Fluval 2 Plus Filter

[glyndawn]

ive had this filter running now since end of december

how long does it take to start working correct as i check the filter and the pads are green with a little bit of bactiria growing on them on the top

the reason i ask is im getting up and down amonia levels one day they are fine another day they are 0.25

i have 4 black neons in it and 8 neon cardinals and a baby fish very smalll unknown where thats come from

 

[daiandgems]

hiya mate i haad a fluval 2 plus filter it was running for about 10 weeks and couldnt get ammonia reading below 0.25. After trying everything my LFS replaced my filter for the new fluval u2 and after a week it was fine. So my filter was obviously not working tidy could be the same problem.

 

[glyndawn]

oh right

i brought it from a pet store with the tank ill have get in touch

 

[glyndawn]

just checked all my levels this is with the tank running approx 10 weeks

8 of the weeks with fish in

nitrite = 0.25
nitrate = 10
amonia = 0
ph = 6.4

do these levels look ok or am in for some more casualtys

 

[glyndawn]

if this filter is faulty how can i tell and also what should i replace it with

also if i put a new filter in there will it affect my water conditions again eg start as new tank my tank is a fluval 95ltrs

 

[daiandgems]

If youve only had the filter a few months then you should be able to take it back jus keep the filter media to put in new filter i got a fluval u2 as my replacment and jus took out new sponges and put in new ones and after 2 days i got perfect readings and have done since.I only knew my filter was broke as id done everything poss to bring down readings eg big water changes not feeding for a few days more water changes put mature media in but nothing worked in the end both me and my lfs came to the agreement it must be the filter.

 

[Nick16]

if you ammonia is is having periodic spkies then you either,

have overstocked and your filtration cannot cope
are still in a cycle
have something causing the ammonia (dead plants or fish)

what size tank, whats your stocking and whats your total filtration.
when was the tank set up.

 

[OldMan47]

Your pH is low enough to make it difficult for the bacteria colonies to develop. If your tap water has a higher pH, it would be best to do a water change and try to help your tank pH recover. That will make it possible for the bacteria colony to develop a bit faster.

 

[Deleted member 55926]

When my pH crashed and went down to about 6, my bacteria effectively stopped doing anything and my ammonia went up to about 3ppm. So it could be that, at pH 6.4, your bacteria are not really working enough and so your ammonia is creeping up a little.