Hello Everybody. New Filter Questions. Any Help Appreciated.

[AlexBurgoyne]

Hello everybody.
 
I’m pleased to join your community here.  I’m new to fish-keeping and so after spending a week researching and purchasing my new tank (Interpet Fish Box 64) and other bits – I’ve got a few questions I’m hoping those more experienced could help me with.  I’ve put the key points in bold to try and avoid boring you too much.
 
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Yesterday I started a fishless cycle (the add and wait version – from this forum) using the Kleen Off Ammonia that I’d seen recommended for those in the UK.
 
Before adding the ammonia yesterday – I have had the tank running for around 5 days. The tank, substrate (tank suitable sand) and decorations, had all been washed beforehand and I feel I followed instructions as close as possible.  However, over the last 2 days I have noticed a yellow slimy substance on the filter. At first I just saw it on various areas on the outside (anywhere with an edge) but then when I removed it, it appeared to be everywhere inside. I’ve since cleaned it, but judging from the outside of the filter today, it appears to be returning. I also left it on the filter pads - these were pretty much covered with this substance.
 
 

 
 

 
 
I’m not sure what this substance is? Could it be dirt from the sand? Is it just normal? May the filter not work? Is there a way that algae can be produced that looks like this, even without fish?
 
Secondly, the venturi on this filter (Interpet PF2) does not appear to work? I’ve followed the instructions – top vent above water line and rest under, with the venturi vent open. However, it doesn’t produce any bubbles nor do I notice a noise increase. Apart from the disappointment of something new seemingly not functioning, it’s not really a problem as I have the output nozzle facing upwards to aerate the water – plus it’s nice and quiet. However, I’m worried that this may may indicate the filter generally is not functioning properly, especially considering the first problem of the yellowy substance.
 
Am I missing something obvious with the venturi? Could it signal the filter not working properly? How could I test this?
 
My final question is about which heating reading should I trust? The actual heater settings of the thermostat or the thermometer that I’ve stuck to the front of the tank that came with it? I ask as there is currently a discrepancy of around 5-6 degrees Celsius, with the thermometer being the higher. This could be due to the sun – the top 1/3 of the fish tank is in front of a window (no room to put elsewhere) – but the temperature seems to remain constant morning to evening and night to day, so I’m not sure if it’s that or not?
 
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Firstly, to the forum.
I can't answer all of your questions sorry but I'll answer the ones I can.

Firstly, thank you for doing a fishless cycle, it is the most common mistake made by a beginner aquarist to get a tank and stock with fish within the first few days, so good on you for going fishless and researchin before hand!
That yellowy stuff looks just like dirt from the sand however I will let someone more knowledgable in filters answer that for sure.
You should almost always follow the reading on the thermometer instead of the heaters reading, this is because the heaters thermometer is much close to the source of the heat so almost always reads higher to the stick on thermometer, try to place the stick on thermometer as far away as possible from the heater (make sure you can still read it clearly).

Hope this has helped.

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

Hi Blondie, 
 
Thanks for responding. At the minute the thermometer is on the front-left of the tank and the heater is central at the back, so yes that should explain it! I'll make sure to turn the heater up a little to make sure the whole of the tank is heated to the right temp. Thank you!

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

Does anybody else have any advice on this? I've searched online but can't seem to find mention of anything similar to this filter substance. After only cleaning it 2 days ago, it's already back again... 

 

[snazy]

What type of substrate did you use? Brand?

Only asking because I came across a thread on a forum where a guy had similar problem. The stuff just grew and grew and actually affected the fish afterwards. He was convinced it was the sand he used as that's all there was in a tank besides the filter and heater.

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

What type of substrate did you use? Brand?

Only asking because I came across a thread on a forum where a guy had similar problem. The stuff just grew and grew and actually affected the fish afterwards. He was convinced it was the sand he used as that's all there was in a tank besides the filter and heater.

Hi, thanks for responding. 

This was the sand substrate I used: http/www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Pettex+Roman+Gravel+Speckled+Sand+8+kg

It's 'Pettex Roman Gravel Speckled Sand' incase the link doesn't work. 

 

[snazy]

I'd say just leave it and see how it goes. It should go away soon, at least it shouldn't stay to that degree.
Maybe it was dust particles from the substrate that disintegrated and once the filter handles that, it will clear up.
Some amount of this is normal. When I think of it, I've seen it in my filters sometimes, the internal specifically.
 
As for the temperature, I'd trust the thermometer. The heater's thermostat may not be that accurate or just as you said the outside temperature is playing a part.

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

I'd say just leave it and see how it goes. It should go away soon, at least it shouldn't stay to that degree.
Maybe it was dust particles from the substrate that disintegrated and once the filter handles that, it will clear up.
Some amount of this is normal. When I think of it, I've seen it in my filters sometimes, the internal specifically.
 
As for the temperature, I'd trust the thermometer. The heater's thermostat may not be that accurate or just as you said the outside temperature is playing a part.

Ok, thanks a lot... that's really helpful. I'll see how it goes over the next few days and then post an update!

 

[fluttermoth]

It looks like diatoms to me; a form of algae.
 
It's very common in new set ups and should disappear as your tank matures.

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

Hi everybody.
 
Thanks for your responses - they were all really helpful. While the substance on the filter is still there, it has diminished (at least from the outside), and so I am not so concerned with it now. 
 
However, I added 5ppm Ammonia 16 days ago - and there has been NO change in the level of Ammonia at all. For the last 4 days I have also tested nitrite and on the first day I got a reading (small - around 0.5) but back to zero in the following days. Not sure if it was a false positive. Anyway, i'm at a loss as of what to do. I was considering doing a 50% water change to get the ammonia down to 2-3ppm and see if I can get things moving that way. Or if I should consider the filter as not functioning properly (venturi doesn't work as mentioned in the first post) and I should purchase another filter. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. 

 

[the_lock_man]

I would certainly do that 50% change, that article is a little out of date, and will imminently be replaced (the new article is being subedited at the moment).
 
Regarding whether the filter is working, I suggest you try to measure how much water is being pumped through in 30 seconds, and multiply it by 120 to get your litres per hour figure - this should be somewhere above 3 times the tank capacity

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

I would certainly do that 50% change, that article is a little out of date, and will imminently be replaced (the new article is being subedited at the moment).
 
Regarding whether the filter is working, I suggest you try to measure how much water is being pumped through in 30 seconds, and multiply it by 120 to get your litres per hour figure - this should be somewhere above 3 times the tank capacity

Ok, thank you. I'll do the water change now. I just put the filter outflow into a bucket for 30 seconds - some escaped but  roughly, 5 litres were captured, meaning 600l per hour. The tank is 64 litre so seems to be more than sufficient, cheers!  

 

[the_lock_man]

Definitely. The filter is working fine, then, so that's one possibility to cross off.

 

[AlexBurgoyne]

Sorry for yet another question. I've just used my API test kit after the water change and Ammonia is now at around 0.75-1.00ppm. I changed 50% of the water, so I guess the ammonia may have slowly being dropping but not enough to see noticeable colour changes, I dunno.
 
Either way, my question is should I wait for this ammonia level to decrease to around 0 before topping up to 2-3, or should I try to top up to 2-3 now, right away? 

 

[the_lock_man]

Wait for it to drop.