Stock list and filter

[Mathew1991]

I have 120 litre tank

Currently I have
6 mollys
6 cardinal tetras
6 bleeding heart tetras
3 panda catfish
2 adf
1 plec

The person in the shop says I could get a few more what do people think
My tank come with a fluval u3 and I don’t think it’s doing a very good job Shal I upgrade the filter?

Thanks

 

[Lcc86]

The corys should be in a much bigger group - 10ish, more if you have the space - but also know on your other thread you've mentioned your water hardness which isn't suitable for the mollies. I don't know too much about the others.

As you have ADF's I wouldn't increase the numbers of the fish that are already competing with them for food or they'll be even worse off.

I've learned not to always listen to what the shop staff say as their interest is to sell more fish regardless of whether they're suitable. I've learned this the hard way! If you can return the mollies and increase the corys that's what I would suggest.

 

[Colin_T]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website (Water Analysis Report) or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.

Angelfish, discus, most tetras, most barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.

Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.

If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.

--------------------

A Fluval U3 internal power filter is probably not big enough for your tank or the fish in it. If you have to clean the filter more than once a month because it blocks up/ slows down, then you need a bigger filter.

If you get another filter, I would run both filters together so you still have the smaller U3 running with its beneficial bacteria, and over the next 2 months the new filter will develop some beneficial filter bacteria. After that time you could remove the smaller filter if you like, or leave both running.

An external canister filter, a hang on back (HOB) style filter like the AquaClear 50/ 70, or even an air operated sponge filter in the tank would help to supplement the Fluval U3.

--------------------

Frogs do best in their own tanks without fish. If the fish get sick, the medications used to treat them usually kill the frogs. The frogs need clean water and having lots of fish in the tank will simply make the water dirty faster.

 

[Mathew1991]

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website (Water Analysis Report) or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Depending on what the GH of your water is, will determine what fish you should keep.

Angelfish, discus, most tetras, most barbs, Bettas, gouramis, rasbora, Corydoras and small species of suckermouth catfish all occur in soft water (GH below 150ppm) and a pH below 7.0.

Livebearers (guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies), rainbowfish and goldfish occur in medium hard water with a GH around 200-250ppm and a pH above 7.0.

If you have very hard water (GH above 300ppm) then look at African Rift Lake cichlids, or use distilled or reverse osmosis water to reduce the GH and keep fishes from softer water.

--------------------

A Fluval U3 internal power filter is probably not big enough for your tank or the fish in it. If you have to clean the filter more than once a month because it blocks up/ slows down, then you need a bigger filter.

If you get another filter, I would run both filters together so you still have the smaller U3 running with its beneficial bacteria, and over the next 2 months the new filter will develop some beneficial filter bacteria. After that time you could remove the smaller filter if you like, or leave both running.

An external canister filter, a hang on back (HOB) style filter like the AquaClear 50/ 70, or even an air operated sponge filter in the tank would help to supplement the Fluval U3.

--------------------

Frogs do best in their own tanks without fish. If the fish get sick, the medications used to treat them usually kill the frogs. The frogs need clean water and having lots of fish in the tank will simply make the water dirty faster.

Could you suggest a better filter for me

I’m not sure how the hang on would work for the lid

Any suggestions for another filter

Thanks

 

[Wills]

The Oase internal ones are good they fit in a corner and have the heater fits in it too. It has chambers inside for different media where as the fluvals just have the one area.

The other option is to have an external filter with the pipes coming out the back which I think the Roma does accommodate (I used to have one a few years ago).

 

[Mathew1991]

The Oase internal ones are good they fit in a corner and have the heater fits in it too. It has chambers inside for different media where as the fluvals just have the one area.

The other option is to have an external filter with the pipes coming out the back which I think the Roma does accommodate (I used to have one a few years ago).

The Oase internal ones are good they fit in a corner and have the heater fits in it too. It has chambers inside for different media where as the fluvals just have the one area.

The other option is to have an external filter with the pipes coming out the back which I think the Roma does accommodate (I used to have one a few years ago).

Would you recommend a fluval external filter

 

[Wills]

Would you recommend a fluval external filter

The latest 07 external range is meant to be really good - I've only ever used the FX range which is a bit too heavy hitting for this size tank, the new FX2 might be an option though?

For externals at this size you can't beat Oase Biomasters for me though, bit more expensive but such a good bit of kit!

Wills

 

[Mathew1991]

The latest 07 external range is meant to be really good - I've only ever used the FX range which is a bit too heavy hitting for this size tank, the new FX2 might be an option though?

For externals at this size you can't beat Oase Biomasters for me though, bit more expensive but such a good bit of kit!

Wills

Fluval 207 is what I was looking at

The only problem is is how do I get the tubes in with the lid

 

[Colin_T]

Another option is to get a block of sponge from another filter (AquaClear 50 or 70 foam would work) and use a rubber band to hold the sponge on the outside of the U3 filter. This sponge would go in front of the intake strainer on the U3 and act as a bigger filter.