Is this new tank syndrome bacteria bloom

[dario5678]

Hi,

My tank s about 2-3 months old (closer to 2 I think) My filter had broken and I had no filter for 2 weeks, I was doing water changes regularly and had a powerhead in. About a week ago I put in a new filter did a 50 percent water change and have recently done a 20 percent water change. I want to get it clear...should I just leave it alone? And let things happen. My filter is a tower block filter from Swiss tropicals. It's basically A huge sponge filter. That is my only filtration.

 

[mchambers]

I'd be worried that you don't have any biological filtration in the tank yet, so I'd be doing daily water changes.

 

[dario5678]

like 10, 20 percent until no filter is established in sponge?

 

[mchambers]

I’d think at least 20. Are there only two fish in there? Are you testing for ammonia?

 

[Digital]

Is it by a window any chance?

 

[dario5678]

I’d think at least 20. Are there only two fish in there? Are you testing for ammonia?

I haven't tested for ammonia....i have 3 fish in there...its a 90 Gallon. Originally I cycled using a canister filter before I switched to tbf

 

[dario5678]

Is it by a window any chance?

No windows..in basement windows are covered very little light

 

[Digital]

Wow, that's a 90? Never would have guessed by the photo. how deep is it?

Can you post a lic of how you have the powerhead connected to the sponge?

 

[dario5678]

Wow, that's a 90? Never would have guessed by the photo. how deep is it?

Can you post a lic of how you have the powerhead connected to the sponge?

 

[dario5678]

Its air driven, The airline slips on the black piece on the bottom and the pipe goes halfway down the sponge. My sponge actually has 2 pipes going into it. Sponge size is 8x5x19

 

[dario5678]

No windows..in basement windows are covered very little light

Actually, i tried something yesterday. While the tank is not in direct sunlight. It is in the basement and the basement door has a glass window. I noticed when the light is out the sun does enter the basement, the basement is lit by the sun.

 

[Digital]

Can you post a link to the kit you bought off of swisstropicals? You have built a Hamburg Mattenfilter right?

Is that space circled where the sponge isnt above the water level? if that is supposrd to be a HMF and the top isnt sticking out of the water then the filter isnt working properly.

 

[dario5678]

The entire space is not above the water but the outlet is above the water. So yes, the top is sticking out. Here is the link to the filter

http://www.swisstropicals.com/filtration-shop/tower-block-filter-shop/

let me know your thoughts...thanks.

 

[Becca]

It looks like you have a cube filter, not a mattenfilter. A cube should operate like any other air driven sponge. The only thing I can think of is that you're not generating enough flow with it, but I'd need to either see it or at least see a video of the what the filter output looks like.

The depth at which it's operating may necessitate a much stronger air pump to create enough flow through the filter.

If it's a mattenfilter, the entire top of the foam needs to be above the water level, even if by only a little.Otherwise, water will flow over the top instead of through the foam, and you're not filtering the tank at all.

 

[dario5678]

Yes it's a hug

It looks like you have a cube filter, not a mattenfilter. A cube should operate like any other air driven sponge. The only thing I can think of is that you're not generating enough flow with it, but I'd need to either see it or at least see a video of the what the filter output looks like.

The depth at which it's operating may necessitate a much stronger air pump to create enough flow through the filter.

If it's a mattenfilter, the entire top of the foam needs to be above the water level, even if by only a little.Otherwise, water will flow over the top instead of through the foam, and you're not filtering the tank at all.

Yes it is a big cube filter essentially here is a link to the flow..thank you...let me know what you think

 

[Becca]

That looks like pretty good flow. How does your water smell?

 

[Becca]

If you are planning to add some hardscape, I'd suggest some lava rock. Lava rock has lots of crevices and surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. A lot of folks actually use it in place of manufactured biological media (it's the original bio balls). For an african tank (these look like africans) it will contribute to a nice, rocky hardscape and will provide lots of surface area for bacteria to grow. I guess I'm also wondering what kind of sand you've got in there and how clean it was when you added it.

 

[dario5678]

That looks like pretty good flow. How does your water smell?

Water smells fine..its odorless but I have to really try hard and get close to smell anything

 

[dario5678]

If you are planning to add some hardscape, I'd suggest some lava rock. Lava rock has lots of crevices and surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. A lot of folks actually use it in place of manufactured biological media (it's the original bio balls). For an african tank (these look like africans) it will contribute to a nice, rocky hardscape and will provide lots of surface area for bacteria to grow. I guess I'm also wondering what kind of sand you've got in there and how clean it was when you added it.

I do plan to aquascaoe. I actually have been looking for some good deals on lava rock...so.eone suggested a rock quarry? I used pool fter sand. I rinsed the bejeezus out of it with a cement mixeruntil it ran clear....whatcha think?

 

[Becca]

I do plan to aquascaoe. I actually have been looking for some good deals on lava rock...so.eone suggested a rock quarry? I used pool fter sand. I rinsed the bejeezus out of it with a cement mixeruntil it ran clear....whatcha think?

Pool filter sand tends to be pretty clean, so that's not it. Lava rock might not seem cheap, but it's pretty lightweight for rock. I'm not sure you'll find larger chunks at a hardscape store, but you might find small ones. There's Irwin Stone in Rockville, a place called The Stone Store north of Baltimore, and a few others around.