Filter intakes

[puber88]

After some issues with my tank, and eventually buying a new one and cycling the tank. (of which advice on here was very helpful), i have finally gotten my tank to a situation that it is ready for a few more fish.
(i have a 125L Jewel tank with built in filter and light)
I have had only 4 zebra danio's which have been maturing the tank, and have been getting my water tested by the LFS.

I Have two Questions before i commit to putting more fish in.

1. one of the danio's seems to have taken to swimming into the filter, through the intake slots that run up the sides of the filter. this usually leads to him (or her) swimming around in the top of the filter until i realise there is one missing (usually in the morning) and lifting the sponges up, so that it can flop into the main tank. Why is this and can i stop it?

2. Since putting fish in, i have noticed a build up, Mainly on the leaves of the fake plants of a substance that looks a little like balls of dust. im assuming this might be down to slight overfeeding on my part and is the food settling and balling together.
how do i get rid of this? what can i use? is i just a question of cleaning the leaves/ornaments the next time i water change?

again any help welcomed,
thnaks in advance.

JK

[Rocksor]

1. Put a filter sponge on the intake or pantyhose.

2. Clean the fake plants using old tank water at your next scheduled water change

[imma24]

maturing the tank, and have been getting my water tested by the LFS.

im assuming this might be down to slight overfeeding on my part and is the food settling and balling together.
how do i get rid of this? what can i use? is i just a question of cleaning the leaves/ornaments the next time i water change?

+1 to the above regarding using something to prevent the danio from getting into your filter - it's similar to what people do to prevent baby fish from getting sucked into the filter.

If you have so much food settling at the bottom, I would either cut back on how much you're putting in there at feeding time or cut back on how often you feed - you should only be putting in enough that the fish can finish in a few minutes - leftovers will rot and cause ammonia if you don't remove it quickly enough and since you're cycling your tank now you don't want the ammonia building up too much with the fish in there.

May I also recommend you get your own liquid testing kit (like the API freshwater master kit) to watch your water parameters - pet stores usually use test strips which aren't considered very accurate and won't give you a proper picture of how far along you are in the cycle. You need to monitor ammonia, nitrites & nitrates yourself.

[puber88]

regarding the test kit, yes i will get one, but whilst i am new to the hobby, i use the advice the shop offers, and no they use the containers and add the different thinkgs to it, so its more thorough test.

in regards to the excess food at the bottom of the tank, is there a form of vacuum i can use that doesnt remove water, so that im not constantly changing the water?

cheers

JK

[Goes to 11!]

Why would you not want to be changing water? Besides, You are cycling with fish currently... You ARE going to be changing a lot of water - Just FYI.

And as noted - Feed less - Try feeding half the amount and I am not even kidding here.

[puber88]

Yeah, i have stopped feeding anywhere near as much over the last few days.

in terms of changing water, i just was under the assumption that changing water every day would unsettle the fish?

especially if its simply to clean out debris?

but i might be wrong!

JK

[aquahead1]

Put a filter sponge on the intake or pantyhose.

Does this work for Rosy Red Minnows as well? I think my filter is too powerful for my tank, even though it's fit for 5-15 gallon tanks, and they get sucked into the current.

[Goes to 11!]

Yeah, i have stopped feeding anywhere near as much over the last few days. Good.

in terms of changing water, i just was under the assumption that changing water every day would unsettle the fish?

especially if its simply to clean out debris?

but i might be wrong!

You are wrong.

Does this work for Rosy Red Minnows as well? I think my filter is too powerful for my tank, even though it's fit for 5-15 gallon tanks, and they get sucked into the current.

Your filter is not too powerful for a 10g by any means - It's not even enough filter for that tank- Healthy adult rosies will have NO issues there.

[puber88]

right then, will be changing the water more often then!

i managed to clean out a lot of it with a net and already its looking cleaner.

Just need ot knock the ammonia back down!

JK