Need advice on dirty tank

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K

Keeper of the Ropes

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2006
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Texas
I just completely cleaned the gravel in my 29g a week ago... and it's disgusting. I'm not talking about bacteria. I'm not talking about algae, or even left over food. I'm talking about fish $hit. Lots of it. Chunks of it. When the fish are calm and not moving around, it looks beautiful. Then they start to swim and churn it up off the bottom and it's all gross again. What kind of filter should I be using for fish with... big ... waste? :ROFL: They eat big meaty foods - usually live - and when it comes out it's just as big. Right now I have a 30 gallon Top Fin external filter... The way the stuff is piling up, I would have to vaccuum the gravel/do a water change twice a week to keep the tank clean and I just don't have time for that. Should I switch filters? Maybe an undergravel? Switch my substrate? I'd like black sand but I think that would just look worse. I had an undergravel a long time ago and I didn't like the way all the crap accumulated under the tank... didn't seem clean at all to me. What should I do?

**edited to add..
And another thing. I bought this Malaysia wood... and it keeps staining my water brown. I followed the directions and soaked it in other water for 15 minutes before putting it in the tank but that did nothing. I've had the wood for over a month and a half, just did a water change, and it's brown again. What's the deal on that?
 
First off water changes will only get rid of the brown water. I soak my drift wood for aleast a week and still tend to get a bit of brown water.

As far as the waste goes just feed them less, or upgrade the filter system or add another. But the best way would be to up your water changes, and clean the gravel more.

Also feeding them smaller meals more often than once a day feedings will produce less wast, not sure if you are doing this already but just a suggestion.

I also don't think a undergravel filter will be of much use.
 
I saw a gravel cleaner in a catalog that supposedly cleans the gravel without a water change... but the thing runs on batteries. Do those actually work?
 
No idea, never tried one but have seen them for sale. Still think a good old water change is the best route, but if that doesn't work in your scheduale get another filter or upgrade.
 
i heard that they work. They are mostly good for cleaning up any crap you can see on the surface of the gravel in between water changes.

(like a hand held vacuume, good for small jobs)

I agree that you are probably overfeeding a little. A small amount twice daily is sufficient. Dont feed your fish until they are full. Always leave them a little hungry. (just a little)

Double your filtration also.
 
i would upgrade to an aquaclear 70 thats what i use on my 29g and the water is clear
 
I think you should put in an undergravel filter and attach a reverse flow powerhead to the upflow. Maybe even two.

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It sucks water in from the tank through the sponge prefilter and blows it out through the gravel. You'll still have to vacum your tank, but the visible accumulation will be less.

Another route is to put a regular powerhead near the bottom of your tank(either attached to an undergravel upflow cut short or just stuck to the glass) and have it(or they) blow across your gravel.


Eitherway get rid of the topfin. Pick up a Penguin 200 or 350 or an AC 70.
 
yea i agree, you obviously have some big ol' fish in that tank so i would get either an AC 70 or an emperor 280 or a penguin 350. if you want you can replace the cartridge on the top fin and use that too but i would definitley get a new filter and a powerhead to keep the water moving so the filter will filter out all the water.
 
Alright I'll do it. Three of you mentioned the AC 70, so I'll get one of those. Also, I'll pick up one of the gravel cleaners from the catalog. But one problem I have is the food. I feed rosies a lot, and they eat them very quickly. Should I have a separate tank just for the rosies so they don't eat them so fast? For example, I bought two dozen rosies on Monday. There were three left this morning, now there is one. Well actually, an hour ago there was one. There may be none now.
 
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