Blade_sri
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Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: Pop
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Quick question
when setting up a fish tank for Tropical fish, does the Internal Filter need to be under water or just enough for it to make a noise of water running through it?
thanks
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Doug
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Registered: 8th Oct 03
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Underwater
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Blade_sri
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Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: Pop
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thanks
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-set-up-a-tropical-fish-tank
found this site which is quite good
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Doug
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Registered: 8th Oct 03
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you know all about cycling the tank etc yeah?
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Blade_sri
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Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: Pop
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quote:
Originally posted by Doug
you know all about cycling the tank etc yeah?
cleaning?
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Robbo
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Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
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quote:
Originally posted by Blade_sri
quote:
Originally posted by Doug
you know all about cycling the tank etc yeah?
cleaning?
Oh dear 
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Superlite Ltd.
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Registered: 9th Jan 07
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quote:
Originally posted by Doug
you know all about cycling the tank etc yeah?
yeah get your bike out 
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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Have it so the flow of water (nozel) just disturbs the surface of the water...
This helps oxygenate the water...
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkM
Have it so the flow of water (nozel) just disturbs the surface of the water...
This helps oxygenate the water...
as he said ^^
you need to cycle your tank before you put fish in
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Blade_sri
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Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: Pop
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thanks, it already had fish in it, i was just wondering has he had it underwater
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chloe16v
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Registered: 29th Nov 07
Location: Rotherham
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has to be under water to prevent the motor burning out, you do know about 20% water change every 2-4 weeks dont you?
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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quote:
Originally posted by cb87
has to be under water to prevent the motor burning out, you do know about 20% water change every 2-4 weeks dont you?
wrong.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by Russ
quote:
Originally posted by cb87
has to be under water to prevent the motor burning out, you do know about 20% water change every 2-4 weeks dont you?
wrong.
Beat me to it 
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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Basically....MarkM is perfectly correct. Most people tend to have it so the filter outlet disturbs the surface of the water as this helps oxygenate the water. Although it doesnt have to be the case if the guy has another source of oxygen for the water (such as an air pump and stone).
As for cycling - its a major topic and probably the most common way fish die in a newly established tank. Too much to write up on here but you'll find more than a few 100,000 web pages on it if you search google.
And to comment on CB87's comment about 20% water changes every 2-4wks...it firstly depends on the size of tank, its occupants and the size of filter. But in general I would seriously recommend around 15-205 every week. This will (which will make more sense after you read up on cycling a tank) remove the build up of nitrAtes from your tank, which is caused by the filter turning the ammonia (from the fish and food shit basically) into nitrItes, and then into nitrAtes.
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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I do 50% water changes every 10 days I would say...
I would class my tank as moderately stocked...
The old Alge has started to build in mine of late...I think I need a new friend to munch on it...anyone recommend a fish?
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkM
I do 50% water changes every 10 days I would say...
I would class my tank as moderately stocked...
The old Alge has started to build in mine of late...I think I need a new friend to munch on it...anyone recommend a fish?
I try to shy away from 50% changes, as it almost certainly causes a big change in pH, kH and temp levels. Atleast smaller changes can limit this some what - although the best is a continuous water change system, although thats hardly something for a novice.
Have a think about adding a UV filter to your filter set up, as will kill off a lot of the algae. Also look where your tank is positioned, as if its in direct sunlight a lot fo the time this can cuase it to grow no matter what fish you add in there.
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
quote:
Originally posted by MarkM
I do 50% water changes every 10 days I would say...
I would class my tank as moderately stocked...
The old Alge has started to build in mine of late...I think I need a new friend to munch on it...anyone recommend a fish?
I try to shy away from 50% changes, as it almost certainly causes a big change in pH, kH and temp levels. Atleast smaller changes can limit this some what - although the best is a continuous water change system, although thats hardly something for a novice.
Have a think about adding a UV filter to your filter set up, as will kill off a lot of the algae. Also look where your tank is positioned, as if its in direct sunlight a lot fo the time this can cuase it to grow no matter what fish you add in there.
I have done my water change routine since the start of the year...haven't lost any at all so they dont seem to mind...in fact they are thriving...most have grown quite a lot...
The filter is an idea...the tank isnt in direct sunlight...its away from the window...
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by MarkM
I have done my water change routine since the start of the year...haven't lost any at all so they dont seem to mind...in fact they are thriving...most have grown quite a lot...
Yeah their is no problem with the 50%, my routine is just based on keeping Piranha who are a lot more touchy to changes in the water conditions than most tropical fish.
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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quote:
Originally posted by Cosmo
quote:
Originally posted by MarkM
I have done my water change routine since the start of the year...haven't lost any at all so they dont seem to mind...in fact they are thriving...most have grown quite a lot...
Yeah their is no problem with the 50%, my routine is just based on keeping Piranha who are a lot more touchy to changes in the water conditions than most tropical fish.
Yep...mine are tropical...they way I see it though is they mostly live in rivers and streams..where the water temp will change by a few degrees here and there...
As long as its not ridiculously different you will be ok...
I not long ago came back from a week away...first time I have left the tank for over 7 days...I didnt bother getting anyone in to feed them...theres a couple of real plants in that they nibbled on...
Anyway when I came home...the pump had stopped...no reason for it...gave it a clean and it worked again...god knows how long it was off for..but...it looked like it was a couple of days at least...
Not one died though...
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Blade_sri
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Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: Pop
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just got 2 plecs to go in, it already has 7 Convict Cichlid Fish with 2 apple snails
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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 snails
i usualy do a big change, like 50%, have :
1 oscar
2 parrots
4 tinfoils
2 plecs
2 pictus catfish
1 aluminium catfish
2 large gold gouramis
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
Location: Liverpool
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I have:
2 Firemouths
4 Tiger Barbs (did have 6 but 2 died)
1 Red Tail Black Shark
1 Large Gold Gourami
3 Silver Dollars
5 Zebra Danio
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Blade_sri
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Registered: 23rd Apr 03
Location: Pop
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well only have 1 plec now! its been eatten!!!!! its got half the body in the tank!
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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One of my plecs got eaten the other week by the piranha. Was well gutted Thought they wouldn't bother. Other one's still fine tho.
The black red-tailed shark is ace. Totally bullies the 5 piranha. I fear once they grow he'll suffer.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by loafofbrett
One of my plecs got eaten the other week by the piranha. Was well gutted Thought they wouldn't bother. Other one's still fine tho.
The black red-tailed shark is ace. Totally bullies the 5 piranha. I fear once they grow he'll suffer.
Plecs are usually OK with Piranhas as they have a hard back, but when the P's figure out that their belly is soft it doesnt take long before they are finished off.
Had 3 Plecs over 10" in with my shoal and they were fine for about 3 months - then they went missing!
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