what would happen if you had no filtration

[crr]

ive been trying to tell my sister that she needs a filter for her tank, its a 3 foot tank, she has a undergravel filter that doesnt work(which she thinks it does) and she said thats all she needs. she doesnt do water changes often enough.

can someone explain to me so i can show her this thread, what happens to the water quality when u dont have a filter.

She has:

1 Gold gurami
2 tiger barbs
4 tetras
2 guppies
1 mollie

 

[Hound]

Out of curiosity have you tested the water in her aquarium? I'm not a big UGF fan, but they do provide for quite a bit of bio filtration. If her water tests at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite then you just have to convince her to do regular water changes and vacuum out the gravel.

 

[ChrisWalker]

The build up of toxins will kill them. Unless of course she changed water every day- which she doesn't.

I have a 3 foot tank and I have a Fluval Plus 3 in it. They cost about £25.

If she's being stubborn you could always buy her one.

Tell her to read this...

"Filtration

Filtration can be considered as three major types: mechanical, biological and adsorptive/chemical. Mechanical filtration is necessary to remove particles from the water to keep the water sparkling clear and to maximise the efficiency of subsequent biological or adsorptive filtration. Biological filtration is essential to ensure the breakdown of waste products in the aquarium by 'friendly' bacteria. This occurs most efficiently in highly porous media such as sponge and specific bio-media such as ceramic tubes and sintered glass. This media should only be lightly rinsed in aquarium water (not tap water) to maintain the bacterial colonies which establish. Adsorptive media selectively remove various substances from the water. Examples include activated carbon which removes toxins, medications, dyes, etc. and specific resins which remove ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, etc. These products are also often referred to as chemical media, although some would reserve this term for media which chemically modify aquarium water in other ways, such as peat which can acidify water by adding humic and tannic acids."

- Read more from the TropicalTank.co.uk

In short, the fish will surely die.

 

[mayastarocker]

For starters, she needs somekind of filter to at least stir the water. If she doesn't, then you could have algae build-up on top of the water. If you don't have some kind of bubbler or undergravel filter, then your fish can die from not having enough oxygen. If it is about 3 feet long, it sounds like about a 46 gallon. You need to clean the tank about every month or so depends on how dirty it can get. I am guessing on the cleaning part because I don't have one this big. As for the filter part, she may have to get a filter that has a waterfall effect on both sides of the filter like one that is for a 45-50+ tank. I hope that this helps!

 

[zazz]

you mean her undergravel filter is broken? or not set up properly?
Cuz undergravel filters do work.
You still need to do water changes though, and it is especially important to vacuum the gravel when you do.
Undergravel filters keeps the water looking clear by trapping any little floating particals,"dust" and such, down into the gravel. That is called mechanical filtration. Also fish poop, uneaten food, bits of dead plants etc also get trapped in there so you can see why it is important to vaccuum regularly.
Underground filters Also work as a biological filter by pulling circulating the water through the gravel where the good bacteria grow.
That, as you probably know, turns ammonia into nitrites and nitrites into nitrAtes.too much nitrate in the water is unhealthy for fish.
NitrAtes can Only be removed by Water changes. Nitrates can be measured with a test kit. you know it is time to change some water when the test kit reads 20. that way They figure that all the other things that we can't measure so easily will also be kept at safe levels.
Other things accumulate in tank water over time that have to be removed by water changes. I do not know what all of these things are. Other people might post here to list some of them. But I do know that fish can't eat and sleep and and drink and breath and eliminate wastes all in the same water endlessly. hope that helps a little

 

[Mgamer20o0]

like zazz said. if its broken or not set up right then its something to worry about.

 

[Atomix-MFK]

She has stocking problems. But an Undergravel filter, despite being old technology, filters okay.

 

[dorkfish]

For starters, she needs somekind of filter to at least stir the water. If she doesn't, then you could have algae build-up on top of the water. If you don't have some kind of bubbler or undergravel filter, then your fish can die from not having enough oxygen.

Algae doesn't grow on the water surface. And, unless you have 60 fish in a ten gallon tank, then you do not need a bubler to provide areation - the water's surface provides all the aeration that is needed.

You need to clean the tank about every month or so depends on how dirty it can get. I am guessing on the cleaning part because I don't have one this big.

As, most people on this board will tell you, weekly water changes (with gravel vec) is the least you should be doing unless you have a very very low bioload.

The build up of toxins will kill them.

Maybe over the course of a year, yes, but mostly not becuase of the lack of a filter, but the lack of water changes. The toxins wich harm the fish get mixed even without water motion, so it makes little difference wether the water is being moved about or not.

 

[Malbri]

Beneficial bacteria grows on the filter and break down ammonia. Also, it circulates the water preventing hotspots

 

[TropicalNorth]

Just my opinion about going filterless.

The biggest things filters provide is; water movement and aeration, mechanical filtration of the water and more surface area for bacteria to colonize. So in other words filters increase the oxygen in the water (as do aerators), keep the water clear and provide biological filtration. Filters are crucial for having an aquarium with a resonable number of fish in it.

For a tank to be filterless there has be a much lower number of fish, but it can be done. Sufficient bacteria will live in the substrate, on the glass and ornaments to support a small number of fish. I have a filterless 15g tank with 1 Paradise Fish, several snails and shrimp. The water is clear, the sand is clean and the water params are perfect. I only recommend going filterless however if you know what your doing, and are willing to have a small bioload.

One thing that cannot be dispensed with on an aquarium is regular partial water changes, nitrates and other harmful waste products will eventually build up to lethel levels.