Ricardo_NY1

I need some serious help. For starters, I've wasted at least three weeks at this point.

Here's the deal, I dump my whisper hang on or whatever you call it filter for a Fluval 205. Always wanted a quality canister filter. And this is what I did......

1) I set it up according to the manual.

2) Kept only their sponges on one side.........I did away with the media from the stack on top canisters and instead grabbed some filter polyster from cycled filters and threw some in the first two canisters.

3)Attached to 30 gallon tank.

Step #2 is where I think I might've messed up. I'll explain how.

It has been over three weeks and not a single drop in ammonia readings. Even worse, no indication of Nitrites. I use API liquid kits and tested other tanks to remove the possiblity of false readings.

Since it seemed impossible to me, as all the conditions were there to start the cycle, seeding, I upped the water temps to 85, added airstone, and this nice expensive filter, I finally decided to open the filter up and take a look inside. To my suprise, all the vertical sponges and even some that I chopped up and threw in the stack trays looked clean! It did not look like something that came out of a filter and had accumulated some bacteria. No guck, nothing!

For the Fluval gurus, suction is good on the intake, if I hold my hand over it, I can feel suction. The water blast from the output is strong. It's got a heck of a current going on in the tank. What have I done wrong? I seriously suspect putting the polyster media might have blocked circulation?

Lost as I am, I removed everything from the stack trays and left only the sponges on the other side of the filter.

I kindly thank anyone who can help me resolve this issue.

Best,
Ricardo

Update #1, I inserted some filter polyster into all three trays. I chose to do it this way because I don't want to get into fancy purchases of media, etc. As far as I'm concerened, the bacteria will grow on plastic and rock if that is all there is.

Update #2 A possible culprit detected.........and something I had not given thought to.........I popped in the DVD that came with it and it mentioned that the output nozzle needs to be underwater for airtight function.........well, I've had mine above water like a spout thinking it would aerate and bring more oxygen into the water. Let's see what happens. I'd still appreicate any and all advice or feedback from people who know well the operation of these filters.

Lucy

Hi Ricardo Are there fish in the tank? Do you have a nitrate reading?

Ricardo_NY1

Hi Lucy,
No fish in the tank.

The tank has more than the 5 parts of ammonia that can be read with my API (Liquid) test. I like to add a little more initially. This was going to be an add and wait, so I put enough to bring it up to 4-5 parts then added a little extra.

In the three weeks that this has been cycling, there has not been a drop in the ammonia nor a rise or drop in the nitrite readings. And since I was going to do this as an ad and wait procedure, I have not added any ammonia since. I've been waiting! The last time I tested for Nitrates (Three days ago), there were none. As far as I know, this has not even made it to the Nitrite stage. I've even monitored the time it takes the ammonia test to fully turn dark green............it always turns that green just as fast. I know it's something about the filter, I'm just not knowledgeable enough about its workings to troubleshoot it.

I suppose if I wait long enough, I might get some action, but it will probably be from the gravel!

I swear I'm about ready to hang on some of my old filters and leave this Fluval alone. I know I would've been close to cycled and honestly........it's driving me mad!

I have btw cycled several filters/tanks using either the add and wait or add daily with very good success, especially 2nd, 3rd, etc where I had seeding media.

Lucy

I don't know anything about filters, so I can't comment on that.
Are you sure you didn't OD the seeded material with ammonia?
Just the right amount of ammonia will keep the bacteria fed however,
remember, we use ammonia around the house to kill bacteria.

I see you have experience cycling with used filter media, so perhap I'm way off base and you're right, it's something with the filter.

Ricardo_NY1

Hello Lucy,
I don't believe I did. While not exact, I know approximately how much of my brand of ammonia I need to bring certain sizes of tanks to the 4-5 parts range on ammonia. I do initially like to add just a tad more to what would probably result in 6-8 parts.

In the past, I've added triple amounts of the starting 4-5 part doses of ammonia to tanks that had ick outbreak without a hiccup in the cycle or destruction of it.............and this tank as not seen that kind of ammonia dose. I am certain Lucy that it is the filter...........and I'm honestly just ready to slap on my cheapo hang filters until I can sort this out. If anything, I can always cycle this filter in a smaller aquarium and introduce it at a later time..

(I've done new filter introductions.......slowly stripping the old filter of its media after the new one has had time to compete.)

aquarist48

Hello. I've moved your thread to the "filters/filtration" section of the forum.
Thanks!
Ken