I have had my 75 gal aquarium set up with many types of fish for over one year. I recently purchased a Rena X4 canister filter since my husband hated listening to the Marineland Bio wheel filters I previously had. We purchased these medias: nitrate/nitrite sponge, ammonia remover and activated carbon. We also use four coarse filter pads and the filter came with biostars for the biological filtration. So, cleaned out the tank the other night, and added some new plastic plants(that were rinsed prior to putting them in). Did @ a 20% water change as usual and rinsed the filter parts with the water that was removed from the fish tank. The following morning, I had about 5 floaters, all fish that I have had for some time. My large bala shark, my large Bosemi Rainbow fish and my super awesome clown loach. The fish were all swimming at the top and a quick google search told me that either I had inadequate aeriation, too warm of temperature or too high ammonia. I immediatly did another 20% water change and everybody else went back to normal, but only for a couple of hours. I put ammolock in and again, about two hours and then back to the top for them. I went to town and got test strips (gave my master test kit to someone else to borrow, handy!) I had elevated ammonia levels and still do. This was on Thursday and it is now Monday. I have since moved all the fish that have survived into a 10 gal tank (only other thing I have) and keep testing and messing with the 75gal. I am not sure what to do, the test strips show:ammonia at >6.0ppm, Nitrates at 40ppm, Nitrites at 0ppm, total hardness at 300ppm, total chlorine at 0ppm, total alkalinity at 120ppm and pH at 7.0. I have added Stability to establish the beneficial bacteria and have also added 1 rounded tablespoon of aquarium salt per every 5 gal of water added. I have never had a problem before and can only possibly attribute this to my super awesome new canister filter. I do not know what to do right now, the temporary home for my fish will not be good for them for long. I have one huge shark that does not care much for it. I do not know what medias I should have and have been told that with these canister filters, one should not do too much to the tank. Please advise on what to do, I am at my wits end.Help me please!!
- Thread starter AnnieP
- Start date
I have had my 75 gal aquarium set up with many types of fish for over one year. I recently purchased a Rena X4 canister filter since my husband hated listening to the Marineland Bio wheel filters I previously had. We purchased these medias: nitrate/nitrite sponge, ammonia remover and activated carbon. We also use four coarse filter pads and the filter came with biostars for the biological filtration. So, cleaned out the tank the other night, and added some new plastic plants(that were rinsed prior to putting them in). Did @ a 20% water change as usual and rinsed the filter parts with the water that was removed from the fish tank. The following morning, I had about 5 floaters, all fish that I have had for some time. My large bala shark, my large Bosemi Rainbow fish and my super awesome clown loach. The fish were all swimming at the top and a quick google search told me that either I had inadequate aeriation, too warm of temperature or too high ammonia. I immediatly did another 20% water change and everybody else went back to normal, but only for a couple of hours. I put ammolock in and again, about two hours and then back to the top for them. I went to town and got test strips (gave my master test kit to someone else to borrow, handy!) I had elevated ammonia levels and still do. This was on Thursday and it is now Monday. I have since moved all the fish that have survived into a 10 gal tank (only other thing I have) and keep testing and messing with the 75gal. I am not sure what to do, the test strips show:ammonia at >6.0ppm, Nitrates at 40ppm, Nitrites at 0ppm, total hardness at 300ppm, total chlorine at 0ppm, total alkalinity at 120ppm and pH at 7.0. I have added Stability to establish the beneficial bacteria and have also added 1 rounded tablespoon of aquarium salt per every 5 gal of water added. I have never had a problem before and can only possibly attribute this to my super awesome new canister filter. I do not know what to do right now, the temporary home for my fish will not be good for them for long. I have one huge shark that does not care much for it. I do not know what medias I should have and have been told that with these canister filters, one should not do too much to the tank. Please advise on what to do, I am at my wits end.
Sounds like you may have removed the good bacteria when you removed the Marineland filter. This would account for the spike in ammonia. The new media in your new filter didn't have any of this bacteria, so basically your tank is re-cycling.
If you still have the old media from the old filter, AND it has not been allowed to dry out or get to cold you can try to put it into the new canister and that should help if the bacteria is still living on it.
If you still have the old media from the old filter, AND it has not been allowed to dry out or get to cold you can try to put it into the new canister and that should help if the bacteria is still living on it.
From scratch, it should take a bit over a month for the good bacteria to build up. However it won't ever cycle with an empty tank and if your not adding ammonia. There are several good stickies about cycling a tank you can check out.
I don't know if 'stability' or any of that other stuff actually work. There was a product a few years ago that lots of people seemed to have good luck with, but it might have been discontinued. (If anyone knows the product name feel free to share) I do remember it had to be refrigerated.
If you can find some established media, or at the least some gravel from an established tank, that will help the process tons.
You didn't say, but the filter on the 29 gallon, is it the same that was on the larger tank? You could even run both filters on the larger tank until bacteria gets established on the new media. If you do find some good media to add, it should only tank a few weeks for bacteria to form on the new stuff and should be OK.
I don't know if 'stability' or any of that other stuff actually work. There was a product a few years ago that lots of people seemed to have good luck with, but it might have been discontinued. (If anyone knows the product name feel free to share) I do remember it had to be refrigerated.
If you can find some established media, or at the least some gravel from an established tank, that will help the process tons.
You didn't say, but the filter on the 29 gallon, is it the same that was on the larger tank? You could even run both filters on the larger tank until bacteria gets established on the new media. If you do find some good media to add, it should only tank a few weeks for bacteria to form on the new stuff and should be OK.
Even though u done a 20 percent water change, recently i discovered spikes in my tank as well after a 20 percent water change, couldnt figure out what was happeneing then discovered that well i hadnt done done gravel filtration in a long while, ok forever because i wanted my tank to be self sufficient the live plants, the filtration system, i wanted it to prety much handle itself (except for the feeding, cahgning of filters, etc etc lol. I discovered that ya every once in a while unless i hve bottom feeders i also need to sift through the gravel, you wouldnt believe the amount i got out of there and i tested that alone and the readings were off the charts.
I cannot begin to thank you enough, your advice will be taken. I will head down the the LFS to "borrow" some gravel or sand from their tanks. Or maybe even some of their water. My tank is not completely empty right now, still has my turtle and three snails. The filter on the 10 gal is only one of those carbon packets that are covered in filter pad, just a Wal-Mart special. Again, I appreciate your assistance and now that I know this place exists, I am bound to be a better fishkeeper. Oh yeah, the turtle is returning to his previous home (the pond) once the weather here stays warmer. He was a "rescue" late last fall. He is only about 5 inches, not too big. I believe that he is providing the waste that is necessary to cycle the tank. I will also go and get some feeder goldfish to assist it along.
Are you thinking perhaps of a product called "Cycle"? I used that with my fishless cycle last year, and that along with some java moss from an established tank cycled my tank within a month - no ammonia ('cause I didn't know about that option at the time). Cycle is still available, at least here in Canada.
Annie, I'm not sure that Stability or Cycle or whatnot will help at this point any more than adding some good gucky (i.e., bacteria-laden) gravel, water, plants. And don't use fish. Is your turtle looking okay through all this?
Annie, I'm not sure that Stability or Cycle or whatnot will help at this point any more than adding some good gucky (i.e., bacteria-laden) gravel, water, plants. And don't use fish. Is your turtle looking okay through all this?
My turtle is hanging tough. I got a master testing kit today, had to visit another store to find it. I only had the strips, so when the color on the ammonia test strip did not match the bottle, I assumed that it was still pegged. Upon testing today, I finally have ZERO ammonia, nitrates and nitrates. I have come to the conclusion that when rearranging the tank, I moved a very large rock structure that was built for my turtle. It was so big that I never had the chance to clean between it and the sides of the tank in that corner. So; when I moved it, I brought a lot of gunk up from the bottom of the tank (also found a dead fish, I always do a head count in the morning when feeding so not too sure where it came from). That is what I believe has happened. I did purchase a couple of live plants, read a lot about their benefits. Therefore, all is finally well with my tank. Again, I am so happy to have found this wonderful resource for information. Thank you!
By the way, do all turtles shed a lot! He is a paint ( I don't believe that it is legal for me to have him, couldn't let him freeze though) and I have a UVA/UVB warming light for him/her along with a place to get out of the water and dry off under the light. He just refuses to pull his back end out of the water to get it dried out. I also use a soft bristled tooth brush to try to get some of it off. It does not look like any kind of turtle fungus, just wondering if anyone knows if it is "normal".
By the way, do all turtles shed a lot! He is a paint ( I don't believe that it is legal for me to have him, couldn't let him freeze though) and I have a UVA/UVB warming light for him/her along with a place to get out of the water and dry off under the light. He just refuses to pull his back end out of the water to get it dried out. I also use a soft bristled tooth brush to try to get some of it off. It does not look like any kind of turtle fungus, just wondering if anyone knows if it is "normal".
Nitrate: 0-20ppm (safe range on my kit says 0-40)
Nitrite: 0 (Caution range begins at 0.5ppm)
Total Hardness: 75 (soft)
Total Chlorine: 0ppm
Total Alkalinity: 150ppm (Ideal range 120-180)
pH: @7 ( color is between the 6.8 & 7.2)
Ammonia :0ppm (Stress begins at 0.5ppm)
I have had this tank established for over one year, never had any problems. I find that I am now second guessing almost everything that I do in it. I am overly cautious and now after reading so much, should have a much more successful future with my fishes. I am actually thinking about starting a 45gal saltwater now. Although, I recently got new lights for my 75gal and it makes the tank so beautiful!
Nitrite: 0 (Caution range begins at 0.5ppm)
Total Hardness: 75 (soft)
Total Chlorine: 0ppm
Total Alkalinity: 150ppm (Ideal range 120-180)
pH: @7 ( color is between the 6.8 & 7.2)
Ammonia :0ppm (Stress begins at 0.5ppm)
I have had this tank established for over one year, never had any problems. I find that I am now second guessing almost everything that I do in it. I am overly cautious and now after reading so much, should have a much more successful future with my fishes. I am actually thinking about starting a 45gal saltwater now. Although, I recently got new lights for my 75gal and it makes the tank so beautiful!