unicorn_unicorn
Aquarium Advice Newbie
So about a year ago i bought a 6 gallon tank (25L) its 40x25x28 cm. I also got myself a water pump and a box filter (bcoz these type of filter are cheap and most common in my country). I get the cheapest water pump I could find .
now after I cycled the tank for 4wks w no fish, i got panda cories and they would always get sick then die. They would swim upside down b4 dying a day later. And I dont get why, I would get more panda cories from a different fish store and same result. ultimately since they kept dying, I gave up on the cories.
Now I added other fish along the way like guppies, mollies, etc..easy fishes. Some died but hey most lived lol, so I thought great. It must be the cories that are the problem, theyre difficult fishes. not an issue with my aquarium, again I cant believe how clueless I was a few months ago.
Then I finally figured out. It was the filter current that caused these fishes to die randomly. It was too strong for my small aquarium.
Problem is i cant afford water pumps with adjustable flow..so ever since a month ago, I just turned off my filter and only turned them on for 30minutes-1hour after I feed the fish.
Now I got more panda cories, they stopped dying but other fishes die 1 after another, im guessing bcs the water parameter is effed since the filters always off.
Water have gotten green, theres zero movement in the water so im guessing the good bacteria population are down and that mustve contribute to bad water parameter
Now I watched youtube videos that explains the importance of aerating my tank..and so I bought an air pump, maybe this will help in the meanwhile until I can get water pump with adjustable speed. I tried all kinds of hacks to slow down the output but it was still too strong.
With the aerator the flow is just right. I also put in some zeolite, bio stones, and sponge filter.. who knows maybe the fish will be fine with just the aerator, im gonna see if theres anymore sick or dead fishes in the upcoming days
Sorry for the long post above i have a few questions..in my case, how long should I keep the aerator on everyday? 12hrs? 24hrs? I have almost no plants in my tank, just a few cabomba and hornworts.
Also I saw in the leaflet that I should place the air pump above water? I did install an air valve in the tubing, so do I really have to put the machine above water? Cuz theres no place to do that, so id have to install a rack or something..
Thanks a bunch for the help btw..
Forgot to add, tanks population currently;
2 panda cories, 3 cory aeneus, 2 cory paleatus, 3 red nose tetra, 1 guppy female (other 2 guppies died ) and 4 celestial pearl danios. + 3 nerite snails and a dozen dwarf shrimps.
now after I cycled the tank for 4wks w no fish, i got panda cories and they would always get sick then die. They would swim upside down b4 dying a day later. And I dont get why, I would get more panda cories from a different fish store and same result. ultimately since they kept dying, I gave up on the cories.
Now I added other fish along the way like guppies, mollies, etc..easy fishes. Some died but hey most lived lol, so I thought great. It must be the cories that are the problem, theyre difficult fishes. not an issue with my aquarium, again I cant believe how clueless I was a few months ago.
Then I finally figured out. It was the filter current that caused these fishes to die randomly. It was too strong for my small aquarium.
Problem is i cant afford water pumps with adjustable flow..so ever since a month ago, I just turned off my filter and only turned them on for 30minutes-1hour after I feed the fish.
Now I got more panda cories, they stopped dying but other fishes die 1 after another, im guessing bcs the water parameter is effed since the filters always off.
Water have gotten green, theres zero movement in the water so im guessing the good bacteria population are down and that mustve contribute to bad water parameter
Now I watched youtube videos that explains the importance of aerating my tank..and so I bought an air pump, maybe this will help in the meanwhile until I can get water pump with adjustable speed. I tried all kinds of hacks to slow down the output but it was still too strong.
With the aerator the flow is just right. I also put in some zeolite, bio stones, and sponge filter.. who knows maybe the fish will be fine with just the aerator, im gonna see if theres anymore sick or dead fishes in the upcoming days
Sorry for the long post above i have a few questions..in my case, how long should I keep the aerator on everyday? 12hrs? 24hrs? I have almost no plants in my tank, just a few cabomba and hornworts.
Also I saw in the leaflet that I should place the air pump above water? I did install an air valve in the tubing, so do I really have to put the machine above water? Cuz theres no place to do that, so id have to install a rack or something..
Thanks a bunch for the help btw..
Forgot to add, tanks population currently;
2 panda cories, 3 cory aeneus, 2 cory paleatus, 3 red nose tetra, 1 guppy female (other 2 guppies died ) and 4 celestial pearl danios. + 3 nerite snails and a dozen dwarf shrimps.
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