New Juwel Tank

[Gecko1]

Hi all

I hope you all can help me out here. My husband brought me a 60cm Juwel fish tank, which Im busy setting up and I have so many questions. When I was younger I had fish tanks and they all did very well, but that was a long time ago and they were all set up "the old fashioned way". It now seems I have lost all my fish tank knowledge and the Juwel filter is confusing me.

So here are my questions;

1. The oxygen level in my tank - as there is no air stone with the Juwel filter, do I need to somehow add an air stone to my Tank?
If I drop the water level in my tank, then the filter releases bubbles, but as soon as I add water to the water mark specified on the tank, then there are no more air bubbles, so what do I do? What is right? Also when I drop the water level to release the air bubbles, the tank becomes quite loud and Im worried it has a negative effort on the fish?

2. How do I know if the tank is getting enough oxygen? I have 3x plants as well.

3. I added in all the filter pads but its a really tight fit and the top white filter sponge dosnt sit all the way into the water, is this right?

4. The water outlet from the filter causes quite a strong current and Im not sure the fish appreciate the strong current, but there is also no way to change the control of the outlet - advice?

5. My Bala Sharks do not look very happy - they are not very happy and they seem to be gasping or breathing very heavily as their gills are moving very fast - is this normal?

So - what do you think? Any advice?

 

[minnnt]

First of all, welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately Bala Sharks get way too big for your tank, so i would take them back to your Local Fish Shop (LFS) Infact, i would take all of your fish back to the shop and then start a fishless cycle. There are plenty of threads on here that will give you a step by step guide on how to do it.

As for your filter, the flow will soon slow down once it begins to build up bacteria in there, so no need to worry about that for now, it can be addressed if the problem still remains once cycled.

Oxygen is best acquired by having the surface being slightly rippled by the filter outlet. Air stones don't actually oxygenate the water as the bubbles just go straight out of the top of the tank rather than burst in your water, so other than for aesthetics, they're not actually needed.

Here you go, have a look at this link, it will help you out no end!

Click Here

 

[Wills]

First of all, welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately Bala Sharks get way too big for your tank, so i would take them back to your Local Fish Shop (LFS) Infact, i would take all of your fish back to the shop and then start a fishless cycle. There are plenty of threads on here that will give you a step by step guide on how to do it.

As for your filter, the flow will soon slow down once it begins to build up bacteria in there, so no need to worry about that for now, it can be addressed if the problem still remains once cycled.

Oxygen is best acquired by having the surface being slightly rippled by the filter outlet. Air stones don't actually oxygenate the water as the bubbles just go straight out of the top of the tank rather than burst in your water, so other than for aesthetics, they're not actually needed.

Here you go, have a look at this link, it will help you out no end!

Click Here

+1 - great info from minnnt

Welcome to the forum and back to the hobby
Wills

 

[Peggers]

On my juwel filter the outlet has 2 removable bits that can add a 90[sup]o[/sup] bend, I use this to point the flow up and towards the back as this both agitates the surface and decreases the current.

 

[fluttermoth]

Agree 100% with minnnt's advice; I'd just add a couple of points though.

The fish are gasping because there will be ammonia present in the tank from the fish's excreta, which reduces their ability to absorb oxygen. It's not because there isn't enough oxygen in the water.

I would definitely take the fish back if you can, but in the meantime, to keep them safe from the ammonia, you should do at least one large water change. Drain the tank right down, so the fish have just enoug water to swim upright, then refill with warmed, dechlorinated water. This will remove the ammonia and make your fish much happier.

You'll need to do this every day while you have fish in. How many fish do you have and how long have they been in there?

Oh, and welcome to the forum

 

[minnnt]

Good point about the gasping Fluttermoth.

 

[Gecko1]

Thanks everyone

Sadly I cant take the fish back to the shop (they have a no returns or exchange on livestock policy), so Im going to have to make the best of this. Thankfully I didnt get too many. Let me give you a quick run down of what I did since I received the tank.

Day 1
- Cleaned the tank and gravel
- Filled tank with water and gravel and switched on the filter, heater etc
- Added in 10ml Chlor Away
- Added in 10ml Microlife - S2
- Added in 10ml Nitr-o-Nil

Day 2
- Added in 10ml Microlife - S2
- Added in 10ml Nitr-o-Nil
- did a 20% water change
- Added in plants, rocks and fish (4x Zebra, 4x Neons, 2x Bala, 2x Tiger Bards, 2x Albino Tiger Barbs, 1x Upside down Catfish, 4x Male Guppys)

Day 3
- Added in 10ml Nitr-o-Nil

Tomorrow I plan to do a 30% water change.

YES - I now know what I did was wrong, I was too over eager and jumped in with the fish too soon, I should have known better!! However, I am now stuck with them and I need to find a workable way forward without causing too much suffering for the poor fish

I have also pointed the water outlet on the filter up towards the surface and the fish automatically changed temperament and started what looks like, playing in the new current, they seem to be happier with this change, but I could be wrong

I am such a silly billy.. I really should have known better!

Thanks everyone for your advice so far.. whats the next steps from here?

 

[minnnt]

You will need to advertise them for rehoming. The fact is that Bala Sharks can reach 14-16" and are a very sociable species so like to be kept in groups of around 4+

And... You have a lot of fish. They are going to be more or less living in a very toxic environment. You are going to have to do some seriously big water changes daily. Do you know anyone else with a fish tank that can let you have some of their media from their filter? The stuff you have added don't really do a deal and are basically a money spinner for the companies that make them.

Sounds like you need to find a better LFS too. Are you in the Uk or US or elsewhere?

I would say out of the fish you have, only the Guppies and Neons would be suitable for your tank. The Neons need to be in a group of at least 6, ideally though 8+. Tiger Barbs are usually very aggressive unless kept in a bigger shoal and will get too big for your tank imo. The Zebra Danio's are very active fish and require more space to swim due to this, ideally a 3-4ft tank. The Upside down Catfish should be in a small group too, and i suspect that they would appreciate a little more space? And the Guppies, being all male, may fight even though there is no females present.

I know alot of this sounds negative, but it is best for your fish.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Another point to add even though it's not come up, it may look like the fish are ok size wize but their internal organs will be damaged to the point of death if they stay in there. At the moment their gills will be getting burned by the ammonia (but you we be doing water changes as we speak i hope )
No one one here is trying to scare you we just want to help you and the fish

 

[Gecko1]

oh no

 

[BigbruiserAl]

No need to be sad all are fixable, for now do those big water changes every day(that will stop the toxians building up) and find the bala a new tank asap

 

[TropicalJuwel]

I would have to agree with minnnt, finding a new lfs sounds as though it would help you, dont get me wrong you need to do your own research but a little help from the store wouldn't go a miss in your case, I certainly hope the lfs didn't know you were stocking a reckford 600 by selling you all them fish that are too energetic and large for a tank 5x bigger than yours and the fact it wasn't cycled. The no returns policy also suggests there quick enough to sell the fish and take your money but once you realise you have made a mistake then not so helpful. Maybe a few questions and answers to point you in the right direction might have been better. Anyway seems as though you are doing your best and I'm sure everyone will agree hopefully things turn out for the best with as least damage as possible. Good luck!

 

[Aqua Tom]

Ok lets address the main issue here. You are now in a fish-in cycle, dont panic it is ok & we can help.

First off you need to do a mssive water change, you stated 30% earlier but unfortunatly this is not enough. I would do a 90% water change asap, followed by the same the next day. Then 50% water changes every other day or every day if you can manage it.

Do you have a test kit? If not get a liquid based master kit, it will have all the tests you will need eg Ammonia, Nitrite, NitrAte & Ph levels. Once we know the chemical make up of your water we can then start giving accurate advice.

I use the API master kit but there are plenty more out there.

Tom

 

[Gecko1]

Thanks everyone

Okay - what I have done today, is done about a 70% water change and added in another dose of Microlife - S2 and Nitr-o-Nil (money spinner for the companies that make them or not, its what I got and gives me peace of mind using them than rather not using them).

The fish actually seem to be okay so far.. since I changed the direction of the outlet pipe from the filter to point to the top towards the surface, all the fish actually seem happier and more calm. No more hyper gill action.

During the water change, as soon as I took off the lid, I had an attempted suicide attempt from one of the guppys, but he seems fine now after taking quite a high fall onto the ground.

If it helps, dont know about this, the tank is smelling like a fish tank, this in my mind tells me there is some bacteria action going on, which is a good thing right? Its not a stink.. just a tank smell.

So far - no fish deaths

BTW - Im from South Africa

 

[Aqua Tom]

Thanks everyone

Okay - what I have done today, is done about a 70% water change and added in another dose of Microlife - S2 and Nitr-o-Nil (money spinner for the companies that make them or not, its what I got and gives me peace of mind using them than rather not using them).

The fish actually seem to be okay so far.. since I changed the direction of the outlet pipe from the filter to point to the top towards the surface, all the fish actually seem happier and more calm. No more hyper gill action.

During the water change, as soon as I took off the lid, I had an attempted suicide attempt from one of the guppys, but he seems fine now after taking quite a high fall onto the ground.

If it helps, dont know about this, the tank is smelling like a fish tank, this in my mind tells me there is some bacteria action going on, which is a good thing right? Its not a stink.. just a tank smell.

So far - no fish deaths

BTW - Im from South Africa

Good to know its going ok now. We still need to know your water chemistry to be of any real help. Get a test kit as soon as you can, this will probably be the most important purchase you ever make in the fishkeeping hobby.

Tom