Filter Help

[Blade510]

i'm having a bit of trouble with my aquarium. i currently have 3 tanks(10, 30, and 40 gallons), the smaller two of which are fine. my 40 gallon tank currently contains some small new world cichlids, and is running with a fluval 305 filter. i hate the filter because iy does not do a good job of keeping the water clear. within the next few days, i will be borrowing a second filter from a friend of mine, which i will add to the tank in hopes of keeping the water, if not perfectly clear, then at least clearer. i intend to fully replace the filter system on the tank soon, and was hoping to get some suggestions on what type of filter would be recommended.
ALSO: if anyone could explain what is wrong with my current filter and possible ways to fix it, that would be appreciated as well.
thanks in advance

 

[jonny_dw]

How long has the tank and filter been set up for?

 

[Blade510]

i set the tank up in mid june, so about 4 months, and the filters been on it the whole time

 

[drobbyb]

It could be a case of an underperforming filter. Basicailly, the filter only holds so much media. If the bio-load exceeds your media then you will have left over organics in the water in which the heterotrophic bacteria feed on (and cloud the water.)

So, adding a filter is probably the best bet. Have patience as it may take a few weeks for the new filter to colonize.

 

[Blade510]

thanks, i'll be adding another filter within a few days, so hopefully that'll help some. i have read some pretty bad reviews on the fluval 305, so i still think that im gonna replace the whole thing eventually

 

[JenCliBee]

Have you tried adding filter floss or have have you just got the original sponges etc etc?, the 305 works perfect for my 180ltr and keeps it crystal all of the time but i do have floss in one of the trays.

 

[Blade510]

i have floss in it right now, and it doesn't seem to be doing too much

 

[JenCliBee]

Is the water cloudy? or is it small particles in the water?.

What substrate are you using?, ive had issues with cloudy water for weeks from not cleaning sand properly before adding.

 

[Blade510]

the water is cloudy, and as for substrate, i use pebbles, which i cleaned meticulously before i put them in

 

[JenCliBee]

the water is cloudy, and as for substrate, i use pebbles, which i cleaned meticulously before i put them in

May well just be under powering then, adding another filter is never a bad thing anyways.

What are your water states? IE.. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and how did you cycle the tank?

 

[Blade510]

as for the states, ill check and get back to u in a sec.
i cycled it by putting about ten gallons of water from an established tank in it, then filling it the rest of the way and letting it run with the filter on for bout a week

the water is cloudy, and as for substrate, i use pebbles, which i cleaned meticulously before i put them in

May well just be under powering then, adding another filter is never a bad thing anyways.

What are your water states? IE.. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and how did you cycle the tank?

ammonia and nitrite are both 0 ppm.
i don't have a test for nitrate unfortunately

 

[JenCliBee]

as for the states, ill check and get back to u in a sec.
i cycled it by putting about ten gallons of water from an established tank in it, then filling it the rest of the way and letting it run with the filter on for bout a week

Unfortunately adding established water does very little if anything to help cycle a tank, and if it had just leaving it to run with no ammonia source(either adding from a bottle or from a fish source) would have killed what little if any bacteria there was in the water.

Basically you done a fish-IN cycle and that may well be your problem, the tank may still be cycling or at the very least going threw some sort of mini cycle.

What test kit are you using?, liquid based or strips?

 

[Blade510]

liquid based, and i did put some bottled cycling liquid in aswell

 

[JenCliBee]

liquid based, and i did put some bottled cycling liquid in aswell

Same again the bacteria in a bottle stuff very rarely works and from experience and most others, doesn't work at all.


TBH if your readings are 0 for both nitrite and ammonia the tank is probably cycled after 4 months anyways, however it may be some sort of contributory reason why you have cloudy water.

I think trying another filter and seeing is the best option and then going from there. All i know is i run a fluval 305 on my 180ltr and the tank is always crystal clear and other than the filter blocking more than some others ive tried, they are extremely reliable and ideal for my tank.

 

[Blade510]

thanks for the input.
like i said before, im probably getting a second filter sometime this week, so i guess i'll see what that does and take it from there




ALSO: my LFS recommended i try acurel so im gonna see if that helps any