Longfin fry and Filter

[panda]

I have a breeding pair of reg longfin bristlenose, (they throw albino, reg and marble ) Anyway I am running an eheim 2212 internal, I feed zucchini 24 hours a day and just 2 algae wafers a day. The problem is, even with daily water changes the filter is blocking up with slime. At the moment I have to clean the filter every 2 days which is a pain, the sponges are all slimy and the impellor and the outlet get a slime build up too which slows the water down.

I guess there are around 60 fry and the parents, it is a 2ftx16"x 16" (ithink, i know it is 2ftx 16" but might only be by 12")

Can I slow the zucchini to every say 3 days and just use algae wafers? and how many wafers would I give them, any ideas would be appreciated, thanks

 

[Doodles]

You could try different veg and not leave it in too long. Also when you clean the filter, thoroughly clean one of the filter pads also I would be thinking of adding an extra filter to keep on top of it all, that way you can rotate cleaning the sponges every couple few weeks. I don't add new sponges but when they get to the point that they need cleaning every week I wash them out with tap water so that they aren't holding any more gunk, bit like new again, then rinse it in some tank water in a bucket to remove tap water then put back in filter.

 

[Breamlegend]

Get another filter (pref a canister) and feed a bit less zucchini. That's a small tank so keep cleaning the filter or get a bigger tank. Keep water changing too. I don't recommend switching to mostly wafers, veg is best.

 

[Irene0100]

i would get either a new filter or a bigger tank with a big filter!

 

[panda]

I can't give them a bigger tank, I can't give them another filter. The one I have has the sponge cut in half, I could add some eheim mech balls and leave 1 sponge in. Today I took the zucchini out this morning added 3 algae wafers. Water changed about 5-30pm added 2 bits of zucchini and 2 algae wafers, will try and remove zucchini in the morning. Does this sound an ok plan?

 

[Breamlegend]

You are feeding to much zucchini. Cut it length ways in thin slices so that they eat it all in about 2 hrs or so. I never have to remove mine as there is never any left after a few hours. Also peel the skin off.
If you cant get another filter you will have to keep cleaning regularly as the tank could go bad very quickly.

 

[Irene0100]

some plecs like the skin, so I dont take all of it off, just some.

 

[foti]

fry should be removed they never stop eating and pooping lol
how big are they if they are of sixe 3-5cm it is time you sold some! with that money buy a small holding tank for the fry for the future.

i like the fact that your getting calico albino out of the same batch i do hope that they are all longfin tho

also dont rinse your filter under fresh tap water for it will kill your bacteria in the media or mesh so just fill a buket and strain well!
for if you kill the bacteria your filter will clog faster!

how to make your extra filter !
http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?p=48966#post48966

 

[Steve C]

fry should be removed they never stop eating and pooping lol
how big are they if they are of sixe 3-5cm it is time you sold some! with that money buy a small holding tank for the fry for the future.

i like the fact that your getting calico albino out of the same batch i do hope that they are all longfin tho

also dont rinse your filter under fresh tap water for it will kill your bacteria in the media or mesh so just fill a buket and strain well!
for if you kill the bacteria your filter will clog faster!

how to make your extra filter !
http://www.plecoplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?p=48966#post48966

Ok I am well aware that untreated tap water will kill bacteria, but how will killing the bacteria cause the filter to clog faster. The bacteria feed on ammonia and nitrite which are not solid particles, correct me if I'm wrong but its solid particles of waste food and fish poop that will clog the filters.