What Is Going On In My Tank!

[Bromley]

Okey dokey. I know not to put untreated tap water in the tank. I use API stress coat and zyme to condition my water. Have a combi boiler so will use water from the hot tap, setting my thermo at 24, going to start bringing it down slowly from the current 30 as I have read a suddened drop in temperature can stall the cycle?!?.

Maybe, I'm not sure about that.. Do switch your heater off about 30 minutes before you do the water change and make sure to switch it back on afterwards!

My good bacteria grow on the ceramic media in a biorb and not in the filter as apparently you are supposed to change the filter every 6-8 weeks. I must admit I am scared to change the filter in case the good bacteria have gathered in there as well.

How exactly does it look? Is it a sponge? If you can, the best option is to clean it in old tank (or new dechlorinated) water instead of replacing it.

There will be bacteria living in there as well.. but as I don't have any personal experience with Biorbs (except seeing them in shops, very poorly stocked), I can't help you with what percentage of bacteria is where. In a traditional external filter, it is quite safe to replace the pre-filter and polishing sponges just because they provide so little surface area compared to the rest of the media.. still, I always wash mine in tank water, if I can!

This is what the official site says
"PLACEMENT OF THE FILTERThe optimum placement of the filter is often overlooked by many manufacturers. Our filter cartridge is located at the bottom of the aquarium where solid fish waste naturally settles. The waste is then pulled into the filter cartridge allowing for quick and easy removal.


To illustrate the filtration process, as the air is blown into the bottom of the aquarium it rises bringing water with it to the surface of the aquarium where the bubbles burst and saturates the water, with the maximum levels of oxygen possible. To complete the natural flow, water from the aquarium is drawn over the ceramic media and back into the filter for the cycle to start again. The Nitrosomonas & Nitrospira beneficial bacteria live on and in the ceramic media and extract the ammonia and nitrite, utilizing the oxygen from the water that they need to survive. Also during this water flow, solid waste is also pulled passed the ceramic media and into the filter cartridge where the mechanical filtration sieves this out."


CHEMICAL

• Combination of resin particles
• Microscopic pollutants which can affect the water quality or color of the water is absorbed by the resin particles
• The highly effective resin particles are housed in the easy to change cartridge ensuring that they can be simply replaced when they become exhausted.

The chemical filtration in the filter cartridge is a blend of different resin particles selected to remove toxic substances, other than ammonia and nitrite which is broken down by the biological filtration. Certain organics can discolor aquarium water making it yellow, while also reducing light penetration. The highly effective resins bond with these substances at a molecular level to ensure the aquarium water quality remains high. The chemical filtration is located in the easy to change filter cartridge ensuring that chemical filtration can be removed when depleted (typically every 6 weeks)."

This is the link to the whole page



http/www.reef-one....timization.html


Should I change the Cartridge when I do my big water change on Saturday as its been in there about 8 weeks (1 week with fish and 6 during fish-less cycle so has had a lot of waste go through it?)

 

[KittyKat]

Ok, the chemical media (the carbon and whatever else is in there), I wouldn't use that at all. Its most useful purpose is to remove medication from the water. The white sponge, just clean it in old tank water.

For once, what they say is actually not inaccurate!

 

[Bromley]

Ok, the chemical media (the carbon and whatever else is in there), I wouldn't use that at all. Its most useful purpose is to remove medication from the water. The white sponge, just clean it in old tank water.

For once, what they say is actually not inaccurate!

I do have a spare filter I got with the tank, is it worth just putting it in as its new and just wash the sponge in the future rather than replacing it (they cost about £6-8 each)?

 

[KittyKat]

A separate filter?

Basically, there is little point replacing mechanical filtration only sponges, they should always just be washed in old tank water.

 

[Bromley]

A separate filter?

Basically, there is little point replacing mechanical filtration only sponges, they should always just be washed in old tank water.

Thanks once again Kat, Much appreciated advice

 

[Danbarb]

I'll restock my API kit now!

I must have just had a bad experience or not fully read through or something!

I'll also look into the nutrafin kit, as well. I think to be honest, if you get a weird reading sometimes it's best to try and try again to confirm things.

Thank-you everyone!

 

[Bromley]

I think my false readings may have been from a contaminated syringe that I used to test the water after I had added ammonia to get the initial reading, I don't remember washing that one out after .

Thoroughly was all syringes and test tubes now and fingers crossed all has been ok since.

School Boy Error...