Filter creating current?

[nina]

Hi everyone!
I have a water-fall type filter that hangs on the outside of the tank and I am wondering if it is creating too much current. The filter has a tube that sucks water out of the tank; then the water goes through the filter, and finally it falls back into the aquarium with a water-fall.

I also have a bubbler/airator that pumps water into the tank and creates a lot of bubbly turbulence in the water.

To minimize current, I put fake plants all around the water-fall from the filter. I also keep the water level as high as possible so the water-fall does not have a long way to go (I think this minimizes splashing from the water-fall -- is that true?)

I hope this is not creating too much current. Lately my albino axolotl's tail has been looking mighty weird -- as if the "bone" or cartilage (whatever is inside the tail) was exposed and the membrane/mucous had been torn off. I think this was from a bite from a tank-mate, but could this be caused by too much current?

Thanks!
-gecko1

P.S. The tail is healing quickly and I have not changed anything about the filter/bubbler. This leads me to believe it was a bite, but I am still not sure.

 

[matthew]

your airator doesn't pump water into the tank, it pumps air.

Most waterfall filters have an adjustable knob to variate the rate of water flow. My advice is to throw it in the trash, as waterfall filters are generally <font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font><font color="ff0000">&#149;</font> - and to buy either a mini canister filter, or an internal filter.

 

[denise]

nina i originally had a water fall filter on my 2 ft tank and it was great for it because i could adjust the flow just right for my axie, it never caused any problems. i now use the tank for goldfish and still have the hang on filter. what size is your tank and what brand and size is your filter

 

[cori]

I personally really like waterfall filters, maybe not on a larger tank but for a smaller one I think they're fine.

Don't know if I am allowed to mention brand name but mine is a Cascade by Pen-Plax.

You can remove the cartridges and put your on combination of filter media in!

Also have to mention, my axie's love the waterfall! I moved it for a few hours the other day and put it on my new tank to help cycling and my axie's were not happy!
Soon as I put it back they raced over and stayed there the rest of the night. I have heard alot of people say their axie's don't like water movement but mine seem to love the waterfall.

Will have to get a small one for their new tank even though it will have a new canister filter on it already!

For small cuts or injuries I use a product called Melafix it's my little cure-all, axie's seem to like it too!

Hope your axie gets better!

Regards Eastern_axle

 

[nina]

<font color="119911">Thanks so much everyone!</font> You are so helpful and knowledgeable.

First off, I didn't mean to say that my airator pumps water into the tank, I meant air. Sorry about that.

My understanding is that my filter doesn't have a knob to adjust the flow but I will double-check. I am hoping to be able to keep my waterfall filter if it isn't hurting the axos because it has done a fine job filtering (from what I can tell.)

The brand is "Whisper Power Filter 10" by Tetra. The size is medium, which is recommended for 10 gallon tanks (my tank is 10 gallons.) I use "Bio-Bag Disposable Filter Cartridges" which have carbon inside. How do you make your own filter media? (Is filter media the stuff that's inside a filter cartridge?)

Tiza and Finnigan (my axos) do seem to hang around the filter a lot; maybe because the plants are clustered around it. Tiza's tail (which was injured) is pretty much healed, just a little stubby-looking at the end.

Thanks SO much!
-gecko1

 

[cori]

You don't "make your own filter media". It is just cheaper to buy the individual components.

You can tailor the combination depending on your tank conditions and what media would be most effective.

The store bought cartridges are usually pretty good but can be expensive. I just put a similar combination of what they have in them and it does pretty much the same thing at half the price.

Regards Eastern_axle

 

[nina]

An update: I e-mailed Tetra and found out that my filter DOES have a current control! I turned it down to minimum current.

One axolotl (the black one that used to be healthy) has a bad tail/legs fungus thing but I don't think it has to do with the current.

Thanks!
gecko1

 

[kapo]

fungus usually develops when they're stressed and their immune system lowers. Give him salt baths twice a day:

2-3 teaspoons of uniodised table salt or aquarium/tonic salt for every litre of dechlorinated water.

10minutes a day, but no longer than 15mins maximum as too long a saltbath can burn their skin.

The bad tail condition may also be caused through water quality - ie if their is any high ammonia/nitrites in your water due to cycling or excess waste in your tank (sometimes caused through overfeeding, excess animals per size of tank or irregular cleaning).

Do you test your water at all? If not, get a test done on ammonia, nitrites and nitrates (either take a sample to petshop to test and give you figures/results or get a test kit that tests for all three and test for yourself). If ammonia/nitrites are high (above 0) the best way to fix them is through 20-30% partial daily waterchanges.

 

[nina]

Hello and thanks for the tips. I did salt baths and refrigeration (I got instructions about that from someone else) and the fungus is gone, the limbs are healing! (Knock on wood.) I do check water quality every week and ammonia every month. The water quality was actually quite bad (my tank had re-cycled due to a medication I used) but now, with regular cleaning, water-changes and feeding, everything is back in the normal range.

Thank you much,
gecko1

 

[kapo]

Good to hear!