Just a couple of updates from the weekends maintenance.
I mentioned a while back that i had been using an alternative to the Juwel Floss Pads, namely the same stuff you can buy for pond filters.
It’s generally about 5 times as thick and substantially cheaper, and simply requires you to cut some suitable sized squares out of it.
I am more than happy with this and it does offer substantially better filtration.
One problem i had when i added the Gourami's to my tank was the increased waste and feeding load that was applied to the aquarium. I found the standard Juwel pads became overwhelmed in about 4-5 days and the flow from the filter seriously decreased, so i ended up switching them out more often than my 7 day water changes i do on this aquarium.
A tell tale sign i have for filter flow is to have the power head just gently breaking the water surface, so every once in a while you hear a splash. When this diminishes, i know the filter is getting clogged up.
Not so with the pond floss. It will hold substantially more gunk and not slow down the filter flow. I have been feeding the same, but still able to swap it at the 7 day point with no ill effects.
The Juwel kit is great, just a shame the floss pads are far too thin. There is plenty of room in there for the extra thick floss too.
And on my floss change for this week, the snails I've got living in there made an appearance again! Happily lodged down the side of the pad as per usual.
I don't see them every week and sometimes wonder if they have escaped into the main water or perished.
But the defy me every time and pop up occasionally.
I have been letting them stay in there with the ample food sources and allowing them to get bigger before i move them to the main tank, as any small snail had been feeling the wrath of my Dwarf Puffers. With a few reasonable sized snails I'm hoping they will breed and keep a reasonable live food source going for them.
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