I have been maintaining a 10 gallon freshwater tank for about two months now. About 3 or 4 weeks ago my filter (which I mistakenly bought at Walmart) just stopped working for no reason. I've been meaning to buy another filter, but the water has kept absolutely clear and my four fish seem perfectly happy and healthy. I have one black molly, two goldfish (well, they look like goldfish with black tails), and one catfish. I believe the catfish is doing a superb job keeping the tankwater sparkiling clean. I have already spent a lot of money to maintain this aquarium, and I'm wondering if I really need to spend the extra money on a filter. I will if you think so, though;I would do anything for the health of my fish.
Does my tank really need a filter?
- Thread starter filterless
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YES! YOU NEED A FILTER! I suggest you read up on the nitrogen cycle... Also, you tank is overstocked... What kind of catfish is it? most corys need to be in schools... And you cant mix goldfish with tropical fish, goldfish like cooler water, while mollys and corys like warmer water (76-80 degrees) Do you have a heater in the tank?
well in all theory you really do need a filter. Unless you have live planted plants in your tank, those could supply your tank w/ enough Oxygen. You might wanna check on what those fish are, i mean goldfish really shouldn't be kept with other fish, but contary to what Huck said... your tank is by no means "over stocked". And if you want to keep the gold fish by them their own tank.. the gold fish might not need a filter ... ex- Goldfish bowl. But they would be happy with one. The reason is goldfish produce MUCH urine and other waste products that doesn't make them a good fish w/ anything but other gold fish.I'm geussing your catfish is some sort of Pleco or rapheal. *thumbsup2* *thumbsupsmiley*
Thank you both for your replies. I'm pretty sure they're not goldfish, they are just a gold color with black spotted tails. I'm pretty sure they're tropical.
It's interesting to me that I wasn't told most of the information that you told me even though I bought the fish at a very professional pet store (Petco). There should be a fish care manual or something, because there's so much we need to know.
I will check on what my fish are (the gold ones, and the catfish). I haven't checked out the Nitrogen cylce info yet, but it sounds like I really need to get a filter. Any suggestions for one that is good but affordable for a poor college student?
It's interesting to me that I wasn't told most of the information that you told me even though I bought the fish at a very professional pet store (Petco). There should be a fish care manual or something, because there's so much we need to know.
I will check on what my fish are (the gold ones, and the catfish). I haven't checked out the Nitrogen cylce info yet, but it sounds like I really need to get a filter. Any suggestions for one that is good but affordable for a poor college student?
[quote author=Joecavi00 link=board=beginner&num=1019330323&start=0#2 date=04/20/02 at 14:02:06]
your tank is by no means "over stocked". And if you want to keep the gold fish by them their own tank.. the gold fish might not need a filter ... ex- Goldfish bowl. But they would be happy with one.[/quote]
Hahaha!! If they are goldfish then yes, the tank is overstocked! Goldfish really NEAD a filter! filters provide most of the biological filtration, and with all the waste goldfish produce you need alot of bio filtration. And do you know the recommended tank size for one goldfish? 15-20 gallons!
your tank is by no means "over stocked". And if you want to keep the gold fish by them their own tank.. the gold fish might not need a filter ... ex- Goldfish bowl. But they would be happy with one.[/quote]
Hahaha!! If they are goldfish then yes, the tank is overstocked! Goldfish really NEAD a filter! filters provide most of the biological filtration, and with all the waste goldfish produce you need alot of bio filtration. And do you know the recommended tank size for one goldfish? 15-20 gallons!
Well, there are plenty of fish care manuals not only at Petco, but at Boarders, Barns & Nobel, and your local library. Hundreds upon thousands of books have been published with all the information you would need to know about how to take care of an aquarium properly, and then some. From fish health and compatiblity, to water quality and chemistry. Trust me, if you have a question about it, it's been answered twenty times over published in a very good aquarium manual. They're actually a lot easier to understand than the instructions on how to program your VCR. Just have patience with yourself and use your brain.
Yes you have to have a filter on your tank. Unless of course you plan to water change 8 gallons of water every day.
Live plants will not be the solution to your problem, only purchasing a new filter will. In fact, sometimes live plants can make it worst. Unless you are quite prepared to go into aquarium gardening full out (there are manuals on that too), I do not reccommend live plants. They'll only wilt and make the tank dirty.
Goldfish -must- have a filter. No bowl for them at all. They will suffocate in a bowl, unless you plan to do water changes on that bowl every day and make sure it is large enough to have at least three gallons of water per inch of goldfish.
Your "goldfish" are probably some species of barb or platy. Most people will call any yellow fish a "goldfish" for lack of knowing what it truely is. I would not worry about it.
Petco sells three filters that are best for a ten gallon tank.
The AquaClear 150 goes for about $27
The Penguine 125 goes for about $27
The Wisper 20 goes for about $15
You can get them cheaper than that if your store is running a PALS sale, which they sometimes do. As far as I know though, there are no PALS on filters currently.
Good luck
~~Colesea
Yes you have to have a filter on your tank. Unless of course you plan to water change 8 gallons of water every day.
Live plants will not be the solution to your problem, only purchasing a new filter will. In fact, sometimes live plants can make it worst. Unless you are quite prepared to go into aquarium gardening full out (there are manuals on that too), I do not reccommend live plants. They'll only wilt and make the tank dirty.
Goldfish -must- have a filter. No bowl for them at all. They will suffocate in a bowl, unless you plan to do water changes on that bowl every day and make sure it is large enough to have at least three gallons of water per inch of goldfish.
Your "goldfish" are probably some species of barb or platy. Most people will call any yellow fish a "goldfish" for lack of knowing what it truely is. I would not worry about it.
Petco sells three filters that are best for a ten gallon tank.
The AquaClear 150 goes for about $27
The Penguine 125 goes for about $27
The Wisper 20 goes for about $15
You can get them cheaper than that if your store is running a PALS sale, which they sometimes do. As far as I know though, there are no PALS on filters currently.
Good luck
~~Colesea
