Help! Sister overfeed my fish.

bfensty · 01-20-2013, 04:13 AM

Alright, took a two day trip to Pennstate for a Track Meet and when I get back I decide to check on my fish. However, as I go towards my room I hear my sister say "Sorry If I fed your fish wrong" So I go to the tank...and there's a layer of old fish food piled on the bottom. I have tried to skim it out with a net however whenever I try all that happens is the food flying all about the tank. Is there an easier way to do this or should I empty the tank? Please answer as soon as possible so the fish don't eat the old food and get sick!

Jaguar · 01-20-2013, 04:25 AM

You need to get that food out of there fast or it will rot and kill your fish. If you have a gravel siphoning hose, pull the attachment off the hose and use just the hose to suck it off the bottom. Do a large water change or even put your fish in a bucket and give the tank a good cleaning. Make sure you don't leave any food in the bottom!

bfensty · 01-20-2013, 04:34 AM

Would a store like petsplus or petsmart have a siphoning hose? And would you recommend just removing all the water and cleaning it from there?

Ashnic05 · 01-20-2013, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfensty

Would a store like petsplus or petsmart have a siphoning hose? And would you recommend just removing all the water and cleaning it from there?

Yes, Petsmart carries gravel vacuums and they are relatively inexpensive to use and great for cleaning. I would do at least a minimum of a 50% water change asap, and for the next few days another 25% (check your water!). Good luck!

bfensty · 01-20-2013, 04:52 AM

Alright, I'm going to head out tomorrow and get one of those, should all fish be removed during this? I have a few small community fish two small catfish and x amount of ghost shrimp in there right now.

Bubba Shrimp · 01-20-2013, 05:42 AM

gravel clean and water 50% water change or get some Ramhorn snails. The community should be ok after the clean up.

lochaber · 01-20-2013, 05:49 AM

You don't need to get a dedicated siphon from a pet store, any old tubing will work (for the siphon) - it's generally a lot cheaper to get it at a hardware store.

But, yeah, if you siphon out some of the water (and in the process vacuum up the uneaten food), you'll probably be ok.

The major concern is the food decaying and producing ammonia/nitrites, and a water change will help with that, and removing the food will stop any further water pollution.

Good luck

Bluek24a4 · 01-20-2013, 06:14 AM

I get all my tubing from the hardware store. Same stuff and half the price.

Get the food out as soon as you can, and do a water change.

01-20-2013, 04:13 AM	#1
bfensty Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 17	Help! Sister overfeed my fish. Alright, took a two day trip to Pennstate for a Track Meet and when I get back I decide to check on my fish. However, as I go towards my room I hear my sister say "Sorry If I fed your fish wrong" So I go to the tank...and there's a layer of old fish food piled on the bottom. I have tried to skim it out with a net however whenever I try all that happens is the food flying all about the tank. Is there an easier way to do this or should I empty the tank? Please answer as soon as possible so the fish don't eat the old food and get sick!

01-20-2013, 04:25 AM	#2
Jaguar Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Kelowna BC, Canada Posts: 760	You need to get that food out of there fast or it will rot and kill your fish. If you have a gravel siphoning hose, pull the attachment off the hose and use just the hose to suck it off the bottom. Do a large water change or even put your fish in a bucket and give the tank a good cleaning. Make sure you don't leave any food in the bottom! __________________ ADA 60-P (17g) ~ Fluval Spec (2g)

01-20-2013, 05:42 AM	#6
Bubba Shrimp Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada Posts: 327	gravel clean and water 50% water change or get some Ramhorn snails. The community should be ok after the clean up. __________________ So a guy walks into a Pet Store Guy: "I have a Algae on my drift wood!" Pet Clerk: "Take two Plecos and call me next week." EHEIM Classic 2213

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01-20-2013, 04:34 AM	#3
bfensty Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 17	Would a store like petsplus or petsmart have a siphoning hose? And would you recommend just removing all the water and cleaning it from there?

01-20-2013, 04:52 AM	#5
bfensty Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 17	Alright, I'm going to head out tomorrow and get one of those, should all fish be removed during this? I have a few small community fish two small catfish and x amount of ghost shrimp in there right now.

01-20-2013, 05:49 AM	#7
lochaber Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 744	You don't need to get a dedicated siphon from a pet store, any old tubing will work (for the siphon) - it's generally a lot cheaper to get it at a hardware store. But, yeah, if you siphon out some of the water (and in the process vacuum up the uneaten food), you'll probably be ok. The major concern is the food decaying and producing ammonia/nitrites, and a water change will help with that, and removing the food will stop any further water pollution. Good luck

01-20-2013, 06:14 AM	#8
Bluek24a4 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 733	I get all my tubing from the hardware store. Same stuff and half the price. Get the food out as soon as you can, and do a water change.