quick question- put my mind at ease

[mynheers_a_pint]

i have jsut had to disconnect my external filter from my wolffish tank as, despite being only 2 months old, it has developed a severe leak from the canister. I will be taking it back tomorrow to hopefully get it replaced but can someone just put my mind at ease that the the fish should be ok for one day without filtration? I still have the airstone connected as well as the heater but i am jsut worried...

:help:

[gm72]

I'm not sure I'd trust it for a whole day. Can you at least put some of the media in a mesh bag and allow the air stone to bubble through it?

[Fishalicious]

The bacteria in your filter will start to die off after 2 hours of the filter not running...if you leave it for 24 hours all the bacteria will pretty much be dead and you will be looking at having to recycle the tank which will be very stressful as you already have fish in the tank.

Like GM says...try and take all the media out and put it in a filterbag in the tank and keep an airstone on it....

[William]

All true but you will not have to start the cycle from scratch if you have substrate in the tank as a lot of bacteria live in substrate. but it will be a server set back.

If you leave the filter of 24 hour make sure to disconnect it from the tank and to clean it and change all water in it before you restart it or you will pump poison into the tank when you start it. putting an airstone in the canister allowing air to pass through the filter media is a good idea as that will allow some bacteria to survive. i do however still recommend cleaning the filter before restarting it.

[mynheers_a_pint]

oh. Bugger.


It's a rather large external filter- would it not be an issue the fact that i won't be able to put all the media in the tank? I do have another tank running- can i not transfer some media accross to the filter once the other is back/replaced? I would most likley get a whole new external filter kit hence my further concern....

[cocoa_pleco]

you would have to do 4-5 50% daily water changes to keep the ammonia down, and i would submerge the filter media in the tank

[mynheers_a_pint]

and i'm guessing you don't recommend the use of any ammonia nutrallising chemicals?

[cocoa_pleco]

and i'm guessing you don't recommend the use of any ammonia nutrallising chemicals?

if you want, you can use ammo-lock (which converts ammonia to ammonium which is less harmful)

[mynheers_a_pint]

i have ammo lock after a similar emergency- filter dieing and being replaced by the very filter i am having issues with. The difference is there is absolutly no filtration at all at the moment.

I debated moving the wolffish to another one of my tanks but the only net big enough he destrioyed last time- bit clean through the netting.

[Lady Hobbs]

Why is your canister leaking would be my question? Sometimes putting vasoline on the seal helps.

[mynheers_a_pint]

apparently its a common problem with the canisters- they crack when you open them to clean them. I have tried to glue the cracks and it seems ok but i may try the vaselline idea. Ultimatly, i'd rather get a new canister if at all possible.

[cocoa_pleco]

apparently its a common problem with the canisters- they crack when you open them to clean them. I have tried to glue the cracks and it seems ok but i may try the vaselline idea. Ultimatly, i'd rather get a new canister if at all possible.

ive had that happen with hydor canisters, which is why i dont use hydor canisters anymore. i still never open my canisters

[gm72]

apparently its a common problem with the canisters- they crack when you open them to clean them.

Disagree. Like Cocoa, we never open our canisters. I use prefilters on mine, but regardless, a good canister shouldn't crack just from regular maintenance. What model canister is this?

[mynheers_a_pint]

it my be a uk only model but it is an Interpet EPF350. I didn't want to open the filter but i was donig general tank cleaning and thought it a good idea. i

have not seen pre filters?

[gm72]

Never heard of that particular filter.

A prefilter is just a sponge. This is what I use on all of my filters and recommend to all:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[mynheers_a_pint]

oh thats a good idea. I do cars the other 50% of my time so when you said pre filter i had an inline filter pictured like an inlnie fuel filter.

From the sounds of things i am going to have to accept this as one of those things. I will place the filter median in my empty tank as opposed to the wolf tank.

I guess i'm feeling a bit stupid at the moment.

Oh while i'm on the subject, what do people think about the pre cultured filter bacteria you can buy- 'filter start' or what ever it's called?

[gm72]

Oh while i'm on the subject, what do people think about the pre cultured filter bacteria you can buy- 'filter start' or what ever it's called?

Most of it is junk, snake oil at best.

[mynheers_a_pint]

i had a feelnig you'd say something like that. Bottled witchcraft.

Well the media is in my fishlesstank so the bacteria shalln't die but i will have to speak to the company tomorrow and try to get a new canister and pre filter. Cheers for everyones help.

you all failed to put my mind at ease though! :stongue:

[mynheers_a_pint]

well they have given me an entirely new kit so i have all the bits i have sat at home as well as prand new gubbins. Which is nice. Just a footer; when i said it was a common fault with the canisters, i meant this particular unit not all canisters in general. The company have said that if it happens again they will continue to supply new components for free. Which is also useful. I may just invest in a better filter at some pont, though you would expect that a respectable UK manufacturer would be able to throw a competant peice of equipment together....

Cheers all, for your help.