http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=help-me-with-my-filter-please#1 Could you help me, please? I just started a new aquarium which was previously running without any serious equipment; no substrate, no extra filter, just an old foam filter. Nowdays, I added the gravel and I want conditions in the tank to be stable. So I bought a new foam in order to help the nitrification bacteria to grow. Then I put the new foam to the filter. Everything was going well until I cleaned the tank today; Fish excrements have been shrinked into that foam and since then, my filter doesn’t work as previously. My tank is of 45 litres. My question: Do I have to buy more stronger filter? Or do I have to remain with the actual one? Thanks, Jeff original post: December 13, 2006, 4:34 pm anonymous 2008-04-30 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=help-me-with-my-filter-please#2 Everyone should know that quality and strong filter is necessary for 99% of fish tanks. Except some aquariums which are really over-planted and which don’t need any filter thanks to small amount of fish in them, you should care about your fish’s health at first. Check http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=58, http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=79, http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?what=article&id=9&cur_lang=2 and maybe http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=56. jan 2008-04-30 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=help-me-with-my-filter-please#3 when using foam filters the foam should be rinsed in old tank water on a regular basis else they will clog.Never rinse under tap water mickey 2008-05-01