Killed My Filter?

[Daveptkd]

HI all,

I bought a brand new Jewel rio 125l tank, and following the limited instructions, it said: -

install filter, install heater, fill tank through filter (to avoid upsetting substrate!).

so, I washed gravel (a lot) and put it in., installed filter and heater.

THEN I filled my tank, and switched on the filter and then heater (after a couple hours).

BUT, then I read yesterday not to use tap water on the filter?

SO, have I buggered my filter already? or is this advice for a "settled" filter. By the way, I added de-clorination (spelling) fluid about 5 hours after turning everything on (it didn't come with any, I asked in shop and guy sold me some).

should I replace my filter sponges anyway? as I originally filled up with tap water, and this was tap water for 5 hours?

many thanks

Dave

 

[ajbettle]

ahhhhhhh!! it better not reck it, iv just set mine up and put tap water in! ahhhhhhhhh!
(even tho my filter cost a tener and juwel ones cost alot more! lol)

 

[bobbicus]

dave

you can use tap water that is DE-chlorinated to fill your tank - the only thing NOT to do in an ESATBLISHED filter is wash it clean under water straight from the tap as all the bacteria that lives there will probably die - all filter media should be rinsed out in old tank water

think as long as there are no fish in there and the filter is running constantly the now de-chlorinated ater will rinse through the filter and churn everything up !

 

[Leslie]

Your filter media will be fine. There was no good bacteria built up on it yet so there was nothing to worry about. Good to see you're concerned and doing research before getting your fish.

 

[Daveptkd]

Your filter media will be fine. There was no good bacteria built up on it yet so there was nothing to worry about. Good to see you're concerned and doing research before getting your fish.

thanks for the reply, i suppose my fix would have been a new filter set, but it looks like I have got away with it!!!

i'm buying a test kit on way home from work and will test daily until my levels are right. i'll also put a couple of real plants in there today (as guy in shop said it makes no difference whether plants are real or not, it's just making the fish feel at home!!), but I read here (and in my new book ) that real plants can help? something like elodea or giant vallis?

I will not buy fish until I am happy everything is perfect, even if it takes weeks, I could not stand to think I had caused any suffering by being a divvy!!

thanks for your quick responses.

Dave

 

[Leslie]

Real plants do help tremendously. That being said, they can also be a very large detriment if they are dying. So it's very important to do tons of research before buying plants. I would recommend Java Fern if you're just starting out. It's pretty indestructible and doesn't require much light. I feel that having a planted tank is very rewarding and beautiful but is more intense and takes more research then the fish and fish requirements themselves.