Newbie: tetras sucked into filter
- Thread starter mgw4jc
- Start date
Big Al's has some reasonably priced Black sponges, that can be cut to whatever you need, I just bought one to make an intake sponge for my emporer 400, looks much better than the yellow AC sponges. Also if the filter has a round intake tube (I think the penguins do) Try a reverse flow sponge kit for a penguin powerhead, it's easy and low cost.
Can't believe nobody but Hans asked the size of the tank. You may have too much filtration for that size tank. We won't go into numbers unless you can give em to us, but sounds like they never had a chance to fight the current. If it's less than 25 gallons, those fish are probably fightin hard. Just can't see that many fish gettin sucked in like that.
Well I have a reason to believe that the tetras weren't sucked to the filter. What I think has happened here in your case is a ph problem and your fish either became nathargic and either died or lost motor functions and you found them stuck to your filter. Most tetras are in fast moving waters and can swim upstream. A small filter intake is nothing to a tetra. They barely have to move it's fins to get away from it. So this is the reason I think your tetras have died before they were sucked up. It's very common to assume that they were sucked up before they were dead. But the most reasonable answer is they died before that or lost motor function from ph.
Its unlikely that the filter was too strong for the tetras... I've kept a few serpae tetras in a 20gallon tank that was filtered with an AC500 set at maximum flow, and they had no problems moving around the tank.
Zynthesis - I am also quite curious on how you've come to the conclusion that pH is the problem. If you can further explain to us how you came to that conclusion, it'd be appreciated.
As far as I've experienced, pH has never really played a big role in any of my fish keeping... and I've kept everything from acidic/soft water fish, to basic/hard water fish. My tap water is naturally hard as rocks, but I've never done anything to it to adjust the pH or hardness of my water... and I've never had a problem keeping acidic/soft water fish. I know quite a few people who even keep discus in this kind of water, and they also thrive.
-Richer
Zynthesis - I am also quite curious on how you've come to the conclusion that pH is the problem. If you can further explain to us how you came to that conclusion, it'd be appreciated.
As far as I've experienced, pH has never really played a big role in any of my fish keeping... and I've kept everything from acidic/soft water fish, to basic/hard water fish. My tap water is naturally hard as rocks, but I've never done anything to it to adjust the pH or hardness of my water... and I've never had a problem keeping acidic/soft water fish. I know quite a few people who even keep discus in this kind of water, and they also thrive.
-Richer
mgw4jc,
How does your water test out? What are the levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? I would suggest you do a partial water change (~25%), wait a few hours then test your water. You need to wait for your tank to fully cycle before you think of adding more fish. So unless the test results show 0 ppm levels of ammonia and nitrite hold off on adding more fish.
I've found that fish readily adapt to varying pH levels so long as they are acclimated slowly (adding 1-2oz of tank water to the bag every 5 minutes or so for 30-60 minutes, as you float the bag in the tank).
How does your water test out? What are the levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? I would suggest you do a partial water change (~25%), wait a few hours then test your water. You need to wait for your tank to fully cycle before you think of adding more fish. So unless the test results show 0 ppm levels of ammonia and nitrite hold off on adding more fish.
I've found that fish readily adapt to varying pH levels so long as they are acclimated slowly (adding 1-2oz of tank water to the bag every 5 minutes or so for 30-60 minutes, as you float the bag in the tank).
