I screwed up bad

[Fishy411]

well i replaced one of the filter cartridges in my penguin 330 and i think i started a mini cycle. one of my pictus's and my RTBS actually stopped swimming today and sat on the bottom. No joke this is the first time either of these fish have stopped swimming that ive seen. Is there anything i can do to help these fish out. i am particularly worried about the pictus's because i dont want them getting any bacterial infection. any suggestions

 

[WILDER]

How high are the nitrites.

 

[Tolak]

Do some water tests. If ammo or nitrites are present, do a partial water change daily until they drop, & increase aeration.

Tolak

 

[BettaMomma]

Ditto what Tolak said.
I wanted to reply to this to push it back to the top of the list to get you some more attention.

Good luck!!

 

[nc_nutcase]

Also the 'good bactreia' are still in your aquarium, just not your filter. It shouldn't take long at all for them to adhere themselves to your filter media. You have a few fish that I am completely unfamiliar with (meaning I've never housed them). As long as your fish aren't ultra sensative to water fluctuations I think your completely safe, but closely monitor ammonia/nitrates/etc. I'd do frequent water changes regardless of water stats just to be safe. As long as Amm/Nit aren't dangerously high don't kill yourself but try to do 10-15% a day. If water stats are dangerously high, increase frequency and volume of water changes (never exceed 33%)

 

[Mr Miagi]

Could you not reach in the bin and find the old filter cartridge if things get desperate? What did you do with the one you replaced?

 

[nc_nutcase]

I didn't think of it until I was cleaning my 29 Gal and it's Penguin 330...

They have 2 separate filter cartridges... if you only replaced one, then still half (slightly under) of your water is being filtered through the 'old' filter media. If this is the case then you have nothing to worry about and by now (several hours later) the 'good bacteria' has most likely made it's way to the new filter cartridge.

I thought that was one of the benefits to the double sided overflow filters. Yet even if you did change both, heavily monitor conditions and water change as needed until things balance themselves out. I shouldn’t take but a week at most since the bacteria area in your tank still.

 

[Polardbear]

The Penquin 330 has 2 bio wheels - isn't most of the bacteria supposed to be on the bio wheels? I thought that was the great thing about bio wheel filters?

 

[nc_nutcase]

Good point PB... so Fishy, it looks like your safe... you have one filter media and two bio wheels full of good bacteria... changing the cartridge probably didn't effect your tank at all. But we had fun analyzing the possible problem! Thanks!!

 

[Blue Lobster]

If you did not soak the Carbon filter media it will rob the water of oxygen. Turn up the bubbler and see if that helps.