Newbie question on filtration and other stuff

[Bosco72]

Holidays? What do you do with the fish and feeding when you go away? I'm curious as to what is the best method?

Fish sitter
Block
Gel

Any other?

I also read that you don't have to feed them? Up to two weeks? Sound a little crazy to me.

 

[jlk]

My guys would DESTROY my plants if i left them for a week with no food! Fish (adults, not fry) can go a week without food but my neighbor comes over & gives them a meal every other day. Best idea for this is to section off meals in advance (pill box or baggies) so the risk of overfeeding isnt a factor.

 

[Bosco72]

What if you don't have the human option?

 

[jlk]

Do some searching on here for other suggestions regarding vacations. I would advise to not worry about feeding for the week you are gone- just do a big pwc before leaving & then again when you return.

 

[caitlynnanne9189]

You can buy a pellet thing that the fish can eat off of. I used it for my 3 gallon when I left for 2 weeks. It works good. Just had to do a water change when I got home

 

[Bosco72]

I heard they can be bad for the fish, by raising ammonia levels really high?

Does anyone know if regular cotton thread will biodegrade?


Thank again for all you continuing advice.

 

[Hobgob]

Your fish should be fine in the week that you are gone. I don't know if you are done with the UGF but I wouldn't use it. Is it powered by a powerhead? And there will be an annoying amount of nitrate levels in the tank over time. From all the waste just sitting under the plates.

 

[Bosco72]

I got a regular in tank filter (no room for a hob), will take out the ugf's when I start to scape out the tank, next week hopefully. I have two dragon eyes in there at the moment as the inlaws thought it would be a nice surprise. I'm donating them to my kids nursery this week, they have a well established tank there that has room for extra stock. My kids 8 gallon has a nice balance and didn't want to mess that up, so I had to place the dragon eyes in the larger unready tank.

I was considering using them as part of the cycle then donating them?

 

[jlk]

I got a regular in tank filter (no room for a hob), will take out the ugf's when I start to scape out the tank, next week hopefully. I have two dragon eyes in there at the moment as the inlaws thought it would be a nice surprise. I'm donating them to my kids nursery this week, they have a well established tank there that has room for extra stock. My kids 8 gallon has a nice balance and didn't want to mess that up, so I had to place the dragon eyes in the larger unready tank.

I was considering using them as part of the cycle then donating them?

When you say dragon eyes, do you mean fancy goldfish as in moors/telescopes? Please do not use them for cycling purposes unless you plan on changing your water twice a day (or more often). They will not fair well & their eyes easily damaged by detectable levels of amm/nitrite & increased levels of nitrates.

 

[Bosco72]

Yes unfortunately, it was the tank or the bag for the weekend. I will re-home them as planned tomorrow.

 

[jlk]

I am GLAD to hear this!!

 

[Bosco72]

Did a water change on saturday night, and another just now, at roughly 20%, I think they should be ok. I normally do a water change every other day on my kids smaller tank. Once they are gone I can pull out he ugf's get some plants ordered. I have a large plastic box with a lid to soak my bog wood. I'm going to do daily warm water changes instead of cooking it.

Another concern is snails/eggs, is this unavoidable?

 

[jlk]

Snails/eggs on plants? Inspect them closely. You can either dip your plants in a potassium permagnate solution or a dilute bleach solution (may affect thin stemmed plants) and/or qt the plants. There really isnt anything that is 100% guarenteed though! Just choose your plant sources wisely & know that snails are always a possibility.

 

[Bosco72]

Can you buy a ready made solution to soak the plants in? I done some looking and all I can find is products you put in your habitat after the fact? I read that a small number can be a benefit to the tank/environment? Not sure how you would keep the numbers down, don't they self reproduce? Sounds like it would be constant battle

 

[jlk]

I use a product made by Jungle called 'Clear Water'. Its a potassium permagnate solution. You add a enough to a bucket of water to turn it purply-pink & dip the plants for @10-15mins then rinse them in some declhorinated water. Petco carries it or you can find it online. But, i still have a few pond snails that have managed to survive on plants. You can dispose of the snails if you find them & dont want them in your tank but they are otherwise harmless.

 

[Bosco72]

Does anyone know if there is a uk equivalent as I have found a few places that sell it and it's only 2 dollars to buy it but postage is like 20 dollars?

 

[Bosco72]

Never mind, found info on common plain bleach seems to be the way forward.

 

[jlk]

Yes, a bleach solution will work as well. Use a 1 part bleach to 19 parts water solution & dip plants for 2-3mins (thin stemmed ones- 2mins or less). Good luck!

 

[Bosco72]

Are none return check valves a necessity?

I have ordered some and my pump is at a lower position to the tank.

My other question would be how much do they impact on air flow?

I have always made sure that the pump on my kids tank is higher for fear of back syphoning.

Cheers for any thoughts on this subject.

 

[jlk]

From a safety standpoint, check valves are a good idea. Are they an absolute necessity, probably not if your pump sits high enough. If they are lower & you suffer a power outtage in the middle of the night, you may just wake up to an empty tank & floor full of water....