Hello Everyone, I Have A Few Newbie Questions

[Mash]

Hello to everyone,

i am a total newbie to tropical fish keeping, and have only kept a gold fish when i was little. Me and my wife went out yesterday to get some advice and brought a new tank, a Marina Style 60ltr tank set up. It come with filter, heater and light, we also bought some plants as they said we could put them in straight away. The filter it came with is a Marina Slim S15 and is one that hangs off the back of the tank. After setting everything up i started to research the filter to see how often i would need to change the filters and what they would cost, but it seems it might be a bit of a money making scam for the manufacturer, and not be the best solution. I have read that because the filters are changed (1-2 of the 3 filters) every few weeks it removes bacteria from the filtering process that has taken time to build up in the filter.

I was thinking to change the filter straight away or soon for something less expensive to run long term, easier to keep the bacteria stuff going, and less maintenance. Looking at types of filters, i like the idea of an external filter, and have been looking at the Eheim 2213. Although the spec says it is over sized for my 60ltr tank i have read reviews and found other information that seem to say it would be ok for my sized tank or even smaller ones. This is how i came across this filter. Im worried that this might cause to much current, and if there might be a better solution im missing?

We also have quite few snails from the plants running around, my first mistake i didn't rinse them before i filled the tank. I am going to wait a week before putting fish in but can assassin snails be added to the tank early on in the first week or so to eat them up?

thank you for reading any advice would be much appreciated

cheers
Ash

 

[Aquascaper]

The HOB (hang on back) filter is not a bad bit of kit but, as you say, the cartridges are expensive and need frequent changes.

Option 1:
Keep the HOB filter but instead of using cartridges buy some different grades of sponge pads and some ceramic media. Place the sponges in order of coarse to fine from the inlet side (probably two would be fine, one of each), this will fill the filter up to where the outlet 'ramp' is. Fill the rest of the space with ceramics but not so high that they can fall out into the tank. [As you can probably tell I have one of these so know the layout well - mine is used as a refugium on my marine tank for growing copepods]

Option 2:
Buy an external filter. Rather than an expensive, powerful Eheim maybe look at an All Pond Solutions model. These have masses of room for filter media, are cheaper and the only downside is the flow rates are a lot lower then advertised once filled with media (not necessarily a bad thing in such a small tank). Overfiltering is never a bad thing either, all it will do is keep your water nicer.

I looked at the same tank for my sons and if it was me I'd go down the option 1 route but if you really want an external I would suggest the APS filter rather than the Eheim (I have an Eheim running on one of my other tanks so I'm in no way biased either way).

As for the snails, wait until the tank is cycled before adding any livestock, if the pest snails die so be it

HTH

 

[Mash]

Hello, thank you for the advice, I might try out option one and keep the slim filter and put the sponge and ceramic in, maybe the ceramic bio rings. I see that some other people have done this and zip tied sponge onto each changeable filter thing after removing the original filter media so they just slide back into the housing. Is how you would recommend doing it? And would i just need to clean the sponge filters every few weeks or so?

Thanks again
Ash

 

[Aquascaper]

That's the easiest way to do it yes, then all you need to do is remove them and squeeze in old tank water to remove the sludge when you notice them getting dirty (monthly maybe). Never clean them in tapwater though as the chlorine will kill off the beneficial bacteria.

 

[daz4321]

just for your information it takes longer than a week to cycle an aquarium/filter and it requires a source of ammonia to feed the growing bacteria. Plenty of information on the forum about how to do it. Have a read and enjoy the hobby.
Remember nothing good happens fast in fishkeeping.

 

[Mash]

I have left my tank running for a few weeks, i had the water tested at the local fish shop and still had a little ammonia so i am going to leave it another week and order a api test kit they seem the best value for money? I have had a look for some sponge to replace my changeable filters that come with the slim filter, and looking round a few local shops and ebay i haven't really found anything suitable because it all seems to thick, they all seem to be made to suit certain filters as replacements. Can you recommend some suitable sponge or filter media, and where you bought it from. I found that Fluval make some sponge filters and almost ordered them, found them in my local shop and didn't seem suitable, this is them http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230698012994

thank you
Ash

 

[Aquascaper]

You can always buy something and cut it down to size.

 

[Essjay]

If you haven't been adding any ammonia to the tank, then just leaving it running a few weeks isn't going to cycle the filter. Are your plants still growing well? Any dying bits of plant will make the bit of ammonia the lfs found, or it could be in your tapwater.

The make/size of the sponges doesn't matter. All you need to do it cut them up to make them fit. If you are intending to change the cartridges for sponge, then you will need to cycle them - though if you haven't been adding ammonia over the last few weeks changing them won't affect anything as the cartridges won't be cycled either.

 

[Mash]

I think i need to get the test kit and some ammonia. The plants seem to be doing ok, i bought a piece of live bogwood with plants attached from a fish display tank in the store, i also got a potted plant. Seems to be a few less snails than there was before, unless they have just dug into the gravel, they came in the plants. Its kind of frustrating, mainly because of the store i bought the tank from all they want to do is sell fish and so offer the free tests to get you back. I asked about buying the test kit and was told its not worth it. They never mentioned adding ammonia, only this liquid bacteria stuff that i have been adding. They said its ok to add fish after 3 days, i have not really been in any rush but wish i researched more into cycling rather than listening to anything they say, as i have probly wasted a few weeks.

 

[Essjay]

Very few shops will tell you about doing a fishless cycle. The current favourite with them seems to be bacterial starters, but they don't tell you that a lot of them don't work.

The best thing you can do is get a test kit and some ammonia. One thing fishkeeping teaches is patience

 

[Nik00117]

Go get a test kit, they really aren't that expensive. Also stop listening to your LFS. Also your going need to add the ammonia yourself to start the fishless cycle. That should kill the snails as well.