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Dang Aquarium Water Filter...

M

mAdMaLuDaWg

Platinum Member
So the gold fish that I buy apparently have a habit of getting its tails sucked into the tiny grills of the water filter. This is the second time this has happend and all the other fish were pecking at the goldfish's eye while it was stuck to the filter. I managed to get it out, but it is barely breathing.

For reference, here is my Filter
 
Filters don't kill fish. An improperly cycled tank will. Excessive ammonia/nitrites will weaken your fish to the point where they cannot overcome the inlet tube which isn't very strong. 😉
 
Typically only sick and weak fish get stuck to those filters. If not..maybe a sponge over the intake may help.
 
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Your goldfish may be retarded.
Click to expand...

I think so too. These gold fish have large wavy tails and are really small, so I doubt they are unhealthy. Maybe I should refrain from buying them for now. The filter also claimed atleast 5 Black Molly Fry (which happend to be from a Lyre Tail molly :|).... I hate my filter.
 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Filters don't kill fish. An improperly cycled tank will. Excessive ammonia/nitrites will weaken your fish to the point where they cannot overcome the inlet tube which isn't very strong. 😉
Click to expand...

This.

Blame the deaths on the fishkeeper, not the filter.
 
Originally posted by: Doodoo
Typically only sick and weak fish get stuck to those filters. If not..maybe a sponge over the intake may help.
Click to expand...

I've read that wrapping the tube with pantyhose gets the job done as well. Unfortunately, I have no pantyhose in the house...
 
Man what a shitty way to die. Your tail is getting sucked by a filter and your "buddies" are pecking the crap outta your eyes.
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Filters don't kill fish. An improperly cycled tank will. Excessive ammonia/nitrites will weaken your fish to the point where they cannot overcome the inlet tube which isn't very strong. 😉
Click to expand...

This.

Blame the deaths on the fishkeeper, not the filter.
Click to expand...

The reason I doubt this is that all the other fish in my tank are fine.
 
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Man what a shitty way to die. Your tail is getting sucked by a filter and your "buddies" are pecking the crap outta your eyes.
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Hah thats nothing... I've seen my fish eat their fry (baby fish) as soon as they come out of the mothers' stomach.

Just imagine that:
"Oooh.. wee.. I'm free... oh wait, whats that large thing approaching me..."

Fish can be cruel cruel animals.
 
Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg


The reason I doubt this is that all the other fish in my tank are fine.
Click to expand...

What are your ammonia and nitrite levels? pH? (higher pH means more ammonia is "free" and thus more toxic)

How long has the system been running?

A healthy goldfish is more than capable of freeing itself from the strainer of a small outside power filter.

 
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg


The reason I doubt this is that all the other fish in my tank are fine.
Click to expand...

What are your ammonia and nitrite levels? pH? (higher pH means more ammonia is "free" and thus more toxic)

How long has the system been running?
Click to expand...

I don't have any test kits but the aquarium has been running for two months now. Maybe I should go get one.
 
You can modify THESE to fit almost any kind of filter or pump in your aquarium.

The larger one (covered with purple coralline algae) is a standard Hagen Quick Filter without the filter insert, and should be available from any aquarium store.

The smaller one is a mini-quick filter and are much more difficult to find.

I run them without the filter insert because it clogs fairly quickly and becomes a "nitrate factory" which is unhealthy for saltwater tanks. They are an excellent way to keep small, weak fish (or in my case) wandering anemones from getting sucked into a pump or filter.
 
It's not your filter. How many fishes you have and how big is your tank? I strictly follow the 10 gallons per fish rule and they have been well. I went over that once it's guaranteed dead fishes.
 
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Man what a shitty way to die. Your tail is getting sucked by a filter and your "buddies" are pecking the crap outta your eyes.
Click to expand...

:laugh:


about 10 years ago i caught a salamander an thought it could live peacefully with my tinfoil barbs. 5 minutes after i put it in the tank, walk away and came back, there was a salamander tail sticking out of one of my fish's mouth

doh
 
Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg
Originally posted by: Rubycon
Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg


The reason I doubt this is that all the other fish in my tank are fine.
Click to expand...

What are your ammonia and nitrite levels? pH? (higher pH means more ammonia is "free" and thus more toxic)

How long has the system been running?
Click to expand...

I don't have any test kits but the aquarium has been running for two months now. Maybe I should go get one.
Click to expand...

How long did you wait beofre you put your fish in the tank? Generally you're supposed to wait at least a month. Then check pH levels before placing them in the tank. I've had the same fish in my 55 gallon tank for 5 years. A large ghost knife, very large pleco, and a corycat. The only fish I ever lost was my upside down catfish, due to age.

**edit** and most definitely you should be checking pH balances at least every 1-2 weeks.
 
My rule of thumb. Use a filtration system rated for twice the size of the tank. My 75 has a canister filter rated for 150. My ammonia levels never even register regardless of how much I feed them. Clean water makes for strong healthy fish.

I also change up to 20% of the water every two weeks or so.
 
Originally posted by: mAdMaLuDaWg
What does everyone use to test the pH levels? Will those generic test strips do the job?
Click to expand...

Not very accurate. Salifert is the best "hobby-grade" test kid available, but Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and Tetra also make decent kits.
 
Hach, LaMotte produce accurate results. Tetra is more hobbyist grade and certainly will alert you to trouble. You can also purchase a Seachem ammonia monitor card that is mounted inside the aquarium via a suction cup that allows for continuous monitoring of ammonia and can alert you to a sudden spike.
 
If we were talking about tropical fish, I'd agree that its probably the ammonia thats an issue.

But since its goldfish, I have to disagree. I really do think their tails are getting sucked in. You can keep goldfish a long time without even having a filter. Buy a rectangle sponge, cut a slice through its core, and push onto the intake.

Keep the water cold - don't heat it past 65. Get a plecostomus (algae eater) to help eat up algae growth from the goldfish waste. Give them some live plants.
 
its not a good idea to keep goldfish with tropical fish, as goldfish is cold blooded, you dont really need a heater with them.
 
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