Fluval 2+ -_-!

[Daisy_]

Hi everyone, very new to this site but thought the concept was brilliant :]

I need help (obviously) I have a fluval 2+ filter for my tropical fish tank and i think its causing me problems. I have cleaned my tank many times since ive had it and everytime i take the water to be tested before putting fish in it it seems to be coming back that the water is dirty? i have no rocks or sand in it just water, heater and filter.

Trust me when i say the tank is immaculate but has been used before by my brother. The filter seems to be working and has had new pads and what i thought was a good clean before i put it in the water but maybe its the filter thats causing me problems?

Does anyone know how to take the filter completely apart so i can clean it entirely?

 

[markp2067]

The only things you need to remove are the filter pad cartridge and pop the impeller out to clean it.

Have you cycled the filter well enough after changing the pads because if you changed all pads you may as well be starting afresh

It might pay to put some substrate in as well or the bacteria you need will have no where to breed. Even more so if you keep changing the water.

 

[Daisy_]

The only things you need to remove are the filter pad cartridge and pop the impeller out to clean it.

Have you cycled the filter well enough after changing the pads because if you changed all pads you may as well be starting afresh

It might pay to put some substrate in as well or the bacteria you need will have no where to breed. Even more so if you keep changing the water.

Ive only changed the water 3 times and thats because the results kept coming back that there was bacteria in the water that shouldnt be there !

Im so frustrated, ive worked hard on it and its just not working out for me at all

And ive done that what youve said before and it hasnt worked, is it worth buying a new filter do you think?

 

[markp2067]

Lets start from the beginning.

Correct me if i'm wrong but all you have is a tank full of water with nothing more than a heater and second hand filter?

How long has this been running for?

 

[Daisy_]

Correct.

I'd say its been running for about a month with 3 water changes - 2 full water changes and then 1/3 of the tank change. I havent changed the water since the last time i had the water tested a week or so ago...

 

[lungfish]

The only things you need to remove are the filter pad cartridge and pop the impeller out to clean it.

Have you cycled the filter well enough after changing the pads because if you changed all pads you may as well be starting afresh

It might pay to put some substrate in as well or the bacteria you need will have no where to breed. Even more so if you keep changing the water.

Ive only changed the water 3 times and thats because the results kept coming back that there was bacteria in the water that shouldnt be there !

Im so frustrated, ive worked hard on it and its just not working out for me at all

And ive done that what youve said before and it hasnt worked, is it worth buying a new filter do you think?

are you say where you takeing water to be test tell u should not have was bacteria in the water try take water for test to other shop as i think you do need some bacteria in your fish tank

 

[markp2067]

This is what i would suggest. Firstly by changing the water entirely you managed to throw away all the good that you had started.

I suggest you get some substrate and start afresh. Check out the link on here about tank cycling and follow that. I appreciate that your annoyed at whats not happening and want fish but if you start again you'll get there quicker than the way your going.

Trust me it'll be worth it

 

[Daisy_]

awh thank you :] im frustrated at myself, im normally organised.

what kind of substrate best suits my filter? its a couple years old, i dont want to break it with sand etc...

Thanks for your help by the way :]

 

[markp2067]

Sand will be fine trust me. And to make things better use playsand, very well washed prior to tank insertion. It works out about £3 a kilo cheaper than stuff from your local fish shop and is pretty much identical. Many on here use it, myself included. You wont break your filter.

I purchased a bag only the other day from the Range at £2.50 a bag. Argos sell it for a similar price and one bag, maybe two dependant on your tank size should be plenty.

As for being organised, its nothing to do with that. You either have all the knowledge or work to find it. You've started on the later which is your best bet.

 

[lungfish]

what side his your fish tank as your fluval 2+ could be to small i am now useing Unlmax 250 professional external canister filfer for my 48*17*12 for about 3 month now water lot clean fish happy to and two fluval 2 and 4 to keep air in the water ...

 

[Daisy_]

im not too sure what size my fish tank is, the filter i have is a medium size though and i wouldve thought it was the right size for my tank as its not that big

I'm gonna try starting a fresh and the cycling thing and see how it goes :]

 

[markp2067]

You could get a tape measure and measure it