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Moderator
 
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Last Login: 7/2/2008 12:52:08 PM
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| The sponge on the intake works fine, but you have to squeeze it out every so often or the flow slows down. Not much of a fan of UG filters, I'm actually testing one now that is a reverse flow, with "towers" on each back corner that have "bio-balls" and small "bricks" (I don't know what else to call the, that provide an anoxic environment for bacteria to break down nitrates. The system comes with a HOB filter, and packets of carbon and zeolite that are replaced every week or two, and additives of trace elements and bacteria starters. So far the plants and fish are doing really well -- as with all of my tanks I have lots of fish -- and there are 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite and moderate nitrates. It is an interesting system -- going another 6 weeks or so before I come to final conclusions.
*************************** Be warned -- everyone at college has a weird roommate. If you don't have a weird roomate -- then you're the weird roommate.
Conan O'Brien, Stuyvesant High School.
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Average Member
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I heard one of the major problems with most nitrate systems is the bacteria release sulfer compounds as a part of their metabolism.....
"We are Starfleet officers, Weird is a part of the job" - Captain Janeway, USS Voyager
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Average Member
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Well things are not exactly going well without my UGF. The whisper HOB is being totally over whelmed by the dietris created by my pleco. I rigged one of the power heads as a sponge filter to help but I am still having to do daily water changes to keep the tank reasonably clean.
Moa's spread sheet says I need a 500 gph filter minimum BTW and I suspect that is about right. I think I am simply going to have to get a much larger tank and a lot better filtration to fix this.....
"We are Starfleet officers, Weird is a part of the job" - Captain Janeway, USS Voyager
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Fishkeeping GURU
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I'm surprised the UGF had helped that much and that you're having such an issue now (I use only HOBs on all my tanks and have never had the sort of issues you describe). What size is the tank? how big is the pleco, and what are the other fish? What is the gph rating on your filter?
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Average Member
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I often forget just how well UGF's work as well since I have used them so much. I suspect that my problems have simply gone well beyond what even a UGF can deal with. 
The tank is a 36 gallon bowfront with 3 blood parrots and a pleco. The pleco was suppose to have been a bristlenose when my son bought it but now that it has grown it is apparent it is a common and its sheer size is creating the problem. For now I have a 20-40 whisper HOB filter on it with a sponge over the intake. The regular cartriges were not lasting more the a few hours before clogging. I added a power head with a foam filter last night but the filters are all clogged again...
I realise I need to get a much larger tank, But I am just a bit frustrated with all the extra work I am having to do untill I can get it. So far I am managing to keep up with the water quality but sooner or later I fear something is going to break....
"We are Starfleet officers, Weird is a part of the job" - Captain Janeway, USS Voyager
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Fishkeeping GURU
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Wow. I know your tank is overstocked, but I would never expect such a water quality and maintenance issue from your stocking. My suggestion to you would be to rehome the pleco asap and that should help cut back the waste considerably. I would also feed very lightly (maybe once every few days, just enough for the fish to eat in a couple minutes), just until you can upgrade the tank and filter. Other than that, vacuum thoroughly at water changes, net out excess food daily, and maybe do larger water changes. And yes, a 500gph filter with your current stocking sounds about right, though I would probably go with a canister or wet-dry instead of a HOB.
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Average Member
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I cant kick out my best friend....
I am watching craigs list and the local ads but large tanks are a bit scarce around here. My economic stimulus is earmarked for something else.... Hopefully the saltwater shop will replace a few tanks soon.....
There sure is a lot of differance between a 6 inch pleco and a 10 inch one especially in how much er.... mulm it creates. Your right I simply cant keep him in the 36 for much longer.
"We are Starfleet officers, Weird is a part of the job" - Captain Janeway, USS Voyager
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Average Member
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| While I was out shopping for a new tank the other day I found some aqua clear 70 filters on sale.... I always knew the whispers were POS but never really realised how bad they were.... Looks like I will be getting a 75 gallon tank...... and 1 more aqua clear 70...
"We are Starfleet officers, Weird is a part of the job" - Captain Janeway, USS Voyager
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