White Particles in Water.

[FishSlime4L]

Today, I randomly noticed small white dust-like particles throughout my 20 gallon tank.

Water Parameters Using Liquid Test
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 20

I do believe it may have some connection to me adding a second cartridge to my filter last week in order to swap out the old one in a few weeks once the new cartridge captures the BB.

Should I be worried for my fish and what are some ways I can clear out all these white particles?

 

[Kribensis27]

Do you have a picture? It might just be stirred up debris.

 

[FishSlime4L]

Do you have a picture? It might just be stirred up debris.

I don’t have a picture since I turned off their light for the night already but it’s been like that all day so I don’t believed it’s stirred up debris.

 

[Theulli]

What was the media you added? Did you rinse it well before you put it in? Many types of media have a Lot of residue that needs to be rinsed off.

 

[FishSlime4L]

What was the media you added? Did you rinse it well before you put it in? Many types of media have a Lot of residue that needs to be rinsed off.

It was a cartridge for the Marineland Penguin 150 and I did rinse it off well before putting it into the filter.

 

[Theulli]

Huh - a picture would be needed I think. Wild guess - Do you use purigen by any chance? If that stuff escapes the bag it can do what you’re describing

 

[FishSlime4L]

Huh - a picture would be needed I think. Wild guess - Do you use purigen by any chance? If that stuff escapes the bag it can do what you’re describing

Nope, I don’t use Purigen. I’ll post a picture in the morning.

 

[FishSlime4L]

Nope, I don’t use Purigen. I’ll post a picture in the morning.

Huh - a picture would be needed I think. Wild guess - Do you use purigen by any chance? If that stuff escapes the bag it can do what you’re describing

Do you have a picture? It might just be stirred up debris.

Here you can see it around the top but it’s all over the tank.

 

[Theulli]

Gosh, that's tough to see. Don't suppose you have any under white light? I think since it's particles and not cloudy some of the bad ones (ex: bacterial bloom) can be ruled out.

Probably what I would do in a situation where I've got stuff floating around in such a way that a net or a water change isn't going to catch it, I'm worried about it, but the fish aren't obviously affected, is temporarily put a sponge on the filter intake (ex: Fluval edge intake sponge, they're something like $3). That might catch it.

 

[FishSlime4L]

Gosh, that's tough to see. Don't suppose you have any under white light? I think since it's particles and not cloudy some of the bad ones (ex: bacterial bloom) can be ruled out.

Probably what I would do in a situation where I've got stuff floating around in such a way that a net or a water change isn't going to catch it, I'm worried about it, but the fish aren't obviously affected, is temporarily put a sponge on the filter intake (ex: Fluval edge intake sponge, they're something like $3). That might catch it.

I’ll try doing a 25% water change today and see if it makes a difference, if not, I’ll definitely check out that intake sponge. I’m just worried to add more things to the tank and potentially harm the fish. Also worried about taking out the old cartridge eventually, leaving the new one in, and putting a second one in. My biggest worry is disturbing the cycle that I worked so hard for.

 

[Theulli]

Also worried about taking out the old cartridge eventually, leaving the new one in, and putting a second one in. "

Think about buying the second one right now, and leaving it sitting at the bottom of the tank until you're ready to do the switch. This is what I myself do. It's ugly for a while but gets you a head start.

 

[FishSlime4L]

Also worried about taking out the old cartridge eventually, leaving the new one in, and putting a second one in. "

Think about buying the second one right now, and leaving it sitting at the bottom of the tank until you're ready to do the switch. This is what I myself do. It's ugly for a while but gets you a head start.

So right now, I have one old (A) cartridge in the filter, and a new (B) cartridge in the filter as well. Eventually, I’m going to take out the old (A) cartridge, leave the (B) new cartridge in, and add a new (C) cartridge. My filter has two slots for cartridges so I’m able to keep a rotation between cartridges. My only worry is that I’ll disturb the cycle.

 

[Theulli]

So right now, I have one old (A) cartridge in the filter, and a new (B) cartridge in the filter as well. Eventually, I’m going to take out the old (A) cartridge, leave the (B) new cartridge in, and add a new (C) cartridge. My filter has two slots for cartridges so I’m able to keep a rotation between cartridges. My only worry is that I’ll disturb the cycle.

Yah, so buy C and throw it in the tank, or even just a few days or a week before you make the switch, do a water change, keep the water and toss C into it. That'll seed it and soften the transition when you take out A.