Small tank big filter

this may sound a little stupid but i have just got two axolotl but i am wondering if the setup i have got is rite as they have been in the tank aprox 8 hours and just dont seem happy iv tryed them without a lite and then without the filteration pump for a little while and have found that it seems to be the filteration unit that i am using that they dont like as when the lite is on but the filteration unit is off they become alot more active is this because the noise of the filteration unit scares them or is the current it is creating 2 strong iv got a 1'1 x 1'2 x 2'3 foot tank and using a Superfish Aquaflow3 internal pump and filter wich is ment for a tank wich holds between 100 and 300 liters and it pumps 800 liters an hour i dont know how to calculate how much water my tank holds i just got the filterand pump the shop recomended have i got this rite if so have you any other ideas please as i would hate to upset these beautiful creatures
Thanks alot for your time
Andi
ps please email any ideas if pos

Moved your question to its own thread...welcome to the group

Ok firstly you need to allow for settling in. Secondly your filer is too powerful for that small tank.

Your tank is approx cubic feet or 55l so you filter is able to pump the entire volume of the tank 800/50=40 times an hour (approx).

Easiest way to tell if you have too much current in the tank is to look at the gills if they are moving then it's too much and you must reduce it. Over time thee high current will stress the animals and cause damage to the gills.

I think you might be better turing this thing off and trusting to water changes for a few days whilst you acquire something less powerful...I prefer to use undergravel filters and an air pump...too much current is never an issue.

Good luck Andi

Thanx for fast response as i was kinda woryed about them

can you not return the filter? and if they say no its been used say you gave me false information and you are putting the lives of my axolotls at risk and threaten them with trading standards and if that does not work then i guess you could sell it on ebay and get a new one?

with trading standards i dont know how pet shops are covered on actual items but they are usually pretty well covered when it comes to animal selling but it sometimes scares them.

(Message edited by jennyg on January 07, 2005)

Thanx jenny if you got any idea of a good replacment would much appreciate

[Michael Shrom]

The problem is you need good biological filtration with low circulation disturbance. This can be accomplished by using small pump or filters with lots of bio filtration media. It can also be done by turning a large filter down or baffelling or blocking flow. I like to use minireef type filters with low flow.

couldnt you also use something to block the curret coming out?

how tall is your tank? mine is i think 20 inches high and someone said i have a big filter but because it spits out at the top it doesnt seem to effect them. one of my axies always sits on the filter with half his body over the current coming out.

Hey peeps thanx for all your help have found a briliant external canister filter today with a spray bar for £45 moves 350l an hour but the current is so minimal its unbalivable my 2 axis seem to like sitting under the spray bar.
The origonal filter hd been off for about 19 hours and as you could imagine it was quit merky in there world but 15 mins of this baby running and it was crystal clear again if any one wants to know more about it then drop me an email Drcrippen324@aol.com

wow an external one for £45 thats good! i want one but have only seen them for like £85

Andi - I'm glad you found one that works for you.
Could you tell me the brand so I can google it and take a look?

Filter i got was a fluval 104 it says it's for up to 100L aquaruim

Fluval is a good filter. I have the 204 on my axolotl tank (40 gallons). I don't have a spray bar but I made this baffle for it out of a pill bottle that is drilled full of holes.
It works great.