Filter off for about 4 or 5 hours

[pandapops001]

Okay. so i fed the fish this morning, and i always turn off the airstone and filter - else the food just gets sunk to the bottom.

Went to do a water change about 4-5 hours later and realised that i had only switched the airstone back on at feeding time and forgotten about the filter....

Does this mean that my bacteria is dead, or will the active air bubbles in the water from the airstone been enough to sustain the bacteria.

27.5uk gal tank, running for about 4 months now, please help

 

[rvm]

I wouldn't have thought it would cause a problem, I've heard they can live for about 24 hours in the tank water!!!
Why do you turn your filter off to feed your fish though??

 

[gixer]

hopefully you will be ok..

just keep an extra careful eye on your ammonia and nitrite for a week or so.
if they rise do regular water changes...

good luck

 

[pandapops001]

Hi
In answer to your question i have a fluval 3 plus filter, and it also causes the fish food to be forced to the bottom, therefore i have to turn it off. I shall have to stick a big sign on the tank, "switch back on you dufus" then hopefully this wont happen again.

Thanks for your advice guys
Regards
Miranda

 

[smithrc]

you could try a feeding ring...

It floats on the surface (suckered to the side) and you put the food into the ring so its protected from the flow

 

[ger87410]

Will the bacteria be OK? Yes, most definitely. We talked to someone on here who studied bacteria and found out that the bacteria go into a type of hybernation while the food is gone.

 

[pandapops001]

Thats great news thankyou ger87410,

How big is this feeding ring, its just i have two very greedy mollys (a dalmation and a black) who will scare off all the other fish, regardless of their size.

when i add the bloodworms, they just skulk around the bottom and any fish come near - beware, they go a little mad i guess, its weird - almost like they havent eaten for weeks or something.

however if this ring is relatively large they might all be able to get some.

 

[ger87410]

Well, how large is the tank?

 

[pandapops001]

its only 27.5uk gal, its 36.5" length, and 13" deep, so not a great size but still lovely and we are looking to upgrade soon ,

 

[rvm]

I've used the Fluval internals before, and hey do create a hell of a current, I got a spray bar kit for mine. You can get them from pets at home for about £4-5 ( I presume you are in the UK due to David Brent in your Avatar Duh-Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh!!!!!!) It will really spread out the flow coming from the filter and help solve that problem, also you can direct the flow of the water to the surface to agitate the water and create more surface area. May be worth considering?!!!