Filter Help

[philfista]

Hi all,

Just changed my internal filter on my 180liter tank to a tetratec 1200. Tansfered all the sponges into my new filter and my nitrite , nitrate readings have gone through the roof , what do i need to do ?

 

[adamgreen240]

water changes and keep monitering the levels

 

[MHunt]

For some reason you've got a mini cycle going on as a result of an imbalance in the bacteria colony in the new filter.

As adamgreen says, do a water change now, then test every day and do another change if you get a reading for ammonia or nitrite. Don't worry too much about the nitrate at this stage as it is harmless to fish, certainly in the short term. Just concentrate on protecting the fish while the cycle does it's thing. Hopefully it will only last a day or two whil the bacteria colonises the new media in the filter.

 

[philfista]

o.k just done a 25% water change .

ammonia 8.0 not good

nitrite 0

nitrate 20

Dont get it, transfered all the media should be o.k

What is going on ?

 

[MHunt]

Unless you had a massive internal filter there would have been uncolonised media in the new filter. That will still need to build up the biofilm of nitrifying bacteria. The mini cycle is probably just the new media catching up with the old. Was the old media transferred straight into the new filter and did you wash it out at all before adding to to your external?

What's the stocking level like in the tank?

 

[philfista]

I took the 2 bio filters and the 2 top filters which were covered in gunk and swoped them with one masive sponge in the new filter. They work out about the same size. I lost a silver shark this morning, but all the rest seem all happy.

 

[adamgreen240]

how are the levels mate ... and the fish

 

[philfista]

No change