×
Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Filters & tank re-modelling

More
04 Apr 2008 22:16 #1 by pointer28 (Noel Lambert)
I have a 65 ltr tank and I have an internal filter which is rated for tanks up to 90 ltrs, so I have always thought that I was fine and dandy and my tank seems fine, the water clean and the fish are happy.

However, reading through posts here I see lots of people saying they have an external filter and also another internal filter in the same tank. Looking at some of the brand and models mention I know that the external filter alone should be plenty for the tank sizes mentioned, at least on paper.

What is the reason for this or is there something I'm missing here?:blush:

SECOND QUESTION

I recently bought a second hand tank from a shop and it's basically a 4 foot tank divided in two. The divider is glass and siliconed into place. I would much prefer it if it was just the single 4 foot tank instead of 2 smaller tanks. My question is would it be hard to remove this divider, and how would I do this or should I leave it alone as I'll make a balls of it and end up with nothing.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
04 Apr 2008 23:27 #2 by oog1111 (Orlagh O Grady)
Hi there,
I'm pretty new to trops, but would imagine the filter you have is fine once your nitrates(etc.) are low, but sound like you know this. big tanks more filters, me thinks but could mayb depend on fish too, I think, as some need super clean water and some fish are very messy. I'm sure someone will have better answer...much better at D.I.Y..

The tank question depends on a few things. Is the base glass a solid sheet of glass? and are the side one solid 4 ft sheet of glass? if they are I reckon you could use a blade to cut away the silicone holding the divider glass in place, but be careful (If main tank is arcrylic be super careful not to scrape) and maybe have extra pair of hand to hold the glass while you cut. then when this is done I'd get some silicon and run it over the joints on the inside of tank, just incase you nicked it somewhere while cutting away the divide.(good to do this anyways with second hand). also give it good clean (with aquarium safe type anti-bacterial thingy before you put anything into tank, think a strong solution of tonic salts works but not sure...(can check for list tomoro I you need)after all that, (24hrs at least) I'd fill it most of the way (somewhere it doesn't matter if water escapes)just to check it not leaking.
if all is well you'd be ready to rock
If sides(4ft) and bottom aren't made up of solid sheet, bit trickier...but can't think why it'd be like that.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
05 Apr 2008 09:14 #3 by pointer28 (Noel Lambert)
Hi Oog,

Yes, the bottom and the two sides are both solid 4 foot pieces of glass so I think I might chance it and hope I don't destroy it.

I would much prefer to have the full 4 foot tank so I put in some nice rockery and plants and I would have more options when it comes to stocking, plus the general opinion is that the larger the tank, the easier to control water quality.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
05 Apr 2008 12:12 #4 by oog1111 (Orlagh O Grady)
take your time doing it and you'll be grand!

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
05 Apr 2008 13:22 #5 by mickeywallace (Michael Wallace Cath Woods)
Hi pointer28,
problems and questions we all have had.

so lets start with filtration. the simple answer is you can never have enough filtration. the added advantage of an external is it increases the volume of water consider it an external sump with x number of liters of water in it so now you have that extra water and bacteria working hard at keeping the tank right. plus by having an internal and external if one brakes you have another working away. thus it will reduce possible losses if not totally avoiding losses.


as for separating the glass i would us a flexible utility knife very care fully remove the sealant then in the area were i removed the glass i would re seal. allow to cure then test fill.

carefull does every time and take your time.

Mickey

Mickey Wallace & Cath Woods

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
05 Apr 2008 19:29 #6 by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
mickey is right second filter is purely backup plus as he said you can never have enough filtration,

be careful cutting out the divider and makesure you resilicone
it well and do a retest somewhere that if it isn't water tight you wont ruin carpets etc.. slow and easy is the rule

Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild

currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
05 Apr 2008 19:57 #7 by pointer28 (Noel Lambert)
Hi all and thanks for your help.

Another question, on the advice of another members PM I was told to turn the temperature right up while I'm initially cycling to quicken bacteria growth etc. and turn it down a few days before adding fish. This I have done.

It's now been two days since I turned my heater up to max (32c) and the temperature has actually dropped by 1 degree instead of rising. The heater is certainly working as the light is on and the tank is at 24c but why hasn't it risen, surely it wouldn't take two days to raise the temp of a 30 litre tank?

Is the heater likely to be malfunctioning?

OR

Could my thermometer (internal glass type) be malfunctioning

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Apr 2008 02:19 #8 by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
possibly your heater is malfunctioning..what wattage is it if its too small this maybe the problem but if the tank is only 30l i'd think the heater is fubar.. you could try a new thermometer first the cheapest option... but i reckon you'll know if its the thermometer by placing your hand on the aquarium glass if it feel warm the heaters working if not new heater...ps dont stick your hand in the water just in case it is a heater fault and the water is live...
be careful
Seamus

Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild

currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Apr 2008 06:48 #9 by pointer28 (Noel Lambert)
Hi Seamus,

The wattage is only 25w, which seems a bit small as I've checked a few manufacturer websites and they all recommend 50w for tanks between 25 - 60 litres. It's definitely working as the water isn't cold but it is struggling to keep the tank at 25c.

Maybe I should just buy a new 50w heater and put it down to experience. I would rather get it sorted before I start adding fish and then discover I have a problem.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Valerie (Valerie)
  • Valerie (Valerie)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
06 Apr 2008 09:21 #10 by Valerie (Valerie)
Replied by Valerie (Valerie) on topic Re:Filters & tank re-modelling
Hi Pointer28,

Yes, I think your heater might be too small to get the temperature up in this tank. You should get a bigger one : a 75W might even be better for this tank.

I found myself in that situation once where I wanted to raise the water temperature to treat whitespot and the heater couldn't cope. As it was a temporary measure, I wrapped the tank in a quilt hence decreasing the heat loss and it worked. However, getting a bigger heater might just be an easier solution. You can get yourself a bare small tank and use your current heater to quarantine your new fish before you put them in the main tank (50W should be ok for a 25l tank).

Hope this helps,
Valerie

Please Log in to join the conversation.

  • Valerie (Valerie)
  • Valerie (Valerie)'s Avatar
  • Visitor
  • Visitor
06 Apr 2008 09:32 #11 by Valerie (Valerie)
Replied by Valerie (Valerie) on topic Re:Filters & tank re-modelling
Hi Pointer28,

Yes, I think your heater might be too small to get the temperature up in this tank. You should get a bigger one : a 75W might even be better for this tank.

I found myself in this situation once where I wanted to raise the water temperature to treat whitespot and the heater couldn't cope. As it was a temporary measure, I wrapped the tank in a quilt hence decreasing the heat loss and it worked. However, getting a more powerful heater might just be an easier solution. You can get yourself a bare small tank and use your current heater to quarantine your new fish before you put them in the main tank (50W should be ok for a 25l tank).

Hope this helps,
Valerie

Please Log in to join the conversation.

More
06 Apr 2008 17:30 #12 by pointer28 (Noel Lambert)
Hi Valerie,

I just bought a new heater today, 100w (better looking at it than for it) and I'm going to keep the 25w for heating buckets of water for water changes. At least thats the theory.

Thanks to all for the advice.

I'm sure I'll think of something else for you.

Please Log in to join the conversation.

Time to create page: 0.048 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum