I've Killed My Bacteria!

[kim03333]

yesterday i did the usual weakly water changed and also cleaned the filter (maybe a bit too thoroughly). i put it back together, replaced the water and when i turned it on it was as powerful as when it was new, so i was pleased with that. however, several hours later when i went to bed it was extremely loud, which is unusual and especially as it had been cleaned, i thought maybe it was just because i'd been messing about with it. anyway i couldn't sleep through it so i turned it off! i really shouldn't have done that. i think the noise has stopped now but i tested the water earlier and i have about 0.1 ammonia and 0.3 nitrite. the filter was off for about 7 hours and i think i'e killed the bacteria.

i think i already know the answer to this, but just to make sure, there isn't anything i can do about this is there, other than monitor the levels and do more water changes accordingly? also, do you know is these levels are likely to increase further and how long is it likely to take before they go back down to zero?

btw i know i was stupid to turn off the filter, it goes against everything i've learnt, but i was so tired and could not listen to that droning for a minute longer it was driving me mad.

thanks everyone, kim

 

[scooterchick]

Yeah, you're right, water changes and monitor your stats are the way to go. I'm surprised though it took as little as 7 hours, I've had power cuts for longer and been ok, but then I hadn't just cleaned the filter. Fingers crossed things get back to normal soon, good luck!

 

[rocknurworld2006]

yesterday i did the usual weakly water changed and also cleaned the filter (maybe a bit too thoroughly). i put it back together, replaced the water and when i turned it on it was as powerful as when it was new, so i was pleased with that. however, several hours later when i went to bed it was extremely loud, which is unusual and especially as it had been cleaned, i thought maybe it was just because i'd been messing about with it. anyway i couldn't sleep through it so i turned it off! i really shouldn't have done that. i think the noise has stopped now but i tested the water earlier and i have about 0.1 ammonia and 0.3 nitrite. the filter was off for about 7 hours and i think i'e killed the bacteria.

i think i already know the answer to this, but just to make sure, there isn't anything i can do about this is there, other than monitor the levels and do more water changes accordingly? also, do you know is these levels are likely to increase further and how long is it likely to take before they go back down to zero?

btw i know i was stupid to turn off the filter, it goes against everything i've learnt, but i was so tired and could not listen to that droning for a minute longer it was driving me mad.

thanks everyone, kim

did u clean it in aquarium water?

and did u clean it quite alot if so then this along with it been off will be the problem.

 

[kim03333]

i did clean it in aquarium water, but i gave the foam a real good squeeze out. And i didn't stop there, i decided to clean all the gunk out of the outlet hose bit with a cooton bud, i also cleaned the magnetic bit that sits by the motor (or maybe that is the motor?) not sure what it's called. anyway i hope that noise it was making doesn't happen again because i'm certainly not switching it off again.

but why can't you turn it off? it's still in the water so it's not like it's drying out. is it something to do with needing a flow of water? or maybe oxygen?

 

[scooterchick]

My filter got really noisy when it was on it's way out. Maybe best to budget for a new one just in case.

 

[spesh]

i did clean it in aquarium water, but i gave the foam a real good squeeze out. And i didn't stop there, i decided to clean all the gunk out of the outlet hose bit with a cooton bud, i also cleaned the magnetic bit that sits by the motor (or maybe that is the motor?) not sure what it's called. anyway i hope that noise it was making doesn't happen again because i'm certainly not switching it off again.

but why can't you turn it off? it's still in the water so it's not like it's drying out. is it something to do with needing a flow of water? or maybe oxygen?

I think your right with the oxygen bit, no water flow means no oxygenated water coming through