help with my aquarium.?

Question

I have an under-gravel filter in a freshwater aquarium, and it dosn't seem to be keeping the tank very clean. It is powered by one of the air pumps, and just has the filters with carbon on top. The bubbles come up through a tube and go through the carbon to filter the water. I only have one fish in the tank, but it still seems cloudy, even after 2 months. The bubbles are coming through the top of the filter very fast. It is like a constant stream of bubbles coming out. What is wrong? Why is this not working?

Answer 1

Do the air tubes/stones go all the way to the bottom of the tank? They need to drop below the level of the gravel for it to filter.

Do you have a powerful enough air pump? Most are labeled for the size aquarium (20 gal etc.). Not enough power doesn't filter properly.

Get drops to put in at a pet store. It's harmless. It makes all the little white particles stick together. Bigger particles are sucked into the filter easier. Ask the employees at the store to show you, it's not expensive either.

Answer 2

Under gravel filters are very good at what they do, biological filtration. They are however very bad at chemical or mechanical filtration.

I would suggest you keep the undergravels, but also add a hang on the tank power filter. This will provide excellent chemical and mechanical filtration as well as some biological filtration. With the undergravels still in place it gives you an excellent back up to the biological filtration, which is the most important of the three for the fishes health. The combination of the two will give you excellent filtration on all levels.

MM

Answer 3

yeah under-gravel filters are worthless in my opinion they don't work very well at all get a over the tank filter ( marineland is the best ) whisper is ok also ( walmart brand ) make sure you always get a filter larger then the recomendation say if you have a 10 gallon tank you would get one for a 20 gallon tank and make sure you use water conditioner as it removes the chlorine and nitrate out or the water and removes the cloudyness also if you do this ever couple weeks or so along with a algee remover you rarely ever have to change your tank just remember dont use them both the same time but a few days inbetween each treatment as to not over power the tank with chemicles

Answer 4

I agree I have a 45-50 gallon tank, I had a underground filter, always loosing fish, so I went with the outside whisper, all fish are living, I have eight angle fish four blue gruama's, on nice size agea eater, change water about 25% every two months, fish are doing great. Tank stays clear, Have not lost any, I am so happy, I have live plants, also

Answer 5

what type is the fish. if it is a goldfish they put off amonia and it tends to cloud the water, second if thats the case they sell a chemical specificaly for that. If its a ciclid or that type u need a better / stronger pump and filter....Its worth buying a larger pump and filter for ur tank it will keep it very clean and no clouded water..

Answer 6

check that the bigger tubes are connected securely to the bottom plate, what kind of bottom amterial do you have and what size aquarium, i have noticed that undergravels in 29 and 55 or larger aquariums tend to do better if a powerhead is used instead of air stones. alos do you have anyother type of filter??

feel free to IM

Answer 7

i don't like undergravels much. if you have about 20 bucks get a power filter with a biowheel (you don't need an air pump and its a lot quieter and the biowheel acts as a home for beneficial bacteria). you can get them at walmart.

Answer 8

Have you done a water change yet? (Meaning with a gravel cleaner to change about 25% of the water) Try that first and then go from there.