New to Rope Fish - help on set up

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
twentyleagues said:
Some of those filters have a sponge by the cartridges. I wouldn't mess with it. Probably a good week at least. How often do you change the cartridges?
Click to expand...

Normally when it's needed. I will put in a new cartridge with the old one for 2 weeks then toss the old one. The 40g ones weren't even in a month yet but I had no choice. The 20g one got changed after 6 months, but recently gently washed the red sludge off when I broke the tank down. Still a bit yucky but not sludge any more. But it's carrying the odor still, I really need to get them changed soon. The 40g filter system has room, what type of sponge should be used? This may come in handy when I have to break down again in March to move.
 
jaws7777 said:
Pfs is safe.

I'd pass on the home depot stuff. Ive never used it but heard its hard to clean and easily clouds the water
Click to expand...
agreed.

I was on the hunt for PFS a while back. I'm also in Florida. Would recommend a nearby pool supply store. You still will have to rinse it well though. 2nd option that looked good to me was the Autozone PFS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bottomdweller72
bottomdweller72 said:
Normally when it's needed. I will put in a new cartridge with the old one for 2 weeks then toss the old one. The 40g ones weren't even in a month yet but I had no choice. The 20g one got changed after 6 months, but recently gently washed the red sludge off when I broke the tank down. Still a bit yucky but not sludge any more. But it's carrying the odor still, I really need to get them changed soon. The 40g filter system has room, what type of sponge should be used? This may come in handy when I have to break down again in March to move.
Click to expand...

do you know the specific filter model you have for the 40g we maybe able to figure out what type of sponge could be added
 
  • Like
Reactions: bottomdweller72 and twentyleagues
thefredpit said:
do you know the specific filter model you have for the 40g we maybe able to figure out what type of sponge could be added
Click to expand...
Yes this would help. Or a bag of ceramic rings. As for filter maintanance you should probably be doing it a little more often, but if water still flows through the cartridges not over or around you are probably good. On your next upgrade you might want to upgrade the filter first to one of the canister filters more room for biological filtration. That way you can run it on the current tank and seed it before you up size to the new tank less time to wait to move fish......pretty much set tank up get to temp put seeded filter on it and move fish over. I'd give it a week and reset up your 10g with the smaller filter you should be good by then. As for smell and added bio surface what works good to absorb smells is charcoal. If you can fit a couple small bags of charcoal in the filter it can do double duty for you 1 remove the smell 2 provide a place for bb to grow. It's not ideal for bb but it's absorbing properties will be used up pretty quickly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bottomdweller72
thefredpit said:
do you know the specific filter model you have for the 40g we maybe able to figure out what type of sponge could be added
Click to expand...

I just realized today it has a sponge. It has a "trap" with a brush facing inwards and a sponge inside. Last thing the water hits before going back in tank.
 
twentyleagues said:
Yes this would help. Or a bag of ceramic rings. As for filter maintanance you should probably be doing it a little more often, but if water still flows through the cartridges not over or around you are probably good. On your next upgrade you might want to upgrade the filter first to one of the canister filters more room for biological filtration. That way you can run it on the current tank and seed it before you up size to the new tank less time to wait to move fish......pretty much set tank up get to temp put seeded filter on it and move fish over. I'd give it a week and reset up your 10g with the smaller filter you should be good by then. As for smell and added bio surface what works good to absorb smells is charcoal. If you can fit a couple small bags of charcoal in the filter it can do double duty for you 1 remove the smell 2 provide a place for bb to grow. It's not ideal for bb but it's absorbing properties will be used up pretty quickly.
Click to expand...

Ya I was going to get a canister system for the 75g. thanks for the tip on how to do that and about the charcoal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: twentyleagues
Ok I got charcoal pouches in the filter systems and new filter cartridges in as well. I also treated them to a new bubbler that attaches to the tank wall so boombah can't pull it around lol Beamer kept wrapping around my hand while i was working on the bubbler, first time she ever did something like that love my rope ❤
 
  • Like
Reactions: thefredpit and twentyleagues
Some changes,happened today. When I was at my lfs to get the filters and charcoal, the owner and I, as usual, got into a lengthy conversation about my tank and bouncing thoughts over the 75g.

1: he has my 75g in the back room already lol he even put a canister filter aside with it as well and will package other non living things with it. He said he gets a lot of keepers in his shop but he is amazed by my excitement and passion for the polys. I'm in his shop nearly weekly, mostly just to hang out with the finned kids and pick his brain when he isn't busy. He has a list of the bichirs I am wanting even.

2: as much as I have been enjoying my dither sunset platys and my moose of a pompon goldfish, I've been feeling overwhelmed with the male platys fighting and all the fry. Then add in the very high maintenance gold that feels it's her duty to move everything in the tank and eat me out if house and home. I adore that gold but I can't keep up with her in there.

3: my lfs guy called me this morning to give a proposition... all the platys (including fry when they are ready) and the pompon (he wants her in his personal gold tank he has at home, he has been trying to find one with my Boombahs colors). In exchange, a baby electric yellow cichlid now, and then credit for 2 uj when I pick up my 75g.

Excuse water clarity, I just changed all those filters yesterday. I have a week to make sure I want it, if I don't, I'll be able to bring it back and just have store credit.

Thoughts??? He is currently 1" and will be 5"-6" at adult size.

20180101_155908.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom