Fluval U2

[Twinklecaz]

I have mine (by using the venturi thing) set to just agitate the water. That way there's no noise or bubbles. But a few times now I've come home and found it's randomly decided to start bubbling very slightly. Does anyone else have this or know what causes it?

I'm thinking of using the spray bar setting (for those that don't know that means the water will come back out down the side as opped to at the top) coz I think it's better for the plants but will this mean I'll get less oxygen in the water due to less agitation at the top?

Cheers

 

[PDSimon]

Mine sometimes does this caz (fluval U3). It just turns on and starts bubbling loads, rubber+water=not much grip, so i think it just comes loose.

the spray setting also works better at circulating the tank but as you said it doesn't seem to cause much surface agitation at all so I would also be interested to know whether it works (even if I am getting an external tomorrow )

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I've just set up Nelly's old U4 on the surface agitation mode to get more oxygen into the Korrall60 water for my Aborichthys, as the Juwel 1000 pump needed to go back in the Rio240 (need more oxygen in there for new Barilius canarensis and bakeri, plus temporarily its extra filtration power after rinsing the 2078), which consequently meant the Juwel 280 pump had to go back in the Korrall60 (which is so poor it actually limits the amount of fish that can be put in the tank, not the tank's volume!).

Working great so far, might try the "b" and "c" modes at some random point in the future.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Ug I just did a 20% water change so I could rinse the filter out a bit...seemed to do the trick.

Something else that keeps happening is crud from the filter keeps coming out all over the tank when I do a change. It seems to happen either when I tip it slightly to get it out or when I put it back in. Or both. What's that about? Does it mean it needs a really really good rinse out do you think? All I usually do is swirl the sponges etc around in the water coz I'm scared of lsoing bacteria.

I've been thinking or getting an external Simon. Am I right in thinking they're easier to clean/less threatened by sand coz they're not in the water? And are they noisy?

NOTG...i just tried B(spray bar) and decided I hated it about 3 mins later lol.

My plants are not doing well

 

[PDSimon]

Why aren't your plants doing well caz?

I quite liked spray bar just not sure whether it will oxygenate the water enough!

I'm not too sure about the filter, i've been told its fairly quiet. sand shouldn't really get into it but its not much of a worry that it'll effect the U internal filter series really.

All the muck is if you take it in and out of the tank? I dunno I guess the external will keep it cleaner...! mine is a bit mucky too especially if I take the filter media out and in then put the filter back in the tank.


I just do the same as you to clean it... I don't do it very often though. probably done it once or twice since I finished cycling.

I just wanted something with more filtering power and thought an external would free up some space and look better so i've ordered this: My link

 

[Twinklecaz]

I wonder if it's too much food clogging it up? It's like I loosen all the crud and then when I put it back in it all floats out or something. Let me know about your filter btw.

yeah plants aren't great. I dunno what I'm doing wrong. I have low light plants, have light on for 8 hours a day and use easy carbo and TPN+......yet they're not exactly vibrant and I've had quite a few browning and dead leaves.

I know it doesn't help that my fish nibble on them though!

 

[PDSimon]

lower the lighting to 6 hours a day

I saw your list of plants but the only one I recognised was amazon swords that were beginner plants. Where did you get them from? some pics might help in other thread

 

[JoshuaA]

Your plants will initially die no doubt until they get their roots in place, mine did exactly same thing now they're floursihing the bulbs have quintupled in size !

 

[ian]

you have got the venturi on then Caz??

if you have, that may be the problem with your plants, the o2 may be driving off the c02. Do youhave any algae?

 

[Twinklecaz]

HIya

Yeah the odd spot, very very little though. If i don't have the venturi on it really bubbles. Isn't that worse for CO2?

Right I'm gonna try and get some photos coz TBH I'm not 100% what my plants are.

 

[ian]

sorry caz, i mean't do you have the venturi working, obviously you dont. BTW going back to what the others where saying ^^up there, you only need to see ripples on top of the water, i know you already know that though. The spraybay should create just ripples on the U2.

 

[ZoddyZod]

sorry caz, i mean't do you have the venturi working, obviously you dont. BTW going back to what the others where saying ^^up there, you only need to see ripples on top of the water, i know you already know that though. The spraybay should create just ripples on the U2.

I'm running the venturi on my U3. I also have a few plants.

Do you recommend turning off the venturi to ensure the C02 isn't 'bubbled' out of the water?

 

[ian]

yeah, verturi's are only there for acstetics, i would personally turn it off if you don't want to be buying new plants every month.

 

[ZoddyZod]

yeah, verturi's are only there for acstetics, i would personally turn it off if you don't want to be buying new plants every month.

surely they are also there for increasing oxygen levels? If it's for aesthetics only then they aren't very good for their purpose.

Will switch mine off and see if the plants react in a positive way.

 

[Twinklecaz]

No this is what I mean. If I take the venturi off it bubbles. I have to have it on so I can adjust it to just agitate.