Still not happy with latest filter....

[mary]

hello me again- took other filter back and swapped it with this smaller 19L filter (called a Stingray). well it is certainly less vigorous but there is plenty of current in the water and the axies' gills are now noticably moving with the current. is this normal? do all the other people with filter's have this? surely it can't be comfy for them to feel this in the water?!

 

[kapo]

Yes we had trouble with various ones too Mary, hence some of ours are without filters but have airstones. I realise you're probably trying to set one up prior to you going. Hubby is trying a sponge filter which seems to have less current. Was thinking of getting a HOB waterfall type one (it hangs on back of glass and does waterfall effect in, so you have to tie something round it or place something under it so water flow isn't as vigorous back into tankwater, but we have covers on our tanks (bit like blinds) made out of bamboo to cover them during the day and partial covering at night when our lights are on.

The one we were looking at is the
Jebo 501 Super Mini External Filter but not sure if it's too strong or what, costs $20 on Trademe.

 

[mary]

Hi Kapo- i am thinking of just having it on sometimes and not constantly. I can't do the hanging waterfall type coz i still don't have the tank that full!
we usually just have the airstone too.

 

[amber]

Ugh not the Stingray.
They're UGLY too.

I went for the Interpet Powerfilter ranges, as the flow is completely adjustable.

You'll end up crashing your cycle if you only switch it on every now and then.

Fill the tank up a bit more then - it'll keep it more stable!

 

[mary]

yes the ugly stingray- i don't like it either but i was panicking a bit about swapping at the pet shop-
damn- how will it crash the cycle?
have just put some more water in their tank!

 

[kapo]

Mary, won't they swap this one, pretty poor if they don't? Is it adjustable, I've seen them but don't know, whatever you do don't get a shark filter they're cumbersome and have these stupid suction cups on them that don't even hold it to the glass and is constantly falling off. Gets very frustrating trying to find a decent filter, so I know how you feel.

Amber i haven't seen that one in any of our petstores (had to google it to see what you were talking about), probably have something similar tho.

 

[mary]

ha! yes the thing keeps not sticking to the glass and not adjustable. i can't take it back now- too embarrassed- i am always in there.as you know it was only just for the weeks holiday so guess i will just not use it... keep the airstone on and fill up the tank- (thank goodness christmas is only once a year!!!)

 

[kapo]

Would your husband be too embarrassed to take it back? (I know how you feel, I spend a bit too much time in there and have taken a few filters back. By the third replacement I was embarrassed and got hubby to do it because I was dithering) Otherwise, sell it on TM saying only used once to test out and too much current for axies!, or something like that.

I noticed a small one called magic jet filter 1 (200) which has a small spray bar attachment which might do the trick - does up to 60litres.

It will be so strange not looking after our axies for several weeks! It's part of our routine now, daily basting cleanup, water buckets, waterchanges, feeding the kids (ours first then the axies!), etc...

 

[mary]

Hope you have a nice holiday- suppose you will be ringing daily to check up on the babies!?
one of my friends offered to take the axies to her house which was very generous. I just couldn't do it- she has a cat and 3 small boys.....

 

[kapo]

Ringing and text several times a day, actually probably moreso my husband ! But leaving this website on a piece of paper in case they have probs or concerns, hopefully not!

That was nice of your friend, but i can understand your concerns. We have 2 cats, but our tanks all have covers/lids of sorts and sisters' kids are now well used to dealing with axies. Is she able to maybe pop over and check on them/their temperature or give them a waterchange (even if she just scoops it out with a plastic jug instead of using the siphon)

I am sure your axies will be fine, just a tad hungry when you return.. And at least you'll have the baby with you. When do you leave?

 

[mary]

at one stage i had visions of loading 3 containers in the car and taking them all!!-but we have just a wee bach- there's really no proper place for them.. we're going over to waikawa on christmas day- how about you?