Faye Rod

Hello - I am in the middle of cycling our aquarium - 25 % water change every day to keep nitrites in check since there are fish in the tank. I have read in a couple of the threads that it is recommended to take the carbon out of the filter. I have Millinium Whisper 3000 and I discarded the carbon filters today when we did our water change. Anything I should watch for/do to make sure the water is continuing to filter correctly? Thanks.

COBettaCouple

As far as filtering, really things are the same as far as what to do or watch for, so just keep up what you're doing.

Faye Rod

Thanks - do you recommend the aquarium floss/fiber? I'm not sure what it is called. Is it available at the LFS and where do you put it? I'm fine with not putting anything in - the biological filter seems to be s....l.....o....w....l.....y coming on board. Nitrates are up some but the nitrites won't stay down yet.

COBettaCouple

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113808
I like to buy that and cut it to fit the filters. We've been using it for at least 6 months and not had to replace any of them, I just clean them each week and put them back.

I just put it where the spot for the filter bag/cartridge would be.

Faye Rod

That was a fast reply - thanks!

SereneReyn

another thing that i've read you can do to increase your bacterial colony is to add a little bit of something like..

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...27&pcatid=4327

to your substrate. (since you don't have a canister filter) it's really porous, so a little goes a long way, and you wouldn't have to totally redo your gravel or anything. basically it's like adding a bunch of condos for 'em.

Faye Rod

This substrate additive looks good - anything looks good that will increase the growth of the bacteria that will mean less water changes! I read somewhere that my kind of filter isn't as good as the wheel when it comes to developing the colony of bacteria needed to make a healthy aquarium. But as a new, new, newbie I hesitate to buy more products since so many have been recommended from the LFS and are now sitting unused due to the better information on this website! (my husband jokingly has kept a tally of cost per fish - it's pretty high until I can get more fish) I'm going to go ahead and order it - the tank looks so clear and the fish are swimming, eating and looking healthy. Who would know that lethal nitrite is lurking in that nice looking aquarium?

I have been slowly adding plants during this process and I think that has really helped our fish buddies. They stay in the planted part of the tank most of the time.

Faye Rod

I received the filter pad and Eheim substrate material in the mail today. You said I can sprinkle the substrate material on the current substrate? How would you vacuum it or replace it? I have read about putting it in a mesh bag and putting in the filter box that way - I have a double box filter that hangs on the back of the tank.

Also is there a chance this material will change the pH? Everything is progressing steady right now - don't want to mess it up!

Tavel

not it won't. That stuff comes with eheim canister filters.

It will be most effective in the filter where the bacteria will receive maximum resources, so less material will yield a greater benefit. However, I don't know if you can fit enough of it into the filter to make it worthwhile. My canister filter is over halfway filled with this stuff, that's roughly 2 quarts for 75 gallons.

Just make sure you wash it before you put it in...it's pretty dusty stuff.

SereneReyn

you can vacuum it just like you would gravel... no need to replace.

Faye Rod

Thanks - so I'll rinse the substrate material and spread it on top of the gravel that is currently in the tank. I got the 1 liter box that would be good for a 90 gallon tank. I know their directions are intending for it to be used in a cannister filter. I thought I'd use half of the bag to see what happens and go from there - or would you suggest using it all?