Fish Gasping For Air

[avk1117]

I recently installed a new Rena Filstar XP2 on my 45 gallon fish tank. Since installing the filter the fish have been gasping for air at the top of the tank. The filter is working properly, not sue whats going on. I re-installed my old penguin filter onto the tank and the fish are acting normal and not at the top. My conclusion is the new filter, what is wrong with my new Rena Filstar XP2? Why are the fish gasping for air when that filter is on the tank?

Thank you all!
Aneil

 

[markandhisfish]

did you fill the rena with the mature media from the old filter?

 

[mattlee]

is the XP2 making the surface of the water move with the spraybar? if not then the fish could have a lack of oxygen getting into the water.

also did you put the media from the penguin inside the XP2? if not then the filter wont be cycled so it could be ammonia issues... have you tested the water stats at all?

 

[electropunk06]

hi
Dose your new filter disturb the surface of the water as much as the old one?
What fish do you have in there?

Lloyd

 

[walkers101]

you need to transfer the old media or you have 0% beneficial bacteria

 

[avk1117]

The Rena filter does not disturb the water as much as the penguin, I will adjust the spray bar to point to the surface of the water. I checked water level and everything is in normal range. PH, Ammonia and Nitrates. Good idea, I will add the filter from the penguin to the Rena filter. I have African Cichlids in the 45 gal. tank.

 

[avk1117]

Thank you everyone. That makes perfect sense, I put a bran new filter on the tank and it has 0 beneficial bacteria in it. Makes total sense. Thank you all for helping! Since the fish have been oxygen starve or lack of good bacteria, I will leave the penguin on for the rest of today and then try all the info and see what happens tomorrow. I dont want them gasping at the top again, not cool.

 

[walkers101]

it happens mate and quite a few people do not take our advice on it because a lfs told them otherwise

by adding the media to the new filter (along with some new media if you can fit it) the colony of friendly bateria will carry on and the expand onto the new sponges a lot of people refer to this as seeding your filter

 

[rob158]

to the forum,