No filter for 5 days?

[BassetsForBrown]

Hi,
90g, with an Oscar & Blue Acara.

My canister filter broke, and the new one won't be here for 5 days. Any suggestions what to do until than?

Would 50% water changes every other day be excessive?

Thanks

 

[Gourami Swami]

The water changes would not be excessive. I would recommend it. You will need something to keep the circulation going and keep the water oxygenated. A powerhead or large enough air pump would do this. Do you have either of these? This is more important in the short-term than the actual filtration. If you don't have something like this the fish will breath at the top and eventually suffocate. As long as you keep the water moving and do the water changes it should be fine.
The other thing to keep in mind is that the beneficial bacteria mostly lives in the filter, if you don't save the filter media in moving tank water you might have a mini cycle or the cycle might die. If the tank has been set up a long time, there is probably enough bacteria in the substrate etc. to avoid re-cycling.

 

[BassetsForBrown]

The water changes would not be excessive. I would recommend it. You will need something to keep the circulation going and keep the water oxygenated. A powerhead or large enough air pump would do this. Do you have either of these? This is more important in the short-term than the actual filtration. If you don't have something like this the fish will breath at the top and eventually suffocate. As long as you keep the water moving and do the water changes it should be fine.
The other thing to keep in mind is that the beneficial bacteria mostly lives in the filter, if you don't save the filter media in moving tank water you might have a mini cycle or the cycle might die. If the tank has been set up a long time, there is probably enough bacteria in the substrate etc. to avoid re-cycling.

I have one air pump, think that's enough?

The filter media is all in a bag in the tank with a bunch of holes sliced in it, so that should be ok.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I have one air pump, think that's enough?

The filter media is all in a bag in the tank with a bunch of holes sliced in it, so that should be ok.

One air pump should be okay as long as it is a large enough pump for the tank. I just mean that a 10 gallon air pump wouldn't work for a 100 gallon tank. But if it's large enough I think you will be fine for the 5 days.
Media situation sounds fine too.

 

[DBLN8]

Put the media from your old filter in a mesh bag and put an airstone under it, the water moving thru the bag will help your bacteria survive.