I know this sounds stupid but.....

[chickenlover237]

I did know about the waste thing and surprisingly when I cleaned my tank out (I am bad

) 1 1/2 years ago after having the fish for awhile there was not much waste! and I have been thinking about cleaning it soon but I am not sure when to do it.

I think sometime in spring or after I finish school. (that could be any time scince i do flvs) I think they eat most of the waste and if not when I have to re-bury a plant that is floating on the top (plastic) I stirr up a lot of crap so mose gets sucked up by the filter I do not think I have a problem here

. thanks for the advice!!!! and rancher: I do not think the pet store will do any good because (even though they take relitively good care of their fish) would probobly not do me much good and we dont go to the pet store often (I wish we could though!).

 

[lishah2000]

You should do a 10 to 25% water change once a month. (take out that much water and replace with fresh) Maybe more with goldfish. If you use a gravel vacuum to take the water out you accomplish cleaning the gravel and removing the water at the same time. The vacuum will pull out the waste from the gravel.

I raised some koi in a 40 gallon tank and I had to do water changes every week. They grew fast and did well, but it was a lot of work. (they went into the pond once they were big enough so the birds wouldn't get them) But you do have way too many in that size tank. 10 gallon - 10 inches of fish - should be half that or less for goldfish.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Is the end of your filter intake just an open tube? Filter intakes usually have a piece at the end that has slots in it, to let the water in, but keep fish out. You might be missing that piece. You can buy replacement parts for them.

The other thing you can do, which was suggested, is put a filter sponge on the end of it. I do that on my tanks that have freshwater shrimp in them, to keep the tiny shrimp from being sucked up into the filter. You just cut a little slot or X in the sponge with a scissors or knife and poke the filter's intake tube into it. I use Aquaclear filter sponges for this. You do need to clean the sponge regularly, as it gets clogged up over time.

 

[mandelyn]

You can also use a green kitchen pad, the thin scratchy scrubber things, they are easier to fold around the pipe intake. They don't inhibit flow as much as a sponge will. Secure with zip ties. Rubber bands deteriorate, and twist ties rust. Unless you have some of the rubber coated types sold on electronics and such.

 

[chickenlover237]

wow! thanks for all the helpful info! I had no clue I did not have enough space but we do not have the money right now to pay for a new aquarium (dads excuse "you have one already you do not need another!"). I will do what I can! but my fish do not seem unhappy so I never noticed a problem. they always swim to the front of the tank and greet me when I walk in the room and when they cant see me they still are looking for me! (my fish love me

) so as long as they are happy I do not see a reason to change anything. thanks for the advice though!

 

[chickenlover237]

Is the end of your filter intake just an open tube? Filter intakes usually have a piece at the end that has slots in it, to let the water in, but keep fish out. You might be missing that piece. You can buy replacement parts for them.

The other thing you can do, which was suggested, is put a filter sponge on the end of it. I do that on my tanks that have freshwater shrimp in them, to keep the tiny shrimp from being sucked up into the filter. You just cut a little slot or X in the sponge with a scissors or knife and poke the filter's intake tube into it. I use Aquaclear filter sponges for this. You do need to clean the sponge regularly, as it gets clogged up over time.

I found out I was missing a piece because I found it.