Yesterday I discovered that my 20 gallon TopFin filter on my tank at school is not working right. The flow is greatly reduced. If I try to adjust the flow, the water bypasses the filter media and flows directly over the tube that brings the water up to the filter. I've experimented with every possible setting. It's just not working. (I just bought this in September of 2005) This means that the water being filtered is greatly reduced, and the flow is so low that oxygenation is very limited.

I'm going to buy a new filter today, (pray the bad one keeps working even at its limited flow). I can't install the new filter until Monday. The cycle had just stablized about 3 weeks ago. On Friday I did a 50% water change, because the nitrates were at 60. (That's when I noticed the problem.) I spent a couple hours there yesterday, trying to get the filter to flow properly. I still have 9 young goldies in it ( reduced from 18) so frequent water changes are the norm.

I'm leaving Tuesday morning for 5 days out of town and it's Spring Break, so I have limited access to the school building.

What can I do - with the new filter - to help maintain the cycle? There is a sponge in the TopFin that is probably the main location of the good bacteria, along with a filter floss bag with carbon and ammonia rocks in it. If the filter is still running on Monday, I'm going to put that sponge in the new filter. Is there anything else I should do or not do?????????

Also, I'm considering buying a Penguin 350 for this 20 gallon tank. (I read about it in the discussion forum - and thought it would be a good one because I can put lots of bio media it it) Does this sound like a good choice?

I'm going shopping this afternoon - any advice is appreciated - and needed quickly!

If you want to move this, I have no problem with that, I just needed help ASAP!

Penguins, emperors, and aquaclears...those are all great filters. Just make sure that the GPH is at least 200. Topfin's aren't really that great of filters, I'd know because that was the first one I bought. Make sure you keep the old filter cartridge in the new filter or under the flow of the filter in the tank so your cycle won't crash.

ok - Penguin it is - I've gotta go shopping now, or I won't be able to until next week.

I'll put the filter from the TopFin into the Penguin, somehow - I don't know how it's designed, exactly. if nothing else, I'll just bunch it up and stuff it in.

I would still appreciate any other advice. I'm going to look at some othe biomedia, like ceramic or something, while I'm at the store. I saw some examples on another post.

Thanks, Kissy, for your advice.

But if you are going to be out of the school after changing this filter you may crash the cycle and need to test everyday.
What I would suggest is to hook the new one up and leave the old one on it. This way the new one will get established while still filtering the water. You most certainly don't want to kill the cycle if you are going to be gone for days.

Ok! I got a Penguin 200. (rated at 200 gph) They didn't have a 350, but that may work out better, since you are suggesting that I leave the old filter running while the new filter establishes itself in the cycle. (I'm just praying that the TopFin filter is still running when I get there tomorrow and continues to run all week.

I hope that both filters fit on the 20 gallon tank. If they won't both fit on the back of the 20 gallon tank, should I take the hood off and hang one of the filters on the side?

I also bought some BioMax to put in the Penguin, extra filter floss and bags. I thought that since I won't be there for several days I should use some ammonia chips and carbon. There is also a little carbon in the Penguin filter cartridge.

Our school's custodian is going to feed the fish while I'm gone - he stops in every day to check the building. He has huge 2 aquariums at his home and is very experienced with feeding fish.

He is also going to add a few drops of Prime on Thursday, just in case. He uses Prime at home, so he knows what to do.

I am leaving him a note to let him know that if the TopFin is not running at all when he checks on the fish, he should unplug it and take it off of the tank. I read in another post somewhere in here that bad bacteria will take over a filter that isn't running. Am I correct?

Ok, I am going to move the thread to the regular section. Let us know how it goes.

The Penguin 200 is installed and working great on my 20 gal. at school. It has extra filter floss, ammonia chips, carbon, and Biomax. I left the TopFin running to maintain the cycle. I had to hang it on the front of the aquarium. With the way the cut-outs are designed on the hood/light system, I couldn't hang them both on the back.

The fish are ok, and I tested the water. Ammonia = 0 Nitrites = 0.25 Nitrates = 20 That's not too bad - I had done a 30% water change with Prime on Friday. Today I added 1/2 gallon of water and added Prime to take care of the nitrites. That will have to do until I get back next weekend.

I want to thank you for helping me in my mini-crisis. Luckily I discovered the problem before it could affect the fish! Whew!!

I'm going to a horse ranch for a few days of horseback riding and hiking(yes we have ranches in Indiana - Ha! Ha!). I need to recharge my batteries with a little outdoor fun.

I hope everyone has a great week and all goldies stay healthy!!

YeeeeHaaaaa!!