Do I have to clean an undergravel filter?

Question

I have a 10 gallon tank. I,ve had it for 5 months. I have 10 fish, like fancy guppys and a black molly. I add water to it but I have not changed the water. I am worried I am not doing enough. My big black molly just got some white on one side of her. What is that?
I also have a bio wheel and a heater. And two dwarf frogs.

Answer 1

Yes you do. I clean mine 2 ways. 1 I unplug the air pump then I take my gravel siphon and suck the debris through the filter screen on the bottom once a week. This is my 1/3 water change. 2 every 2-3 I take a 3 gallon bucket (My tank is 5 gallons,for you, a 5 gallon bucket would do) Fill the bucket with water from the fish tank and put the fish and frogs in there while you rinse out the tank and filter. If the white is spots, it is Ich. If it is fuzzy, then it is fungus.

Answer 2

You need to do monthly water changes.

Just adding water when it evaporates isn't cleaning it.

The bad stuff in the water doesn't evaporate.

Once a month - get a gravel vaccum and take about 25% of the water out and add new declorinated water.

Undergravel filters do not really clean the water... if it has carbon the carbon helps to absorb bad things in the water (altho it needs to be replaced regularly because it doesn't last forever). But it doesn't filter anything - it just pulls all the waste and the food to the bottom.

Also change your bio-wheel filters as often as the instructions tell you to.

The white stuff on the body of the molly is more then likely ICK (from bad water conditions).

I reccomend buying Rid-ick and some aquarium salt (for tropical fish) to add to the water. A fish store employee can help you with removing ICK. Since you only see a little - treat it now before it becomes out of hand. If you let it go without treating it you risk losing all your fish.

Just remmeber to clean the water monthly and change carbon and filters when needed and everything should be fine.

Answer 3

You should replace 10% of the water a week or 25% of the water every two weeks. Use a gravel vacuum. You can get these anywhere that has fish. Even Wal-Mart has them. Like everyone else said, your molly most likely has ich. You should get the medication and follow the directions on the package. If the package doesn't say otherwise, you should use the medication one or two days after the dots go away, because that means the ich dropped off to multiply, and that is the only time the medicine works. You should also consider getting rid of some of your fish, because that is a little overwhelming for a ten gallon.

Answer 4

Your tank is on the upper end of overcrowding (if not already there).
Having a bio-wheel is a HUGE +
Change your carbon every month and or your air-stone every other month, and suction clean your substrate (gravel) every week while doing at least a 30% water change while doing so (tough to do a complete job on a 10 gallon tank).
African Dwarf Frogs are a cool addition, but they do nothing in the Bio part of your aquarium (except for polluting/poisoning).

As for the white spot ... Might be "Ich". Try upping the temp to 82 deg. (gradually) and adding some freshwater salt. Even without the evidence of a parasite freshwater salt help with gill movement and the assistance of maintaining your fishes natural slime coat.
Read the directions first.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

Yes, clean your filter. They make a big tube, it's self explanatory as far as how to use it. You have a lot of fish for a small tank. When you just add water it builds up minerals because as the water evaporates it leaves the minerals behind then you add more.

Answer 6

The black molly more than likely has ick...Buy treatment and use it immediately...Watch your water temp...Keep it constant....Undergravel filters are great...clean those also...WATCH YOUR WATER TEMP...fluxuation 2 or 3 degrees is a NO NO.
Good Luck

Answer 7

the filter element (chacoal ) will need replacing .check with the pet shop . you can overcrowd . the molly check this with the pet shop owner . you are asking questions and this is good .