That was a close one.....

Our filter stopped working Sunday night sometime. I didnt notice until I fed my fish Sunday morning. I wasnt able to get to the store until today to buy a new filter. Thankfully, everyone is fine. I just kept the tank dark, and didnt feed the fish to try to keep the ammonia and whatnot down. I was really worried.

So for future reference. If a filter goes out, and I cannot get a new one right way, what is the longest amount of time fish can survive, and did I do the right thing by not feeding, and keeping the light off? (My thinking was that feeding them would lead to waste rotting in the gravel, and more poo being added to the tank leading to higher ammonia levels. And turning the light on would lead to algae growth.)

Our internet went out on us (stupid power cord) so I couldnt come on here to ask for advice.

try n have a pwerhead handy incase the filter craps out on ya again
theyll be ok for awhile with water circulation till you get the new filter

my power filter failed on me the other day, and I wasn't able to get to the store for a replacement. I tore it apart and cleaned it. That seemed to fix it, but I agree with alkomist. Get a backup.

brokeashell wrote:

my power filter failed on me the other day, and I wasn't able to get to the store for a replacement. I tore it apart and cleaned it. That seemed to fix it, but I agree with alkomist. Get a backup.

But would it get so dirty it needed cleaning after only 3 weeks of use? I looked in it and it looked clean. I even ran water through it and nothing came out of it. Also, I rinsed it out the week before when I did a water change, so I dont think that was the issue. I think it was just a faulty filter.


Unfortunately, stupid me, I didnt save the receipt, so I couldnt take it back. I DID, however, put the receipt of the new one in the box, and will keep it until the day I die, just in case.


OK, maybe not that long, but at least for the next 3 years, until the warranty runs out.

Well, I did a substrate change with a water change and also put in new filters. Next day the power filter failed. The new filters got so dirty form the substrate change that it cause a failure...

glad to hear they made it.

Ive had a filter do that once before but was able to go and get another one quickly. A backup is a good idea. Glad to see your fish made it.