Filters - Please Help

[hopkigg]

Hi. We have a 3ft x 2ft x 1.5ft. 120l tank. In there we have one cory, 2 adult kribensis and 2 juvi kribensis. We also have a bgkf in there temporarily as it was being picked on in our other tank.

The amonia is 0
nitrates are 80 and nitrite is 5. We have been doing constant 50% water changes but the nitrites are not coming down. We had one fluval 4 internal filter which had old media in it from when we used to run the tank. We bought a bigger tank so the 3ft was put in our garage, then when the kribs and bgkf got sick we started it back up again.

As we have noticed the nitrites are not coming down we have decided to put another filter in there. This was is the fluval 3 internal, with new media straight out of the box.

The questions i have for you intelligent people is

a) is it better to have both filters or should one be adequate.

b) is it better to use the media that has been left in the filter in the shed for a year or start with new media, or a mix of both.

Please help as need to get these nitrites down. I have just done a 50% change and put some api stress coat in as the fish are looking really pale.

 

[hollanda88]

Hi. We have a 3ft x 2ft x 1.5ft. 120l tank. In there we have one cory, 2 adult kribensis and 2 juvi kribensis. We also have a bgkf in there temporarily as it was being picked on in our other tank.

The amonia is 0
nitrates are 80 and nitrite is 5. We have been doing constant 50% water changes but the nitrites are not coming down. We had one fluval 4 internal filter which had old media in it from when we used to run the tank. We bought a bigger tank so the 3ft was put in our garage, then when the kribs and bgkf got sick we started it back up again.

As we have noticed the nitrites are not coming down we have decided to put another filter in there. This was is the fluval 3 internal, with new media straight out of the box.

The questions i have for you intelligent people is

a) is it better to have both filters or should one be adequate.

b) is it better to use the media that has been left in the filter in the shed for a year or start with new media, or a mix of both.

Please help as need to get these nitrites down. I have just done a 50% change and put some api stress coat in as the fish are looking really pale.

If you can get mature filter media out of the other tank thats best and 2 is better than one if the fish are ok with the flow rate

andrew

p.s. they are 2 good filters

 

[hopkigg]

Hi. We have a 3ft x 2ft x 1.5ft. 120l tank. In there we have one cory, 2 adult kribensis and 2 juvi kribensis. We also have a bgkf in there temporarily as it was being picked on in our other tank.

The amonia is 0
nitrates are 80 and nitrite is 5. We have been doing constant 50% water changes but the nitrites are not coming down. We had one fluval 4 internal filter which had old media in it from when we used to run the tank. We bought a bigger tank so the 3ft was put in our garage, then when the kribs and bgkf got sick we started it back up again.

As we have noticed the nitrites are not coming down we have decided to put another filter in there. This was is the fluval 3 internal, with new media straight out of the box.

The questions i have for you intelligent people is

a) is it better to have both filters or should one be adequate.

b) is it better to use the media that has been left in the filter in the shed for a year or start with new media, or a mix of both.

Please help as need to get these nitrites down. I have just done a 50% change and put some api stress coat in as the fish are looking really pale.

We cant get mature media out of our current 4ft tank as we have a fluval 403 and it is a bugger to get back together so we only do it when really necessary. The 3ft tank was in use so both internal filters had mature media, however these had been left around in the garage for a year, so didnt know if it was best to use these mature ones or change for brand new media. They were left in the garage but were still in the filter casing that was in a bucket so couldnt have got very dirty

 

[hollanda88]

Hi. We have a 3ft x 2ft x 1.5ft. 120l tank. In there we have one cory, 2 adult kribensis and 2 juvi kribensis. We also have a bgkf in there temporarily as it was being picked on in our other tank.

The amonia is 0
nitrates are 80 and nitrite is 5. We have been doing constant 50% water changes but the nitrites are not coming down. We had one fluval 4 internal filter which had old media in it from when we used to run the tank. We bought a bigger tank so the 3ft was put in our garage, then when the kribs and bgkf got sick we started it back up again.

As we have noticed the nitrites are not coming down we have decided to put another filter in there. This was is the fluval 3 internal, with new media straight out of the box.

The questions i have for you intelligent people is

a) is it better to have both filters or should one be adequate.

b) is it better to use the media that has been left in the filter in the shed for a year or start with new media, or a mix of both.

Please help as need to get these nitrites down. I have just done a 50% change and put some api stress coat in as the fish are looking really pale.

We cant get mature media out of our current 4ft tank as we have a fluval 403 and it is a bugger to get back together so we only do it when really necessary. The 3ft tank was in use so both internal filters had mature media, however these had been left around in the garage for a year, so didnt know if it was best to use these mature ones or change for brand new media. They were left in the garage but were still in the filter casing that was in a bucket so couldnt have got very dirty

mature just means that they are colanised with bacteria and as they have been in the garage foor ages (unless they were running and the bacteria were supplied with food (ammonia)) the bacteria will be dead. You will be cycling the tank all over again and you have now entered fish in cycling.

If there is anyway you can get some mature madia then you would be much better off.

andrew

 

[hopkigg]

If we are starting the cycling process will the fish survive and how long will it take to cycle. Should i carry on doing daily 50% changes with stress coat, how long will it be till nitrites come down. Is it normal for the amonia to be 0 if the tank is cycling. The tank has currently been cycling with one filter for 2 weeks and have now added another filter

 

[hollanda88]

If we are starting the cycling process will the fish survive and how long will it take to cycle. Should i carry on doing daily 50% changes with stress coat, how long will it be till nitrites come down. Is it normal for the amonia to be 0 if the tank is cycling. The tank has currently been cycling with one filter for 2 weeks and have now added another filter

Fish produce ammpnia therefore you should have some after 2 weeks, daily water changes will bring the stats down and u may want to get a different test kit or add liquid ammonia

andrew

 

[hopkigg]

Also would it be best to move the kribs into our 4ft tank until the tank is cycled. In the 4ft tank we have 3 juvi bala sharks, african knife fish, polypterus, rainbow fish, gold gourami, silver dollar, 2 corys, angel fish and 2 common plec. I know all about compatability and size issues, they are only in there until i can get a 6ft tank.

The levels in the 4ft tank are amonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 50, ph 6.5

 

[hollanda88]

Also would it be best to move the kribs into our 4ft tank until the tank is cycled. In the 4ft tank we have 3 juvi bala sharks, african knife fish, polypterus, rainbow fish, gold gourami, silver dollar, 2 corys, angel fish and 2 common plec. I know all about compatability and size issues, they are only in there until i can get a 6ft tank.

The levels in the 4ft tank are amonia 0, nitrites 0 and nitrates 50, ph 6.5

You don't want many fish in it if any for cycling

andrew

 

[hopkigg]

We have currently got the api freshwater master test kit and a tetra tablet one, we test with both to check levels

 

[hollanda88]

We have currently got the api freshwater master test kit and a tetra tablet one, we test with both to check levels

Unless its out of date the API master kit will be the best you can get.

andrew

 

[hopkigg]

We have currently got the api freshwater master test kit and a tetra tablet one, we test with both to check levels

Unless its out of date the API master kit will be the best you can get.

andrew

Ok thankyou, you have been great. One last question. how much of the mature sponge would i have to take out of the external to put in the internal to make it beneficial. The tank has been running for 2 weeks now so how much longer does it take to cycle

 

[bronzecat]

Hi. We have a 3ft x 2ft x 1.5ft. 120l tank.

Hi

A tank with those dimensions is actually 255L. So if you have fitted a filter for 120L it is probably struggling to turn enough water over

 

[hollanda88]

We have currently got the api freshwater master test kit and a tetra tablet one, we test with both to check levels

Unless its out of date the API master kit will be the best you can get.

andrew

Ok thankyou, you have been great. One last question. how much of the mature sponge would i have to take out of the external to put in the internal to make it beneficial. The tank has been running for 2 weeks now so how much longer does it take to cycle

If the dimentions you said are right as bronzecat said its underfiltered with low flow rate and you'll need both internals.

You will need a fair wedge of the mature media but leave enough in the other tank to keep it running stable.

I would take enough to fill half of the internal filter if that leaves enough in your fluval external.

andrew

 

[hopkigg]

I dont think the filter was for a 120l tank, we were sold it with that tank, we decided to buy another as a spare. We now have both running, so hoping this will help

 

[hollanda88]

I dont think the filter was for a 120l tank, we were sold it with that tank, we decided to buy another as a spare. We now have both running, so hoping this will help

Good luck cycling, you can read up on the threads if you don't understand it completly

Also if you have any other questions just ask

andrew