Cycling Problems.

[Luketendo]

Stingray?

Stingray Filter.

 

[Underwurlde]

And then when you put it back into the 'I don't want to cycle tank'? Could be another massive waste of time. Also the addition of the new filter will half the bacteria in the old filter (because the bacterial colony numbers will level out to match the food levels available).

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

So what else do you suggest I could do?

The only problems I can think of would be:

The Weird Smell
Opaque layer on surface
Aeration

For the first two I was told not to worry.

 

[Underwurlde]

Certainly the bacteria need oxygenated water. Period.

The filter media need not be submersed: Some filters simply trickle water over a sponge that is out of the water.

Q) Is the outlet from your filter under the water level or above the water level?

Do you think the Stingray is underpowered, overpowered or just right for the tank size (volume of water)?

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

So I could do with an airstone.

The stingray is internal and submerged.
The outlet is below water level since if it was above I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
The stingray is probably overpowered or about right, it says for up to 50l and my tank is 35l, it came as a package.

Well i'm going to go and do a water change on my big tank.

 

[Underwurlde]

Can you place the airstone outlet into the filter media section?

Airation could well be the source of your problem....

Q) how does this tank compare with your existing cycled tank with regards to what you know about how to aerate water now?

Then answer this: Do you think aeration is the source of the problem?

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

The only direct way to get air into the filter would be to place an air stone / tube through the filter inlet.

My cycled tank runs off a fluval 104 and has no airstone currently. I originally had a Fluval 2+ internal with no airstone and never had trouble cycling the tank with fish back then.

Aeration could well be the source of the problem but so could the strange smell i get when I open the hood or the opaque 'film' on the surface.

 

[Underwurlde]

The only direct way to get air into the filter would be to place an air stone / tube through the filter inlet.

Scrap that then.

My cycled tank runs off a fluval 104 and has no airstone currently. I originally had a Fluval 2+ internal with no airstone and never had trouble cycling the tank with fish back then.

But how were the filter outlets postioned? Where they overpowered for the setup? (If the outlet were under water, the fact that they could have been overpowered could have resulted in increased surface agitation).

Aeration could well be the source of the problem...

could be, so put an airstone in there, preferably now near the filter INlet.

...but so could the strange smell i get when I open the hood or the opaque 'film' on the surface.

I'll think some more on that. Have you Googled that?

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

The outlet for the 104 is underwater in the top right and inlet underwater in the bottom left.

The filter runs for up to 100l and the tank is 65l so it is overpowered.

Soonest I can get an air stone in is tomorrow maybe not even then.

I haven't Googled the smell but I will now but I doubt I'll find anything.

I just attempted to get rid of the film on the tank by taking 1 litre of water off the top but it didn't work, I just tested the water and it seems the ammonia may have ever so slightly dropped closer to the 4ppm mark (previously it seemed darker), I did a Nitrite test to see if any had processed but it came up as 0ppm. I might have just been seeing things but I wouldn't have thought taking 1 litre of 35 litres out would effect it at all, but I'm probably just being stupid.

 

[Underwurlde]

The film is oily, then it's atoms thick only on the surface. Use kitchen towel to remove it - lay it flat on the surface MIGHT work.

What is Nitrate as well?

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

I'm not sure on Nitrate, do you want me to test it? Last time I think it was around 10ppm.

What sort of kitchen towel? Like Kitchen Roll like Bounty? Yeah the film is kinda oily.

 

[Underwurlde]

Yeah, bounty. You never did the 'measure the thickness of an oil atom by putting an oil drop on water' test at school?

yeah, test nitrate. You never know.... could tell me things.

Andy

 

[Luketendo]

Yeah, bounty. You never did the 'measure the thickness of an oil atom by putting an oil drop on water' test at school?

yeah, test nitrate. You never know.... could tell me things.

Andy

Nope I haven't yet, I will go and carry out your suggestions.

 

[Luketendo]

Ok then!

The Nitrate is 0ppm approx, maybe a tad over.
The Kitchen Roll worked well and made most of the film go away, and most of the smell!

Brb.

 

[Luketendo]

Back , any suggestions?

Going to sleep now, will read up in the morning, thanks for all your help.