smokeypea

Hi, i am new to this, got a 20 gal tank 4 weeks ago, i have a few questions if that is ok, i have a penguin bio-wheel power filter 150, i am confused cos i dont know if i have to change the filter cartridge every 3-4 weeks, it says on box to do so, but what about the good bacteria? and will it mean if i change the filter the tank wont be cycled?. The second thing is when i change 25% of the water i add NovAqua+ Amquel plus, and Stress Zyme, do i need to add the last one everytime i change the water?. Last thing is i have a spotted puffer fish, he is wayyyyy too cute, lol, he eats blood worms from my hand, but wont eat anything else, like flakes or brine shrimp, i know they can eat snails, but what else can i give him? thanks so much for any help, just want to do everything right for my fish.

Gunnie

Welcome to FishLore! It's geat to have you with us!

Don't pay any attention to what the box says. You are absolutely correct about the bacteria, and don't need to change the filter media unless your water flow back into the tank is affected and sluggish. Then you can try "swishing" the media in used tank water to try and get some of the crud off. This should be able to work for a good while. If that doesn't work or the media is simply falling apart, then you can cut some of the media and place it in the new media if you have the type that's like a bag where you put the carbon inside. You won't be able to do this if you have the type that is all one piece. I have had some of my filter media over 6 months and they are still going strong.

I'm not sure, but I think all 3 of those products treat for chlorine and chloramines, and if that is so, you don't need to use all 3 of them. My preference to use a basic water conditioner which only treats for chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals. I don't like the ones that have additives like aloe or stuff for their slime coat. Save the amquel plus for when you have an ammonia and nitrite spike. The amquel plus may actually hinder your cycle right now, because it also deals with ammonia and nitrites. Since your tank isn't established, I would not use it unless absolutely necessary right now. So in answer to your question, the answer is no, you don't have to use all 3. Just use 1 water conditioner at a time.

Puffers are so cool! I have never owned one, but some day I will. I think you need to do some research on your baby. I know they love snails, but not malaysian trumpet snails. Their shells are too hard for the puffers to crack, and it could break their teeth. You will have to make sure and feed him a lot of pond snails to keep his teeth ground down. They will continue to grow, and could actually grow back into their skin if not kept under control. Some owners actually clip their teeth. I'd rather let them wear down naturally. Anyway, you also know that puffers are brackish water fish, right? I've got a couple of links posted below to get you started:

http://www.pufferfish.co.uk/aquaria/...fish/index.htm

http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Tet...roviridis.html

P.S. Can you please post your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?

smokeypea

Thanks for quick reply, i know about the wtaer for puffers and that they have to eat snails cos of their teeth, i tried to get some from Petsmart but they didnt have any in stock, i have treid to read up as much as i can about them. i dont know my readings cos i go to the LFS and they do a water check for me, they said the ammonia was high and they told me to use Amquel plus, but its going down well nowthe fish are all well, eating good and the water is clear, i did have an outbreak of the dreaded Ick, but i think i got that cleared up,i just put in the filter today, but i didnt know i had to rinse it with old tank water, i just ran it under the tap, i hope its ok, thanks for the great info, just learning , its hard cos there is so much conflicting info, thats why i love this site, much better than asking at petstores. So its ok just ton use NovAqua plus then, i do have Aquasafe but was told the NovAqua is better, is that true? thanks again.

Gunnie

Don't rinse your filter media in tap water. Either use old tank water, or treat some water in a bucket and swish it in there. The chlorine and chloramines in your tap water kills the bacteria. I'm not sure about each of those products, but you only have to condition your water with 1 product. Make sure you treat for chloramines if you have them in your water. Most city water supplies do have it.

You need to buy your own water test kits. You will need to know exactly what the readings are for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates, not just that they're okay. We aren't selling anything, and we have your success in the hobby as our main interest. Your fish store gets to sell you another fish if the tank doesn't get cycled. Not that he is hoping your fish dies, but he is not as concerned about your fish's health as we are. I recommend you purchase the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master test kit. It has everything you will need to cycle your tank. Look it up on the PetSmart web site, copy the page with the master test kit picture and price on it, take it to your local PetSmart, and they should honor the online price which is less than half of what you'd expect to pay locally.