Canister filters and aeration

[Rocksor]

You can get a clamshell frame for the Emperor and fill with bio-media or filter floss to polish your tank water. This is cheaper than buying the marineland filter cartridges on a regular basis.

$1.19 from

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=11352

[doctavus]

Just tested again during lunch break and the nitrite was 2ppm.

This was after a 50% water change yesterday, fish seem to be doing just fine though.

I need to go put more bio balls in the canister, just boggles my mind still how a canister filter is able to grow good/healthy bacteria when there is no air for them to grow (well not much)

[Cliff]

I would suggest at least one more 75% water change today as the one you ust did was not enough. 2ppm of nitrite is still pretty high. One more 75% water change would at least get the nitrites closer to 0.25ppm. You have to keep in mind that anything about 0.25ppm is toxic to fish. The long term effects of that can be harmfull to fish so you may not see any changes in their behavior right away

[Cermet]

+1 for Cliff - get those nitrites down asap - I'd go higher on the water change so that the nitrite does not climb back to the too high range again by the next day. Consider an air stone for the fish and some aquarium salt (1 tsp/10gal - this helps their damaged gills to remove waste from their blood stream - fish don't have kidneys but use their gills. Nitrites can damage the gills.)

[doctavus]

Hmm, the fish have been in the tank 8 days now. Is the nitrite reading normal for 8 days (i know it's still high)

Also doing these water changes so big, how does that affect the biological part of my filtration.

I really didn't want to get an air stone as I don't think they look all that good, just more tubing to put in water.

I think I have enough surface agitation now that I look at it.

I bought 20 bio-stars last-night and put them in the biological part of my canister, should have plenty now to grow.

[mizzoutank]

Hmm, the fish have been in the tank 8 days now. Is the nitrite reading normal for 8 days (i know it's still high)

Also doing these water changes so big, how does that affect the biological part of my filtration.

I really didn't want to get an air stone as I don't think they look all that good, just more tubing to put in water.

I think I have enough surface agitation now that I look at it.

I bought 20 bio-stars last-night and put them in the biological part of my canister, should have plenty now to grow.

Q1: there isn't really a "normal" for when you are cycling. all that matters is you keep it under 0.5ppm for the safety of the fish

Q2: Biological part of the filtration is in the filters itself-not in the water. so water changes does nothing but help. (obviously not doing them hurts)

Q3: Surface agitation-just make sure the water has ripples/some movement that causes the gas exchange needed for the fish to take in

and good job w/ adding more bio media! it'll help.