Fish v. Plants battle is driving me mad.

[Andy Slater]

Hi Folks

I have a 3 foot tank (with a Fluval 2 filter) containing 3 telescope
eyed black moors, some Canadian pond weed, some moss balls and half a
dozen snails. It alternates between two states:

1. The filter is clogged with vegetable matter such that the water flow
is reduced to a trickle. The fish are lethargic and spending their time
near the surface. When it gets like this I clean the filter.

2. The filter is flowing freely and the fish are spending most of their
time going around the tank shredding the plants, apparently in an effort
to block the filter. Aaargh!


I'm having to clean vegetation (and it IS shredded vegetation) out of
the filter 2 or 3 times a week and it's driving me crazy.

I feed the fish twice a day with pellet food, each time giving then as
much as they can eat in 10 minutes. I clean the filter with water
siphoned from the tank. Once a week I change about 20% of the water. I
always replace water with water that's had conditioner added and left to
stand over night.

I'd appreciate any comments and suggestions. The best I've had to date,
from other sources, are:

1. Replace the plants with plastic ones.

2. Keep the plants and treat the cat to a fish supper.

3. Just accept that I have to clean the filter 3 times a week.


Can't say I'm happy about any of those. Surely there's another way?
Maybe some kind of filter that isn't such a pain in the bum to clean?


--
Andy Slater

[Steve]

Andy Slater wrote:
> Hi Folks
>
> I have a 3 foot tank (with a Fluval 2 filter) containing 3 telescope
> eyed black moors, some Canadian pond weed, some moss balls and half a
> dozen snails. It alternates between two states:
>
> 1. The filter is clogged with vegetable matter such that the water flow
> is reduced to a trickle. The fish are lethargic and spending their time
> near the surface. When it gets like this I clean the filter.
>
> 2. The filter is flowing freely and the fish are spending most of their
> time going around the tank shredding the plants, apparently in an effort
> to block the filter. Aaargh!
>
>
> I'm having to clean vegetation (and it IS shredded vegetation) out of
> the filter 2 or 3 times a week and it's driving me crazy.
>
> I feed the fish twice a day with pellet food, each time giving then as
> much as they can eat in 10 minutes. I clean the filter with water
> siphoned from the tank. Once a week I change about 20% of the water. I
> always replace water with water that's had conditioner added and left to
> stand over night.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments and suggestions. The best I've had to date,
> from other sources, are:
>
> 1. Replace the plants with plastic ones.
>
> 2. Keep the plants and treat the cat to a fish supper.
>
> 3. Just accept that I have to clean the filter 3 times a week.
>
>
> Can't say I'm happy about any of those. Surely there's another way?
> Maybe some kind of filter that isn't such a pain in the bum to clean?
>
>

Try putting some kind of pre-filter over the filter intake.

I've used two pond plant baskets fitted together to make a cage, and
held together with turkey skewers. I cut a hole in the top basket to let
the (large Fluval canister) filter intake pipe in, and still using the
filter's intake screen within the baskets/ cage.

On Aquaclear hang-on-the-back filters, I've successfully used foam as a
pre-filter, placed/ rubber banded over the intake. I've used foam
sleeves sold for use in Fluval in-the-tank filters, and also carved a
foam sleeve out of filter foam.

These techniques, especially the baskets, greatly reduced filter intake
screen clogging, which was my problem. A lot of livebearer and other fry
began to survive, too (not filtered out).

Good luck!
Steve

[Steve]

Steve wrote:
> Andy Slater wrote:
>
>> Hi Folks
>>
>> I have a 3 foot tank (with a Fluval 2 filter) containing 3 telescope
>> eyed black moors, some Canadian pond weed, some moss balls and half a
>> dozen snails. It alternates between two states:
>>
>> 1. The filter is clogged with vegetable matter such that the water flow
>> is reduced to a trickle. The fish are lethargic and spending their time
>> near the surface. When it gets like this I clean the filter.
>>
>> 2. The filter is flowing freely and the fish are spending most of their
>> time going around the tank shredding the plants, apparently in an effort
>> to block the filter. Aaargh!
>>
>>
>> I'm having to clean vegetation (and it IS shredded vegetation) out of
>> the filter 2 or 3 times a week and it's driving me crazy.
>>
>> I feed the fish twice a day with pellet food, each time giving then as
>> much as they can eat in 10 minutes. I clean the filter with water
>> siphoned from the tank. Once a week I change about 20% of the water. I
>> always replace water with water that's had conditioner added and left to
>> stand over night.
>>
>> I'd appreciate any comments and suggestions. The best I've had to date,
>> from other sources, are:
>>
>> 1. Replace the plants with plastic ones.
>>
>> 2. Keep the plants and treat the cat to a fish supper.
>>
>> 3. Just accept that I have to clean the filter 3 times a week.
>>
>>
>> Can't say I'm happy about any of those. Surely there's another way?
>> Maybe some kind of filter that isn't such a pain in the bum to clean?
>>
>>
>
> Try putting some kind of pre-filter over the filter intake.
>
> I've used two pond plant baskets fitted together to make a cage, and
> held together with turkey skewers. I cut a hole in the top basket to let
> the (large Fluval canister) filter intake pipe in, and still using the
> filter's intake screen within the baskets/ cage.
>
> On Aquaclear hang-on-the-back filters, I've successfully used foam as a
> pre-filter, placed/ rubber banded over the intake. I've used foam
> sleeves sold for use in Fluval in-the-tank filters, and also carved a
> foam sleeve out of filter foam.
>
> These techniques, especially the baskets, greatly reduced filter intake
> screen clogging, which was my problem. A lot of livebearer and other fry
> began to survive, too (not filtered out).
>
> Good luck!
> Steve

Another trick, which I use now, is to cut the filter intake tube
shorter, so it's up to 6 inches above the tank bottom. The filter seems
to pick up less large debris that way.
Steve

[lgb]

In article >,
says...
> On Aquaclear hang-on-the-back filters, I've successfully used foam as a
> pre-filter, placed/ rubber banded over the intake. I've used foam
> sleeves sold for use in Fluval in-the-tank filters, and also carved a
> foam sleeve out of filter foam.
>
In fact, if you take a block of foam and cut a slit in it, you can push
it up ove the Aquaclear input and not need the rubber band. At least
with smaller fish - large goldfish might require the rubber band.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

[Bill Stock]

"Andy Slater" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Folks
>
> I have a 3 foot tank (with a Fluval 2 filter) containing 3 telescope
> eyed black moors, some Canadian pond weed, some moss balls and half a
> dozen snails. It alternates between two states:

What is Canadian Pond Weed? Hornwort?


> 1. The filter is clogged with vegetable matter such that the water flow
> is reduced to a trickle. The fish are lethargic and spending their time
> near the surface. When it gets like this I clean the filter.
>
> 2. The filter is flowing freely and the fish are spending most of their
> time going around the tank shredding the plants, apparently in an effort
> to block the filter. Aaargh!
>
>
> I'm having to clean vegetation (and it IS shredded vegetation) out of
> the filter 2 or 3 times a week and it's driving me crazy.
>
> I feed the fish twice a day with pellet food, each time giving then as
> much as they can eat in 10 minutes. I clean the filter with water
> siphoned from the tank. Once a week I change about 20% of the water. I
> always replace water with water that's had conditioner added and left to
> stand over night.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments and suggestions. The best I've had to date,
> from other sources, are:
>
> 1. Replace the plants with plastic ones.

This is certainly the easiest, but won't do much for your Nitrates. You need
to stick to broad leaved plants that won't clog the filter. Hornwort,
Cabomba, Water Hyacinths are bad news. Try Java Fern, Giant Val or Onion
plant.


> 2. Keep the plants and treat the cat to a fish supper.
LOL, all the chemicals in the fish would not be good for the cats.


> 3. Just accept that I have to clean the filter 3 times a week.

I clean mine about once a month now, but it was once a week when I had the
fine leaved/rooted plants.


> Can't say I'm happy about any of those. Surely there's another way?
> Maybe some kind of filter that isn't such a pain in the bum to clean?
>
>
> --
> Andy Slater

[Andy Slater]

In article >, Bill Stock
> writes
>
>What is Canadian Pond Weed? Hornwort?

Canadian Pond Weed a.k.a. Elodea
(Google comes up with pics if you're interested.)

It's not massively different to Hornwort in that it's not by any means
what you could call broad leaved (which as I understand it was your
point).

>I clean mine about once a month now, but it was once a week when I had the
>fine leaved/rooted plants.

Now that's more like it.
I'll do some research on the plants that you suggested.

--
Andy Slater

[Charles]

On Mon, 5 Sep 2005 22:43:25 +0100, Andy Slater
> wrote:

>In article >, Bill Stock
> writes
>>
>>What is Canadian Pond Weed? Hornwort?
>
>Canadian Pond Weed a.k.a. Elodea
>(Google comes up with pics if you're interested.)
>
>It's not massively different to Hornwort in that it's not by any means
>what you could call broad leaved (which as I understand it was your
>point).
>
>>I clean mine about once a month now, but it was once a week when I had the
>>fine leaved/rooted plants.
>
>Now that's more like it.
>I'll do some research on the plants that you suggested.


Look at anubias as well, it is often recommended for cichlid tanks.
slow growing, but tough.

[Andy Slater]

Although I can see the post from lgb I can't see the one that he/she is
replying to. Something wrong with my news feed perhaps. If someone
could email it to me it would be much appreciated.

--
Andy Slater

[Andy Slater]

In article >, Andy Slater
> writes
>
>Although I can see the post from lgb I can't see the one that he/she is
>replying to. Something wrong with my news feed perhaps. If someone
>could email it to me it would be much appreciated.
>

Got that now.
Thanks Steve.
And of course to all who have responded so far.

--
Andy Slater