how long does it take for a submerged filter to suck up the poo??

[ah_hup]

how long does it normally take for the mini filter used in small tanks to suck up the poo?? or is it better to siphon the poo urself?

[Shadow]

Don't think the filter strong ebough to suck up all the poo, do your own siphon is better.

[budak]

are you using the filter as a biological or mechanical filter?

[ah_hup]

it is a mini sponge filter

[budak]

What kind of setup do you have? Planted? Betta? Shrimp? You can't expect the filter to literally suck up every bit of shit or debris. Some particles will get captured but the general idea of the filter is that its media (the sponge in this case) will over time accumulate a colony of bacteria that break down fish waste into forms (ammonia, nitrate) which plants can absorb. But if you don't want to wait for whatever bits of poo around the substrate to break down naturally, you can always siphon them out. But it's rather tiring to do this regularly, if you get my drift.

[ah_hup]

mine is not a planted tank... so is it safe if i siphon the poo out every week? cause i scared ammonia spike from the wastes.. as im not free to do daily siphon

[|squee|]

If your filter is matured enough, yes it is enough to siphon out every week. The ammonia generated from the existing waste matter will be taken care of by the filter.

[ah_hup]

If your filter is matured enough, yes it is enough to siphon out every week. The ammonia generated from the existing waste matter will be taken care of by the filter.

eh what u mean the ammonia taken care of by the filter? can elaborate abit? sorry ar i noob

[|squee|]

The ammonia will be converted into nitrite and finally nitrate by the bacteria in the filter. Nitrate is much less toxic than ammonia, which is very toxic even in small concentrations in the water.

You can find out a lot more by visiting beginner fish-keeping sites like http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin.html

[2~Terry]

Hi, since u mentioned it is a sponge filter. I suggest u siphone the poo every week. A sponge filter is not so efficent so its good if u remove the poo urself.