My filter died, need advice!

AnnetteG

AnnetteG

getting back to basics
Sep 24, 2007
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I just moved the filter for my 10 gallon back on the tank tonight, after changing to sand yesterday. The filter was running fine on the 5 gallon my fish are in. It acted up when I took it off the 10 and moved it to the 5 and didn't start up for a few minutes, then magically started. This time, nothing. Unplugged, replugged, took off and cleaned, replugged. Nada. Okay, so now I put the only extra filter I have, which is a 5 gallon HOB whisper or tetra something or other. I didn't have any filters for it, and I need my others to keep water running over them to keep my bacteria alive, so I put the filter cartridges from the 10 in the 5 filter. They don't fit exactly, but they're in there and the water is running through, albeit at a very gentle flow rate.

My question is, how long can I run the tank like this and will it be okay to move my fish back in for a day or two with that slow arse filter running on there? I will TRY to get a new filter tomorrow, but I may have a fight with the DH on my hands. :uhoh: (I've been a bit spendy with my tanks lately)

I do have an in tank filter that is for a 10 gallon, but I hesitate to put that in there because I'm afraid of it being too close to the sand. I'd have to swap the 5 filter with it, since that one is on the 10 gallon with my froggy.

arrrggghhhhh :nilly: Right now my betta & guppies are still sitting in the 5 gallon, with no filtration at the moment. I can change the water every day, if I have to. I know the betta would be fine, not sure about the guppies.

ETA: I just remembered! If I can hold out till the 3rd, my employee discount doubles for 2 days! Whaddya think?
 
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The filter you have in there now should be ok for a little while, but you will have to replace it soon. You should check the 10 gallon filter and make sure it isn't clogged. If any sand got in there and clogged the filter, then it will not run. Good luck!
 
In a medium or large tank I think 2 filters is a good idea...along with 2 heaters, but then I like built in redundancy.

re the unfiltered 5 gallon...can you run an airstone & pump in there ? that would help - together with the daily water changes I would think you would be ok for a couple of weeks, subject to just how many guppies there are in there...which seems to be 4.

I think you'll be ok, although ideally you'd get a filter in there asap - what you're worried about mostly would be ammonia/nitrite build up and daily changes should keep that within bounds. Do monitor parameters carefully - small tanks can be very volatile.

When you put the new filter in seed it with media/squeezings from a cycled tank and *poof* instant cycle.
 
A couple days only, that should only be a very temporary thing. I wouldn't recommend it for any longer than 48 hrs. To be on the safe side.
 
For biofiltration you are still circulating the water across the built up bacteria on the 5g filter. That will definitely help for a while and will keep the filter media "alive". You probably are not getting any mechanical filtration but if you can get a new large enough filter in the next few days you will at least have biologically active media to seed it with. If I read your question right you have fish in the 5 so you will want to get the filter taken care of quickly then transfer the filter you are keeping alive into the new filter as maybe an extra that may not fit the new filter but will at least seed it.
 
the 3rd is a bit to long to keep them without a filter.

it may be a better idea to go to the store and get a cheap temporary filter, and then on the 3rd go back and get a more expensive permanent filter and keep the cheaper one for a backup in case this happens again.
 
WAHOO! The DH fixed it!

I have to give him credit. He doesn't know squat about taking care of the fish - I do all that - but he's my mechanical hero. I didn't even know the part with the impeller in it would come out of this filter, but he pulled it right out, cleaned it and it's all good again! It wasn't sand, that filter never ran in the tank with the sand, it was just good n dirty. :grinyes:
 
Glad to hear you got it working :)
 
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