Tank overhaul?

[EmileeG]

First off, HI! I'm new to these forums. I've finally set up my aquarium after 4 painful years of not having enough room to have it. I used petfish.net a lot back before, but it seems pretty dead there now

Now on to the decisions!

I have a 29g tank. It's currently heated and has a 75g biowheel filter on it. Flourite substrate, lots java moss and java ferns. I have 5 harlequin rasboras, 3 blue platies, and 1 opaline gourami. The original plan was to do the rasboras, platies, and 2 angelfish, however I was told (to my great sadness) that the angelfish would probably eat the rasboras I don't like the opaline gourami anymore, so I'll either have to trade it in or find a new home for her.

Anyways... honestly? I hate this filter! I lose SO MUCH WATER so FAST to evaporation! Is there a way to prevent it? The only way I can think of, honestly, is to take off the biowheels, since that's where there's the most surface area contact between water and air, but I was under the impression that that's where the most aeration and biofiltering occurs too

Alternatively... could I redo my aquarium setup to be filterless? I know I'd have to stock lightly, but how would this work? I'm thinking a big ol' tank for a beta. Would any other small fish (zebra danios? something?) be okay in a setup like this?

I'm open to with the heaters, without the heaters, adding an air pump for aeration or not, keeping the same fish, trading them in... whatever. I'm just sick of hearing a mini waterfall everyday!

 

[ryanoh]

Do you keep your water level right at the bottom of the filter? That should cut down on the noise a little bit.

 

[pateceramics]

I think you are right that the high surface area for gas exchange from a bio-wheel is going to speed up evaporation from the tank a bit, but I think the biggest reason is that your house has low humidity. It doesn't matter how much surface area your filter presents. If the humidity in your house is normal, the air is already saturated enough that the water stays in your tank. Look at your tank as a free way to humidify your house. It's good for you and prevents some of the expansion and contraction that can damage the finished surfaces in your house.

 

[EmileeG]

Ryanoh, I do TRY to keep the water level at the bottom of the filter, but it evaporates so quickly!

Pateceramics, I didn't know that... and that seems odd to me. I live in Texas! Granted, it's not as humid now as it will be in July (ugh), but I'm definitely not in the desert... I'm not sure why my tank water is evaporating so quickly then.

So I guess the no-filter idea won't work. Sigh.

What would y'all add to my tank? As I said, I'm just not a fan of the gourami, but I would like some kind of larger fish in there - something to catch your eye. The gourami worked for that, but for some reason the gourami creeps me out... lol. I also have no bottom feeders. I've never been a fan of any bottom feeders in particular other than ghost shrimp, but they die/disappear, or the fish eat them, or... whatever... heh.

 

[lauraf]

Hi EmileeG - welcome to the forum! I've had a biowheel setup for 2 years and don't notice a troublesome loss of water. Maybe 1/2 inch max. over a week? But is your biowheel spinning really quickly? Mine slowed down over time, and I often stuff my filter cavity with extra stuff, so this also slows down the wheel - perhaps that minimizes water loss?
Oh, and while angels will outgrow a 29g fairly quickly, so may not be the best stocking option, I haven't had issues with my angels and harlies together . . . .

 

[aakaakaak]

German Blue Rams, Bolivian Rams, Kribensis, Cockatoo Apistos, and other small south americans should be okay.

If there's any way to reduce the throughput on your filter? I know on my 30g biowheel the only flow control is the extra opening near the top that can be turned on and off. ther than that the only suggestion is to find a way to seal the tank better so more water is allowed to condensate and fall, instead of escape.

Edit: Maybe it's because you're using a 75g rated biowheel instead of a 30g rated one?

 

[EmileeG]

you know, after finding a lot of posts on other forums a few months ago of people saying that the angels killed off their schools of smaller fish, I keep finding people's sigs and other posts on THIS forum saying they're fine... go figure.

I may give angels a try. Do they NEED to be kept in pairs or would just one be okay? They're just so pretty... @.@

Lauraf, my biowheels are not spinning quickly, but I'm losing over an inch a water in a week. No idea what the deal is... may just have to keep a bucket of dechlorinated water sitting around all the time to refill =P I guess I can also put something else in the extra filter media cavity, maybe that might help.

Side note - The hood/lid had been in storage for 4 years. What can I use to clean it off? There's all kinds of... garage/attic dust/dirt/grime/stuff? on it...

 

[aakaakaak]

API makes some aquarium safe cleaner. Some people use a vinegar and water solution. Adding a lid should greatly assist your loss of water problem.

In a 29g I would add a single, non-wild angel.

 

[lauraf]

omg, you don't have a lid on your tank? Well, there's your water loss explained
One angel would be fine. And if you get it when it's small (which you should for a 29g) it shouldn't bother the harlies - but when a fish is big enough to get another fish in its mouth, it likely will . . . . At that point the smaller fish are called 'food'.

 

[EmileeG]

No, I have a lid, lol. It's one of the standard plastic ones. It's just DIRTY!

lol laura... I'm hoping if I add an angel to the community (as opposed to adding a community to the angel's home!), and make sure it's a small one, then it will hopefully leave the rasboras alone and not figure out when it gets bigger that it can eat them... *fingers crossed!*

 

[IThinkTherefore]

A bolivian ram would be great in there, and would use the bottom portion in place of a bottom feeder, while not getting as big as an angel

You could probably even do a pair, although they'd get pretty agressive while breeding!

Also I wanted to say that your profile picture rocks xD

Plus you seem to have a cool planted tank, you should show us pictures!

 

[aakaakaak]

Just curious, but what makes the opaline gourami "creepy"? Is it that fin underneath that runs the length of the body, or is it the personality?

 

[EmileeG]

Ithink, my profile picture may be funny, but yours is much better I will get tank pictures posted as soon as I locate my missing camera and get the black background on my tank!

aak... I have no idea. Honestly, I think it's a combination of their mouth and eyes.

 

[OrangeCones]

You could try a sponge filter with a submerged powerhead. They are virtually silent. I have used them in all my planted tanks.

 

[aakaakaak]

aak... I have no idea. Honestly, I think it's a combination of their mouth and eyes.

If it's the mouth and eyes I guess an arowana (totally not suggesting you get one) would be spooky as well? Big eyes and upturned mouth and all.

I'm just trying to clarify to better understand what you look for in a fish.

 

[EmileeG]

Yes aak. I think Arowana are freaking creepy too, lol. I think you've pinpointed exactly what I dislike! I had never really thought about it before, but you're exactly right.

I think I'm going to suck it up and do more frequent water changes, that way I'll always be refilling the tank.

I got a couple more rasboras to fill out the already existing school, an angelfish for my "eye-catcher," and a yoyo loach for a janitor *laughingc. We'll see how this arrangement works out. I traded in the gourami, and he's currently happily being acclimated in a tank full of other creepy-faced gouramis.

AND I got a nifty piece of driftwood and a couple other plants. My husband has no idea how much I spend on my aquarium... and it's probably a good thing

 

[aakaakaak]

I think....yes yes...I think....you're done! Looks like a good plan to me.