Do I Need A Bigger Filter?

[JMcQueen]

I currently have a 120L tank with two Blackmoor Goldfish and a Fluval U3 filter. I've noticed my filter doesnt appear to be filtering out all the dirt and is instead depositing 'dirt' on the plants and rocks near the outlet of the filter. I cant be any more specific than just saying its general dirt and it easily wipes off but surely this should be caught in the filter media?

I had a look to see if you could change the media for a finer foam thus hopefully capturing more of the smaller particles but it seems they only sell the one type. Its not causing any problems with the fish and is purely an aesthetic thing so maybe Im over reacting, I dunno.

the tank gets a 40% weekly water change and the filters are squeezed at the same time.

 

[fluttermoth]

Goldfish are very messy; most people recommend an external canister filer for them rather than internals, so it could be it's not coping oo well.
You might need to think about either getting an external (for a 120l with two goldies you wouldn't need anything massive, one of the APS 1000l would be a perfect sort of size) or another internal.

If you take the carbon impregnated pad out, you have enough space to fit a layer of filter floss in there; that would help.

 

[JMcQueen]

Goldfish are very messy; most people recommend an external canister filer for them rather than internals, so it could be it's not coping oo well.
You might need to think about either getting an external (for a 120l with two goldies you wouldn't need anything massive, one of the APS 1000l would be a perfect sort of size) or another internal.

If you take the carbon impregnated pad out, you have enough space to fit a layer of filter floss in there; that would help.

Unfortunately I dont have the space for an external where the tank is located. I might change the carbon out for some filter wool and see if it makes a difference. I had hopped that the carbon pads themselves might have helped since its finer than the poly honeycomb pads.

I do have a fluval U4 in the garage that Im not using for anything if the larger filter would help?

 

[fluttermoth]

With goldfish, the more filtration you can get in there the better, to be honest! I'd be tempted to run them both if the fish don't mind the current.

 

[JMcQueen]

Yeah, the current is a problem. I originally started off with the U4 before dropping down to the U3 due to the current. They still werent happy with that so I had to put a 'diffuser' over the spray bar to reduce the current. I suppose I could do the same with the U4

 

[fluttermoth]

Hmmm, I see the problem! Try the diffuser on the U4 maybe ? Or see how you get on with the U3 if you put some filter floss in it.

 

[JMcQueen]

I think Im going to email fluval on this and ask their advice.

I've now been running two U3 (one each side of the tank) for a few weeks now and the problem is still there. Its like a fine soot thats projected from the filter output. Its definitely coming from the filter as I put a rock in front of the filter outlet and after a couple of weeks it was black with dirt. Obviously the dirt must be in the water but there must be a way of removing the really fine particulate.

Its a real pain the backside when it comes to my plants as they're constantly being covered in dirty deposits which means I have to take them out and clean them thus constantly uprooting them and replanting. Granted, it doesnt seem to affect the plants (annubias) but its difficult to get the root system covered again when replanting as they spread out everywhere.

 

[JMcQueen]

Fair play to Fluval, they responded very quickly. What do people think to the advice given?

[font="arial][size="2"]If the aquarium water will not clear,this will be caused by either excess food or high phosphates in the water.These tiny particals are been constantly disturbed from the substrate by the fish.

To solve this problem stop feeding for 5 days and do not change any more water for 3 weeks,when feeding is resumed only feed a very small pinch ONCE a day ( all food must be consumed in 30 seconds ) Do not feed any tablet or pellet food ,as this is the biggest cause of particles in the water.

Add 50ml of Nutrafin Cycle every day for 4 days, this will boost the beneficial bacteria in your filter,which should not be cleaned for at least 4 weeks.

Excess water changing,especially in hard water areas will cause a problem with phosphates, only change 20% once every 2 to 3 weeks when the aquarium has established, using a gravel cleaner to remove mulme and debris from within the substrate.

Do not over clean the sponges in the filter,as the dirt trapped in the sponges will act as an even finer catchment.only rinse through ( with aquarium water ) around every 3 to 4 weeks.

Make sure the rocks are not white ( Chalk or Limestone )

Hide all aquarium foods so no one else will be tempted to feed the fish.

Increase your numbers of real aquatic plants,as they help remove Nitrates and are a natural source of food and oxygen

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[font="arial][size="2"]Not to keen on the idea of stopping water changes and feeding for 5 days. [/size][/font]

 

[Tizer]

not feeding for 5 days isnt going to cause any problems. most if not all the advice there is fine.