"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, a

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