Asked on the Fish Forum by LLEjuly on 10/2/03, 12:24 am
Q: follow up
I posted yesterday in regards to one of my fish having what appears to be fin rot. I've checked the ammonia and PH levels and they are fine. The PH in my tank has always run a little bit high, but my fish have adapted. I have a 30 gallon freshwater tank with 2 goramies, 3 tetras, 2 mollies, 2 small catfish and 1 algae eater. I've been examining my tank and trying to figure out what is affecting my water quality enough to cause fin rot in one of the catfish. I was wondering if the sponges in the whisper filter should be replaced more than once a year. Every time I do a water and charcoal filter change I do remove the sponges and clean them in plain hot water. I replace the sponges with new ones once a year. Should I do it more often?
Answered by Jimthefish on 10/3/03, 12:03 pm
A: follow up
You should never clean filter sponges in anything other than tank water. The chlorine in tap water will kill the bacvteria that make the filter work. When you replace the sponges do one one month, the other next month. This keeps a functioning level of bacteria in the filter and allows the new sponge to be seeded by the other one.
If your 'small catfish' is a cory, it will be stressed by high pH, being on its own, and may be more susceptible to disease if your filter doesn't efficiently clean the bottom of the aquarium. Accumulated debris and mulm in the bottom of the tank could harbour diseases.
