How long can I do without filtration?

[Artuk]

Hi,

I have added some parasite medicine to the tank. The directions say to remove the carbon while I am using it. I have a penguin mini-filter so my filter is a cartridge with both carbon and foam.

How long can my fish do without filtration? The tank is still cycling water and getting aerated, but there is no filtration. I considered removing the carbon from one of the cartridges then putting it back in.. but there is some dispute here at the household as to whether that is needful to damage a cartidge just to put in mechanical filtration.

Chances are we will be medicating the tank for the next 96 hr.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,

Artuk

 

[tstenback]

Hi
I have a similar filter on one tank and when meds are used i just cut the foam along the edge and dump out the carbon. That way i keep biological filter and also get rid of the carbon. HTH

 

[smithrc]

without airated water passing it, you bacteria will doe... leading to a lot more problems.... just remove the carbon.

 

[Artuk]

Thanks. Taking the carbon out was something I was thinking of doing.

My girlfriend called the 1-800 number on the meds and they said the fish would be ok without filtration during the time we had them on the meds, we just needed to watch ammonia levels.

Personally, I am dubious, I would prefer to have some filtration, but for now we are doing without.

Aeration isnt a problem, we have the filter running, just without the foam/carbon cartridge.

Thanks for the responses.

Regards,

Artuk

 

[Fishstix]

Why couldn't you just leave the foam in and dump the carbon?

 

[Sky042]

I would either dump out the carbon or just take some simple floss and stick it in the filter(the bulk floss just stick in in the water flow) and keep the filter running. I actually do this on my 5G hex I don't buy the penguin/eclipse filter cartridges anymore I just put filter floss in the tray and let it run works great and tank is crystal clear.

 

[Artuk]

My girlfriend felt that if I missed a piece of carbon it might be enough to ruin the effect of the medicine. It became something of an issue, so I let it go and we are doing without a filter. I will test the water daily in the meantime.

All those are excellent ideas. I have been thinking about making my own cartridges for a while. Certainly, it would seem to be much cheaper. My next tank is going to have an external filter of a type that lets me use my own materials.

Thanks again for all your help!

Regards,

Artuk