filter) to drive this lot of filters I
guess? Any recommended makes and models?

As for the internal pump, it's unlikely as it's a bit of a mess. :-|
(I've not been so good at looking after it to be honest.)

Thanks for your help.
Mark

[Steve]

wrote:
> Sounds good. The tank actually has a little channel along the top in
> which sits two little foam thingies and a bio wheel and the water runs
> along this. I can easily get replacements for this, so all I need then
> is a small external pump (not filter) to drive this lot of filters I
> guess? Any recommended makes and models?
>
> As for the internal pump, it's unlikely as it's a bit of a mess. :-|
> (I've not been so good at looking after it to be honest.)
>
> Thanks for your help.
> Mark
>
Mark,
What you have sounds like a baby "Marineland Eclipse" system. A manual
for your system may possibly be found at
http://www.marineland.com/products/manuals/systems_manual.pdf - handy
for figuring out how to clean the pump. I have a larger Eclipse canopy
on a 15-gal goldfish tank. This is not what I'm suggesting you need, but
please keep your old filter running while the new one breaks in.

I'm suggesting an air pump (outside the aquarium) and a foam filter that
sits inside the aquarium, under water. The two are connected by a little
air hose. The air-driven foam filters are available at most pet shops in
various forms and sizes, and they're cheap. Basically, they're a sponge
with attached air line and fatter plastic tube within the bubbles rise,
giving water pumping action & slow water flow through the foam. They're
commonly used on small aquariums, and you may even get baby white clouds
because the eggs and young won't be filtered out of the aquarium.

Best of luck.

Steve

[[email protected]]

Sounds good, I'll give it a go. The "Marineland Eclipse" is very
similar to what I have - same principle anyway. "Baby clouds"? This
could turn into a hobby if I'm not careful. :)

Thanks very much for your help.
Mark

[Billy]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Sounds good, I'll give it a go. The "Marineland Eclipse" is very
> similar to what I have - same principle anyway. "Baby clouds"? This
> could turn into a hobby if I'm not careful. :)


...and 'hobby' morphs into 'unhealthy obsession' without warning.....


billy
(proud owner of an unhealthy obsession)

[Daniel Morrow]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Sounds good, I'll give it a go. The "Marineland Eclipse" is very
> similar to what I have - same principle anyway. "Baby clouds"? This
> could turn into a hobby if I'm not careful. :)
>
> Thanks very much for your help.
> Mark
>

Steve's recommendations are best, but if you ever need a water pump I would
recommend the danner brand (will require priming though, which means you
need to have enough water in the pump itself before starting and I can't
think of any water pump that doesn't have that requirement despite whatever
brand is used) (the makers of the durable dynamaster #2 air pump and other
products), but for now anything they offer would be total overkill for you
and your situation (can we say water all over your floor even with the
smallest water pump they offer because even it is so powerful?). Just do
what steve says and get a good, cheap generic air pump and cheap sponge
filter which does great biological filtration, and of course let the
original established filter run for 3 or more weeks while the sponge filter
runs at the same time to allow the good bacteria to grow in the sponge
filter and establish itself. Good luck and if you have any questions (I know
you don't want this to turn into a hobby but I just can't help myself help
;-)) just ask here, and I hope I didn't overwhelm you with any of this. Good
luck, and later!

[lgb]

In article om>,
says...
> Any tips on what to do about a pump?
>
I've got the smallest Aquaclear external filter on a 5.5 gallon tank and
it makes very little noise, only the pleasant quiet gurgle of moving
water. I've also got a "Red Sea nano-filter" on a 2.2 gallon - same
principle, just smaller. I can't hear it at all from a foot away.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[NetMax]

"lgb" > wrote in message
...
> In article om>,
> says...
>> Any tips on what to do about a pump?
>>
> I've got the smallest Aquaclear external filter on a 5.5 gallon tank
> and
> it makes very little noise, only the pleasant quiet gurgle of moving
> water. I've also got a "Red Sea nano-filter" on a 2.2 gallon - same
> principle, just smaller. I can't hear it at all from a foot away.
>
> --
> BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

I agree with the external filter such as a small aquaclear. Air pumps
are noisy outside the aquarium, and they really aren't quieter inside the
aquarium.

You might even find that the fish don't even hear your current filter if
it's a steady noise. Like people, constant noises become white noise,
filtered and not really heard, jmo.
--
www.NetMax.tk