Overflowing filter

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sprite42

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Nov 17, 2003
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I need some help figuring out what is causing my filter to overflow around the intake tube. I have an Aquatech 30-60 HOB Power Filter. It is on a 29 gallon FW tank.
Inhabitants are:
2 Black Phantom Tetras
2 White Skirt Tetras
2 Upside Down Catfish - 2 1/2 inches
2 Clown Loaches - 2 1/2 to 3 inches
2 Albino Cory Cats
1 Julii Cory Cat
2 black Kuhli Loaches
2 Striped Kuhli Loaches
3 otocinclus catfish
3 pristella tetras
1 male dwarf gourami
1 common pleco - 8 inches

This tank has been running for about 10 months. I vacuum weekly and do a 25% water change. I rinse the filter media in siphoned tank water. I do this every Monday night. By Wednesday, water is overflowing the intake tube. About 2 weeks ago, I broke the filter down completely and cleaned all parts including the impeller. One week later, same thing. After reading on this forum, last Monday, I changed filter cartridges. I removed the carbon prior to change. Last night, water was again overflowing the intake tube.

I know I have a lot of fish in this tank. I do have another 29 gallon setup and running for about 3 months. I thought about moving some of the fish into this tank, but it currently holds 9 adult tiger barbs, a red tailed black shark, 1 skunk loach and a small common pleco. I didn't know which from the first tank would be compatible with those in the second tank.

My question is, what could be causing the filter problem? This has never been a problem until the last month. And I have even given some of my fish away, 3 serpae tetras and a male gourami.

Any suggestions?

Sprite42
 
This is not a problem--it is the filter doing exactly what it is supposed to do--remove solid wastes from teh water column.

Cleaning the filter out more often, or adding a prefilter that is cleaned frequently, will help. Otherwise, reduced feeding and reducing the number of fish in the tank will help. That's more fish than I have in 2 55's combined!
 
O G was polite- you are way way overstocked. You need about 3 times as much filtration as you have and even then the living conditions for your fish are not real healthy for them. The pleco alone at that size can clog your filter and it is only going to get bigger. He is probably creating close to 1/2 the waste in your tank.
 
Second filter

I vote for a completely separate filter. Adding a sponge to that one will just slow the flow more as it clogs, you need more volume AND flow.

Or get rid of the pleco.
 
I do appreciate your reply's and suggestions. Just so that you all don't think I am a completely careless fishkeeper, I would like to give you a little background.

Several of these fish, including the pleco, belonged to a friend of mine. When she moved to a different house, she somehow shattered her tank. So, to save the fish, they were put in my tank. She has since decided not to replace her tank. I am now trying to do the best I can with what I have.

I have found a place for the pleco, but it is 200 miles away. How do I net him and travel him without hurting him?

Also, the other suggestion of additional filtration, what kind and how much would help this situation? It may be several weeks before I can get the pleco moved. I am going to upgrade to a bigger tank sometime this year. But, I am afraid the pleco will be way to big before that time.

TIA,
Sprite42
 
That regent 30-60 takes the same filters as a penguin 330...

I'd suggest getting a penguin 330 (same thing as the regent, but has bio-wheels) and use it in conjunction with that regent...

I have two 330's on my 55gal for just that reason, once my fish grow a little more, I will be heavily stocked...

I think the penguin 330's are still on sale for 25 bucks or so at bigals...
 
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