New Filter!

[bex1]

hi so i bought an external filter today for my tank (see sig) as my internal one fell off!!

so i bought a Eheim classic 2213, on advice from my lfs.
ive just installed it and squezzed my old filter media onto the new stuff, will this be ok??
im going on holiday on wednesday, so i hope it dosnt re-cycle etc!!

also the current that is being blown out of the new external filter into the tank seems a lot stronger than the old filter, the fish seem to be being blown around the tank!! will this be ok, the fish are constantly swimming against the current, how will they rest??
is there such a thing as too much water current??

thanks
x x x

 

[WILDER]

Read the instruction to see if you can alter the flow, not good if it blowing them around.

 

[Bloo]

Nope - just squeezing is definitely not good enough. You need to actually take all of your current media and put that into the eheim 2213 (I have one too). I know there might not be masses of space, but that's the only way it will work.

Just turn the spray bar so that it faces the back of the tank - that should sort the flow problem out.

 

[bex1]

oops ok, but the filter media has been in a bucket outside with no water for the last 30mins will it still be ok?
good idea about how to reuce the current ill try it later
x x

 

[Bloo]

Yep - that's fine. Bring it back in and put it in the filter asap - unless you fancy a re-cycle of your tank.

 

[bex1]

cool im doing it now!! x x x

 

[bex1]

hey how do you get the lid off the filter!! ive undone the clips but cant get it off!!
x x

 

[Bloo]

Ah - you need to open the taps (the shut off valves) to release the pressure vacuum - got me the first time too !

I had to actually ring my lfs the next day and ask them - they had a good laugh ! Apparantly it has been known that people use screwdrivers to try and lever it open. Only to damage their brand new filter and render the warrantee useless.

 

[bex1]

oh ok, i managed to work it out eventually!

thanks for all the advice, ive turned the waterflow pipe toward the back of the tank and its a lot better now!


cheers x x

 

[bex1]

hi again how long will it take to know if the tank is re-cycling again after adding my new filter??
also one other question how often should i change the filter media?
thanks x x x

 

[Bloo]

Change the sponges only if they actually start falling apart or are incredibly dirty. But the ceramics never need replacing.

When I do a fitler clean (every 6 weeks or so) I flush the ceramics etc. with siphoned tank water to take debris off. But that's it really

Just keep an eye on ammonia and nitrite over the next week. If no sign of either, your tank is fine

 

[bex1]

hi thanks for the reply, i'll keep my eye on the stats. thanks again,
x x x

 

[bex1]

hi the new filter has been running since thursday evening, i checked the water stats this morning and got the following results:
ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
nitrate 20
pH 7.2
Temp 24 0c

do you think my tank will cycle again? the reason im so worried is because im going on holiday on tuesday and so i dont want my tank to re-cycle whilst im away (for 2 weeks Wahoo!!).
do you think its likely to cycle again?
sorry for all the questions
cheers x x x x

 

[soggyhome]

Hopefully it wont, certainly by Monday evening you should see a Nitrite spike if it is going to recycle, fingers crossed but I think you will be OK

 

[Bloo]

If by now you haven't seen any fluctuation in your nitrite or ammonia, I would say you're safe
But just give it a final check before you leave.

What is happening to your tank while you are away ?