Narrowly averted filter disaster - now what?

Last night, I was getting ready to start a post in the "Members' Fish Tanks" section of the forum with pictures of my new betta that I acquired for my 5.5 gallon (he's a mostly-blue crowntail; I'll post pics once this blows over). However, Murphy's Law had other plans.

I have no idea exactly what happened, but at about 11 p.m. last night, I noticed the room seemed a bit too quiet, given that I have a Marineland Penguin Biowheel 75 and a Marineland Penguin Biowheel 100 running side-by-side. I checked on my betta and, to my horror, I noticed the PB75 had stopped working. I tried everything - I adjusted the impeller, unplugged and plugged it back in, and even tried plugging it into a different outlet to make sure I hadn't blown a fuse. Nothing. The motor appeared to have just given up the ghost.

Needless to say, I was NOT a happy camper, especially since after fishless cycling that 5.5 gallon for what seemed like eons, the filter chose that time (of all times) to die on me. I panicked, but fishkeeping experience and knowledge took over, so I hastily moved the PB100 from my empty 10 gallon quarantine to my 5.5 gallon. I slapped the two filter cartridges together and stuck them both into the PB100, then took the biowheel from the PB75 and threw it into the 5.5 gallon. I literally threw it in, as in it's floating around on top of the 5.5 gallon as I type this.

I'm really thankful that my quarantine is empty so I was able to do this. Unfortunately, my poor betta is being buffeted around and looks like he's trying to swim against Niagara Falls, since the current is too strong and the Penguin filters don't have an adjustable flow. I thought about calling in to work, but I'm here now and plan to take an early lunch break at 10 a.m. to haul my behind to Petsmart and get a replacement, since it opens at 9 a.m. anyway. Also, the only reason I have the PB75 is because the TopFin 10 I had in that tank was recalled by Petsmart, so I hope I can just exchange it.

Now that I feel like I've typed out an unabridged version of War and Peace, I have a couple of questions and concerns:

- Will the cycle in my 5.5 gallon be okay? As a corollary, will the BB on my PB75 biowheel that is floating around on the surface of my tank be kept sufficiently alive?
- Will the cycle in my 10 gallon be okay? I did notice that when I initially put my 6 albino cories into this quarantine tank, there was a small ammonia spike (0.25 ppm or so), although I believed it to have been cycled already. For that and other reasons, I moved the cories to the main tank the next day.
- Also, since I simply put the two filter cartridges together (they both take the same size cartridge), will it matter which one I put in the new filter once I get a replacement one? My fear is that I will add the cartridge that was in the PB100 and cause a minI cycle.
- Is there anything else I need to do in order to make sure my cycle doesn't crash? If anyone else has encountered a similar situation, any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Needless to say, this situation has caused me an unexpected headache and a lot of angst.

 

The good news is...the Betta doesn't HAVE to have the circulation in his tank..unless you have additional stock in with him,

The HOB filters will appear to be dead unless you not only clean the impeller, but also remove it and clean in the well that it sits. Slime grows in that well and prevents the magnets from working properly and it will appear as if its dead or broken. I learned that from experience.

May I suggest a different type of filtration for your 5.5g tank? You an get a small sponge filter that sits in the corner of your tank, connected to an air pump. that would be much better for your Betta. Bettas do NOT like the excessive flow and it can eventually stress and kill your Betta. I lost a Betta due to just that. You can add a small sponge filter that looks OK and blends with your decor and it will supply surface agitation by the bubbles gurgling up to the surface. I will NEVER use a HOB or internal filter for my Bettas again. The sponge holds the bacteria and filters out the water without issue.Easy to clean...and if you get the right one..it looks just fine.

Here is a link so that you know what I'm speaking of.



As long as you keep the bio wheel wet..you should be OK. Nothing should go haywire. I would convert to sponge however. Less issues! Keeps the tan filtered and is PERFECT for Bettas.

 

For some odd reason, I can't turn this photo around...but you get the idea.

 

Thank you for your feedback! Before I gave up, I had already tried cleaning the impeller last night by wiping it down with a damp cloth before putting it back in. I also rinsed out the hole where the impeller sits in the filter when I dumped out the water from the reservoir. Nothing ended up happening.

The good news is that in the hour I had for my break, I was able to go to Petsmart. I showed them the email I got regarding the TopFin filter recall, explained what happened and they replaced my PB75 with a brand new one. I went home and installed it, putting the old biowheel and both of the filter cartridges into the new filter. With the slightly smaller filter, my Betta seems to be okay and does not appear to be getting pushed around by the current, but I'll do some research on sponge filters. I admit that I don't know a lot about them at the moment.

In the meantime, I have seen videos on YouTube of people cutting up plastic water bottles and putting them under the filter output as baffles to break up the flow of water. Would this work for the time being until I can get a sponge filter? I want to give my Betta the best living environment possible.

 

Baffling would be a good idea.

In general, sponge filters are on the loud side because they use an air pump (as an FYI).
I was using this one (no longer available, but you get the idea):

Now I'm using something close to this: (its for a 10 gallon, I'm using it in a 5, so I modified it by putting a filter sponge over the output, been working well for 2+ mos.) Its very quiet and I was using it in a fry tank. Originally, it created a large current the fry couldn't swim against, after the filter sponge the current is slowed way down.

RE: filter modification...see "most helpful customer reviews #3" for a mod idea: (although, I would use a filter sponge instead of a "scotchbrite" sponge )

Also, I read that you have to prime the pump before plugging it in, as it can't self prime. Maybe that was the problem?

 

Sponge filters are sponges. They don't make noise. They do create bubbles...but that is regulated by a valve. If you get a decent air pump..like a Whisper or Fluval..noise isn't an issue. It is a lot safer for a Betta. Throttling the intake is counter productive in the way of filtration. The intake sponges require constant cleaning and if not...will eventually burn out pump. I have been through it. I learned the hard way.

 

Fishnewbie33, I have been considering using a filter sponge like in that picture while I look into getting a sponge filter for the tank. I went to one LFS yesterday, and they did not have any. I worked both of my two jobs yesterday, so I did not have a chance to visit any other stores to see if they have any. If worse comes to worst, I can just buy a sponge filter on Amazon.

I have also been browsing YouTube and saw a how-to guide for using a cut-open water bottle to place at the filter output to serve as a baffle. Would this work, or would the plastic edges pose a hazard to the fish? I am leaning toward getting a sponge and putting it on the bottom of the HOB filter for now.

Also, how would one go about switching filters without losing the cycle? I figure I would have the sponge filter and HOB running simultaneously for some time, and then remove the HOB. However, how would I know when it's ok to remove the HOB without damaging my cycle?

 

Fishnewbie33, I have been considering using a filter sponge like in that picture while I look into getting a sponge filter for the tank. I went to one LFS yesterday, and they did not have any. I worked both of my two jobs yesterday, so I did not have a chance to visit any other stores to see if they have any. If worse comes to worst, I can just buy a sponge filter on Amazon.

I have also been browsing YouTube and saw a how-to guide for using a cut-open water bottle to place at the filter output to serve as a baffle. Would this work, or would the plastic edges pose a hazard to the fish? I am leaning toward getting a sponge and putting it on the bottom of the HOB filter for now.

I haven't used the bottle baffle method. I have used both the pantyhose and filter sponge. The pantyhose were prone to clogging or getting air bubbles (filter sounds like darth vader).

When using the filter sponge, I cut it in half, width-wise, so the intake or outflow was baffled, but it didn't put much strain on the filter. I attached it with a ty-rap (make sure you turn the sharp edge inward toward the wall so the fins don't catch, and cut the sharp end as flush as you can.

As a precaution, the first time I used the filter sponge, I had an extra one just in case I made a mistake cutting it

If applicable, you could also raise the water level, so the outflow won't create as much of a current. I haven't used this filter, so I'm not sure how well that would work.

 

You will have a difficult time finding a smaller sponge filter for a Betta tank at a big box pet store. It is usually found at more specialized fish stores. . However...many of them are larger sponges and would look hideous on that small of tank. There are two stores that carry small sponge filters in my area..and I now have them for ALL my small tanks. But...I usually buy them on Amazon, as they have the one that neatly fits into a corner, taking up less space. Believe me...they are tiny! You can buy a sponge sleeve that goes over a HOB intake that looks nice..but they clog up pretty fast.

If you leave your HOB and sponge in together for a month, the sponge should be ready to be on its own I don't usually go for DIY projects, as they never quite look really that nice. If you don't have the funds..then DIY projects are OK..but they sell darn near everything you've ever thought of right on the internet. I am a true believer in sponge filters in a small tank. My Bettas just float around as they should..instead of swimming away from the heavy flow of a HOB. Why subject them to that constant torture, I had a internal filter on a 5 gallon tank that I had just cleaned, so the flow was at its max. I came home from work to find my ONE FISH..that I actually REALLY cared about...stuck to the intake. He lasted for 1 week after and died. Never again..will I use any filter..OTHER than a sponge on a small Betta Tank.

The Bettas fins will get ripped apart from that flow and they will stress out.

 

You can also find many different sizes and shapes of sponge filters on ebay. That's where I get all of mine

 

I came home from work to find my ONE FISH..that I actually REALLY cared about...stuck to the intake. He lasted for 1 week after and died. Never again..will I use any filter..OTHER than a sponge on a small Betta Tank.

The Bettas fins will get ripped apart from that flow and they will stress out.

Wow, that's horrible. I am concerned about my betta now.

I am looking at sponge filters on Amazon now and will buy one. In the meantime, when I get home today, I plan to baffle the PB75 HOB with a sponge until the sponge filter is seeded. After it's seeded, I plan to take the PB75 and stick it in either my quarantine or 20 gallon as a second filter. I've been thinking I need more filtration than just the AC30 that I currently have in the 20 gallon, anyway.

Is there a specific air pump that I need to buy, or is any one okay? I was planning to order a battery-operated one to have in case of a power outage/if or when I move out of my current apartment and I need to transport my fish to a new house. I was looking at the Penn Plax Silent Air ones since those have good reviews.

UPDATE: I just purchased the Tetra 77851 Whisper Air Pump and Jardin Fish Tank 4 Layer Sponge Biochemical Water Corner Filter from Amazon. They will be arriving in the mail by Saturday.

 

UPDATE: I just purchased the Tetra 77851 Whisper Air Pump and Jardin Fish Tank 4 Layer Sponge Biochemical Water Corner Filter from Amazon. They will be arriving in the mail by Saturday.

PERFECT!!! You will be happy with one. Just remember that the sponge has to saturate itself with water before it will sink to bottom. Just put it in the tank and squeeze the sponge so that it will suck up water..then sink.

Smart move! Your Bettas will love you once again!

 

According to Amazon, now the air pump is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, while the filter itself isn't supposed to arrive until next Tuesday.

In the meantime, I was able to baffle the HOB filter with a sponge meant to be used as media for an AquaClear 20. I poked zip ties through holes in the sponge on either side (no need to cut or modify it in any way), and this was the result. I am pleased with how it turned out, as is my betta. Now there is very little, if any, surface agitation on the top of the water. I plan to leave it like this until the sponge filter is fully seeded so I can remove the HOB.




I noticed before I did this, my betta was floating on the surface of the water on the sides of the tank - he seemed okay without floating away or exerting a lot of effort, but he seemed to avoid the center and back of the tank, probably because the flow was too strong. I also noticed the current was pushing food away from my betta so that he had to chase it down as it was being blown away. Here are some pictures of him floating peacefully next to his calmer filter now.







I did a water change and as I was siphoning the gravel, I sucked up a ton of food that settled between the stones. I thought the food was gone quickly because he'd been eating it, but I guess not. Thankfully this was only 2 days worth and I removed it before it got too gross and affected the water quality.

 

What are you feeding your Betta? If they are little Betta pellets, then you only need to give him 4 maybe 5 pellets at most! The Betta stomach is extremely tiny and they can actually eat themselves to death if fed too much. Not to mention the waste that settles on the gravel, I mention this because you said that there was a "ton of food" that you vacuumed up. There really shouldnt be ANY. I usually scratch the edge of the tank to get the Bettas attention...and when they come up to me, I drop 5 pellets in and watch them start eating them all. If there is only 5...they will be done pretty quickly.

 

I was giving him bloodworms, which he seemed to be eating, and betta pellets, which he seemed to be spitting out. I siphoned up about 4 or 5 pellets from the bottom that had sunk there, so I'm not sure how many he ate. There were a few bloodworms siphoned as well.

 

Not sure how nutritious blood worms are, but I don't think they should be the main part of his diet.

I used "New Life Spectrum Betta Formula 1mm Semi-Float Pet Food" for my betta and he loved them He would eat off the top and also the sinking of the food triggered a hunting reaction (I think).

Also, some fish really like garlic, so you might want to soak the food in garlic juice before feeding.

Monitor him while he's eating so he's not over fed. Bettas usually eat fast, so you shouldn't have to wait long.

 

If he isn't eating the betta pellets, should I just give him regular flake food so he gets enough nutrition from his diet? I have the Omega One Betta Buffet pellets.

 

I have heard good things about Omega One.

You could try the flake food, or even try soaking it first.
Wait to see if he eats a small amount.
Some people fast their fish one day a week.
Bettas can be gluttons and may be prone to bloating from overeating.

After a few minutes, if he doesn't eat the food remove it from the tank.

Another thing you can try is teach the betta to expect food (i.e., taping lightly on the top of the tank and waiting until he goes to the top (may take a while until he gets it), waving a spoon or something in front of the tank, etc.), so that he is aware of the food and can find it easily.

 

When I get home, I will try giving him a little flake food and seeing what happens.

I also noticed that although the container of Omega One betta pellets says they are floating, one or two of them seemed to plummet to the bottom like stones both of the times that I put a pinch of them in. Is this the problem - maybe they sunk into the substrate before he had a chance to eat any? Edit: this doesn't solve the problem of him spitting out the pellets he did find, though.

 

When he spits them out does he then ignore them or does he try to eat them several times before giving up? Sometimes the pellets are too large to swallow and so they have to chew them. If they're too hard though they may eventually give up. You could try soaking the pellets before you give them! Just put a droplet of water on the pellets and they'll swell up in a minute or so.

 

The couple of times I fed my Betta the pellets, one or two would immediately sink to the substrate, and he ignored those. Then he would go for one that was floating, eat it, look like he is chewing and then spit it out. He would again try to eat the same one, spit it again and ignore it as it sunk to the gravel. I didn't watch what he did with all of the pellets since I fed him as I was getting ready for work. The evidence suggested that those pellets, too, sunk to the gravel.

I will try soaking them in water to see if he likes them any better. If they end up just sinking into the gravel again, I will remove them promptly.

 

Does he look bloated at all? I couldn't tell from the pics. It is possible that he can't eat, due to the bloat.

If nothing else works, you could try feeding him a frozen or fresh (not canned/has preservatives) pea.

The pea acts like a laxative for the fish.

Basically...
fast for 1-2 days
feed small piece of pea (or 2 if he takes it)
wait for clean out
feed sparingly can resume if necessary

Search the forum "frozen pea" and you should find a more in depth answer.
If I can find the link, I'll post it here.

 

He doesn't seem to be bloated. I'm not home at the moment, but I do have this other picture on my phone of him:


He ate the bloodworms that I gave him and I did not see him spit them out, so I don't know if it's a matter of him not being able to eat at all. I'm thinking the extra current from the filter led to him not being able to eat some of the bloodworms since they were being pushed away by the water flow. I suspect the pellet issue is a matter of my betta being picky and I'll try soaking them first.

 

Not sure, doesn't look particularly bloated in the photo. I was just giving another suggestion

So, try the other food or soaking food in garlic and let's see what happens.

 

As mentioned..just put a drop of water on 2 or 3 of the pellets and pre-soften them for your Betta to eat. One of mine will bite..spit and re-bite. I usually watch them eat..just to make sure they are eating. IAs I said...I scratch the top of the lip of the tank...and when they hear that..they come up to the same spot every time. I drop 4 or 5 tiny pellets in the tank...and watch. If they don't eat...I remove. 99 out of 100 times..they will eat. Bettas don't like flakes by the way. If he eats it...it's rare.

 

I tried soaking the pellets before feeding them to my Betta and he ate them. I also noticed a few little bubbles on the surface of the tank that look like the beginning of a bubble nest, so it looks like I have a happy, healthy Betta.