Juwel Pump Stopped Working!

[Andy7000]

Hi. My internal filter in my almost fully stocked rio 240 stopped working yesterday so i have removed the whole filter and i am now using a tetratec ex1200 and an old ecco 2231. The ecco was being used on a differant tank at the time but the ex1200 is brand new. The fish were gasping this morning so i did a 40% water change, but the nitrite is still way too high. I have tested for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I'm a little puzzled as to why the ammonia is 0. These readings haven't changed much all day.

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0.4
Nitrate-35

Could anyone tell me what else i should do?

Thanks Andy

 

[rust81]

A filter failure doesnt have to be the end of the world. When you set up your ex1200, did you take the filter media from your broken juwel filter and out this in the new ex1200? If so, you will stil have the same amount of bacteria present to process the ammonia and nitrite. If you havent then you will notice ammonia and nitrite readings probably for the next few weeks as your filter will need to become colonised. If this is the case, cut back on feeding and also do regular water changes to keep the levels down.

 

[Andy7000]

Thanks rust. I cleaned part of my old filter in the new canister with tank water and soaked the new media in it so hopefully this will help. Frequent water changes it is then. Thanks again.

 

[rust81]

The main place the bacteria are present is in the filter media - hence it's always wise to use old media in a new filter if you swapping filters over on a tank. Unfortunately washing your filter in tank water won't really add any beneficial bacteria. Cut down feeding for the next few weeks and do frequent water changes - 10-20% every few days should be enough. The most imoprtant thing is to keep an eye on first the ammonia levels and then nitrite (this will normally follow a week after any rise in the ammonia level). If your levels start to rise then up your water changes! Good luck

 

[rabbut]

The mature Eheim from another tank has seeded the tanks biological function, so you are luckily only going to have a mini-cycle All readings should be zero within the week hopefully. It isn't an exact science, but the fact that you have nitrite at only 0.4 after 24hours tells me that it isn't as bad as it could be, unless you did a waterchange before taking this sample?

Water tests give us a snap shot as to what your tank looked like at the time of the sample being taken. We cannot tell from your results if those levels are going up or down. You will only work this out by testing arround once every 12 hours.

Keep posting results and we can get to helping ASAP

Keep up the waterchanges if you get detectable ammonia or nitrite after a test

EDIT; spelling check-up and to add;

Hvave a read of [topic="224306"]this thread[/topic], as you are now effectively fish-in cycling, on a hopefully smaller scale

 

[Andy7000]

Thanks for the help shall keep a very close eye on things. Cheers


Oh, i did the test after the water change, so it would of probably been around 0.7 before?

 

[rabbut]

0.7 still isn't too bad. What size waterchange did you do, and is there any ammonia or nitrite in your tap water?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Andy7000]

Rabbut,I did a 40% water change and the tap water has a trace of ammonia and nitrite.

 

[Andy7000]

Just checked the nitrate again this morning and it's around 0.7/0.8. I get the feeling that the eheim isn't doing much as it's only meant for 100l. So i'm going to do a 50% water change now and I shall test after the water change and again tonight and see where this takes me. Thanks for the help.

 

[Andy7000]

Just done another test for ammonia and nitrite and things haven't changed since straight after the water change. Maybe things are looking up. At least things aren't getting worse, right?

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0.3

 

[rabbut]

Ay, would have expected both to have dropped to zero by tomorrow. Don't be too downheartened if they haven't Were you putting both those exturnals on origionaly, or are these quick-fixes while you get the Juwel sorted? If they are permanant, as you using both in the permanant set-up?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Andy7000]

No, i was going to sell the tank next week as i've upgraded to a bigger tank. What timing ey? So today i've bought a ecco 2236 to sell with the tank. Fingers crossed! Thanks Rabbut.

 

[Andy7000]

well, i tested again earlier today (about 5 hours ago) and the nitrite was around 0.4, so i did a 20% water change.

I've just done another check and the nitrite levels seem to be around 0.2. The fish seem happier than they have been. I'm hoping i wont have to change the water tomorrow. Will let you know how things have gone at the weekend if you're interested. Think we're almost there!

 

[rabbut]

Still looking OK. Deffinately a mini-cycle. A full cycle would have a far larger nitrite peak IME

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Andy7000]

Wa hey! Everything is back to normal. Feeding as usual and still 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite so i presume no more nitrite peaks again.

Only problem now is one of my baby Oscars is still gasping and is lighter in colour, hoping he/she will get better soon. Possible liver damage due to nitrite spike???