How To Tell If My New Filter Gets Thumbs Up?

[EtherealGirl]

Well, I took FTF's advice and exchanged the AquaClear 20 for the AC 30.

I dismantled my old Whispr 10/20 and set up the AC in my 10g freshwater. I am hoping that switching to the new filter will help in a number of ways, not the least of which is helping to control / conquer the diatoms outbreak (which got worse this past week).

When I took apart the old Whisper, the white bag (charcoal?) looked pretty disgusting and had a lot of that same rusty-brown color all over it. So hopefully starting up the new filter will keep it from spreading more? {I have lots more Qs re: how to handle the diatoms, but I'll put that in a separate thread}.

As far as being able to tell if the new filter is doing its job, etc:

• When I look at the water surface from below, I can clearly see ripples spreading out from where the output meets the tank water (never noticed that with old Whisper).
• There are tiny bubbles being shot downwards into the tank water and which travel fairly deep into the tank (again, never saw noticeable bubbles with old filter)
• I can also see those bubbles rising up, back to the surface.
• When a piece of seaweed (about the size of a child's pinky fingernail) got into the tank (thought platys were supposed to love veggies & seaweed, but NOBODY touched the seaweed ), the seaweed bit was shot around the inside of the tank quite thoroughly: would fall and then be wooshed up or over and then around and down; this lasted quite a while before it finally got sucked up against the intake of the filter. Again, my old filter would have pushed it down to the bottom but I doubt I would have seen much movement after that, and certainly not the "Seaweed Ballet" I watched for over a minute !! I'm assuming this was a graphic demonstration of something I've been reading about here: good water circulation?

My instinct tells me this is all good. But I wonder how I'm supposed to tell if it's too strong of a current. I have 5 tiny fish and so far they seem pretty happy, scooting through the output flow like it's a cross between a jacuzzi and a water slide .

Any words of advice or feedback

[peanutbowl]

jacuzzis and water slides sound like a load of fun to me! if the fish seem happy playing in the flow, then you shouldn't have a problem with it. and the aquaclear has that groovy flow control on it that can help at feeding time. sounds like a positive change.

[EtherealGirl]

p'nut:
Thanks for the feedback. My old Whisper had a flow control, too. But it was either badly designed or corroded from years of lime, etc: it was IMPOSSIBLE to turn!!

What a dope I am: I use feeding rings for feeding (cuz it cuts down a lot on food waste, plus it's fun to watch my little community have an apparently happy "Scramble & Tumble" to share the food. In the past, one of the two rings (the one closer to the filter) would lose food out of the ring even when the fish weren't there actively eating (and breaking the surface tension). Doy! (imagine smilely doing forehead slap)... I can turn the flow down during feeding time (so long as I remember to turn it back on!) Thanks for the epiphany, peanut bowl!

Let's hope it helps with the diatoms, too (I'm betting it won't).

[peanutbowl]

i think the diatom problem is just something that has to run it's course. in the meantime, keep looking around for the phosphate absorbing pillows that are available. and don't be afraid to clean the effected objects in the tank. i do my water changes weekly and about once a month i clean the glass and plastic that have the diatoms on them. another strategy that i have seen discussed is to only clean the front and side glass of the aquarium. by leaving a healthy coat of diatoms/algae on the back glass, you have something in the tank that is using up the suspect nutrients. that should help control the spread a little.

[Jay]

Ottos Love Diatoms

[EtherealGirl]

Forgive me if I've already been told this. My brain is starting to feel like a collander... so much input!! But:

• Do they make ottos that stay small enough to join my 10g community? (we've got 2 dwarf platys, 2 fancy guppies, and probably 3 glofish (going to buy 2 more Tuesday).
• Are they ok being "alone" (pretty sure we'd only have room for one, if that)
• If they're ok alone, will one be sufficient to tidy up the current diatoms and future green algae?

Gotta say, the one in the picture is pretty cute. I could definitely come to love him / her, especially if s/he provided Diatom Destruction Duty!!!

[Dmaaaaax]

Originally Posted by Jay

Ottos Love Diatoms

Mine likes belly rubs!


These guys stay small, they can get fat, but they stay small (1-1.5in). They prefer groups. I had 3 in my 20g. Even with 3, they need weekly help cleaning the glass and such with a blade. If you can keep most of the glass clean on a weekly basis, they can focus on the plants and driftwood.

[EtherealGirl]

Dmaaaaax, Great shot! As the owner of a dog who loves belly rubs, I really had a chuckle from your pix and caption! And I have indeed added an oto to our community. I love him; he looks like a cross between a frog and a dolphin! I can't think of anything to name him, since "Otto" seems so apt.

Depending on how my favorite platy is doing in the morning (see separate thread), I'm thinking about taking the 2 glofish back (never trust anything with "GMO" in its name) and getting another 1 or 2 otos to keep Otto company (plus there's definitely more diatoms than one itty-bitty otto can manage!!)

Thanks again for the picture & the giggle. I'm feeling pretty blue tonight (about my platy) and the smile was much needed.

[louistheloach]

I think you will really appreciate having the ottos in your tank.

ltl

[EtherealGirl]

ltl,

Mornin'!
YES! I love my oto. He is the best!!!!!

{I just drafted a (big surprise here) long reply to your reply on my "Swimming in Place Platy" thread. There's some good news on his improved behavior. But I'm very superstitious, and so decided I would wait to send it until such time as I see his improvement last consistently for a bit.}

If my platy improves & starts eating, I think I'll take the glofish to the lfs that "adopts" problem fish, and get another oto or two. In less than 48 hours, he's made a significantly noticeable difference in the appearnce of the tank. (In my long ranting reply, I pretty much blame everything short of world hunger on the glofish , so I'm thinking I'll lose the glofish and gain some more otos, cuz they're cute, and amazingly helpful). {Wish I had an oto who could make my house so clean!!}

At the risk of muddying this thread (which has actually already gone off the "filter" topic a long while ago), can I ask you here where you bought the Garlic Extreme? (I had that Q in my ranting reply, which won't be getting sent til ... well, who knows when.)