"Silt" in the water

[mary]

Hi there, I am a bad axie owner without a proper filter still. today i removed this grill which is meant to have operated with an underwater filter ( that didn't work).i put off doing it coz i hate moving the axies. THere was heaps of grey "silt" underneath. i changed some of the water and removed some with my hand suction (aka turkey baster) but am reluctant to change more water. do you think this stuff will be harmful to them? The pH is fine.I have put them back in the tank although the water hasn't quite settled.

 

[joan]

Mary, a filter isn't a necessary item, although they are nice to have.

I had the same issue with the undergravel filter: they were more mess than they were helpful. This mulm is basically just dead micro/macroorganisms that live in the tank, shed skin pieces and poop. As long as you don't change the substrate, you can change 50% of the water easily without causing problems.

You should definately check your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels, as the mulm can cause spikes. If you have access to an aquarium siphon, that would be a great asset in removing this gunk.

 

[kapo]

Mary if you don't have a test kit, take a sample of water to animalz/animates, whichever one is near you, they shud be able to test it no prob.

 

[mary]

hey good idea! thanks.