Think I Figured It Out

[talldutchie]

If you don't trust your rainwater then that's not an option. You could see about rigging a pre filter with some zeolite, see what that does. Can't helpy ou with your filter I'm afraid, never seen that one.

[Lady Hobbs]

Curious about the filters. Whisper filters can be a HOTB or internal. Their internal filters are horrible at oxygenating a tank. I have one on my 5 gallon and always use an air stone when using it. They also do not drive off the undissolved gasses after a water change due to their poor circulation.

If you are using two 20 Whisper HOTB's instead of the internals, those filters are for 10-20 gallons with the 20 being the max. Filters are good for just about one/half of what they state they are good for so........to me........both of your filters are adequate for about a 10 gallon tank.

Prime is a "regular" dechlorinator but is one of the best because it's concentrated so takes far less to use it than all of the others. I have used nothing but foam in several filters. Some just do not have room for foam and bio-max and since foam fine-filters, I have opted for the foam. I use bio-max if I have room.

I suspect due to all the ground water you had, the water company is treating heavily right now. That little bit of ammonia should not hurt anything so either your chlorinator is not working fast enough, the filters not oxygenating fast enough or the temp is not correct for those fish.

[Cermet]

Rain water? That is a heavily polluted source not suitable for a closed environment like a tank.

Also, if the fish are stressed and on the bottom after a water change, very likely the pH has dropped/raised over the limit of 0.2. If so, that is the problem. As for an ammonia reading of 0.25 ppm, I would wonder if that would stress them so fast.

[Gesp56]

Idk what else it could be. I'll re-check the pH of my tanks and the tap. @Lady Hobbs, I know we've discussed this before. Both my 10 gallons have 20 gallons worth of filtration on them. I don't think they're the issue. Because like I said any other time its fine. I just don't have an over abundance of filtration to eat the ammonia in the tap before my fish are really effected. Maybe it is the pH. I have no clue but I'll test and find out. Also my filters are HOBS not internal filters. I'm going to buy some more filter media tomorrow and add it and try it out and see how it does. I'll also be purchasing some prime.

[Goes to 11!]

Idk what else it could be. I'll re-check the pH of my tanks and the tap. @Lady Hobbs, I know we've discussed this before. Both my 10 gallons have 20 gallons worth of filtration on them. I don't think they're the issue. Because like I said any other time its fine. I just don't have an over abundance of filtration to eat the ammonia in the tap before my fish are really effected.

You're not getting it..
This IS exactly why we say you are underfiltered. Period. 'Over abundance' is not what you are shooting for, The term is 'adequate' and you don't even have that..

[It doesn't matter what the tank size or filter size numbers are supposed to be] The results are showing you very very clearly that you are underfiltered & a larger BB colony IS the solution.

[talldutchie]

Rain water? That is a heavily polluted source not suitable for a closed environment like a tank.

.

Sorry but no. There's people from all over the world here. Some will have perfectly usable rainwater.

[mizzoutank]

there are people all over the world.

however, unless you are in remote country land with vast area between the next biggest city...
your rain water is likely to be heavily polluted.

but generally those remote people are using well water.

and the OP lives in New Jersey. there isn't place in that state that is remote enough for "un polluted" rain water. lol

[Gesp56]

Ignoring some of the things said. I went out today and bought Prime, fluval biomedia stones, zeolite crystals and more turtle food for my baby turtles c:

So far my plan is to do a layer of fluval biomedia stones on the bottom of the filters, then a layer of pillow stuffing, then zeolite crystals, then more pillow stuffing, the a bit more fluval biodmedia to sort of weigh it all down.. This would be done in 3 tetra whisper filters that do not have tops. And with what has been said and all the hateful and sort of rude comments and messages I keep getting about my filtration. I've decided I am going to set up my eheim 2013 canister 60 gallon filter on my molly tank and move one, of my 10 gallon whisper filters over to my other 10 gallon gourami tank.

My only issue is flow. My filter tube that blows the new water into the tank on the eheim filter has a long nozzle the makes like 6 individual streams, that when put horizontally above water resemble a waterfall. Is there any way to shrink down the flow? Or do you think my molly and platy won't mind? Also will removing one of the 10 gallon filters after adding the eheim effect the levels in the tank? As the new filter won't be established? Or will the sheer size of the new filter keep the levels in check?? I don't really have any way of adding old media to my eheim as my old filters take cartridges... Should I just scrap some of the gunk off the filters and put it into the eheim???

[Goes to 11!]

Ignoring some of the things said. I went out today and bought Prime, fluval biomedia stones, zeolite crystals and more turtle food for my baby turtles c:

So far my plan is to do a layer of fluval biomedia stones on the bottom of the filters, then a layer of pillow stuffing, then zeolite crystals, then more pillow stuffing, the a bit more fluval biodmedia to sort of weigh it all down.. This would be done in 3 tetra whisper filters that do not have tops. And with what has been said and all the hateful and sort of rude comments and messages I keep getting about my filtration. I've decided I am going to set up my eheim 2013 canister 60 gallon filter on my molly tank and move one, of my 10 gallon whisper filters over to my other 10 gallon gourami tank. I wouldn't bother with all that Just add the fluval biomedia [THE most important addition] and some floss.

My only issue is flow. My filter tube that blows the new water into the tank on the eheim filter has a long nozzle the makes like 6 individual streams, that when put horizontally above water resemble a waterfall. Is there any way to shrink down the flow? Or do you think my molly and platy won't mind? Also will removing one of the 10 gallon filters after adding the eheim effect the levels in the tank? As the new filter won't be established? Or will the sheer size of the new filter keep the levels in check?? I don't really have any way of adding old media to my eheim as my old filters take cartridges... Should I just scrap some of the gunk off the filters and put it into the eheim???

If the EHEIM will keep the levels in check depends entirely on what you are using in it. I see it having no issues whatsoever using any good media.

The spraybar won't affect the fish at all & if you cannot manage to get some seed material you will have to cycle the EHEIM just as you would any other filter.
Do not remove the old filter until the new one is cycled [4 to 6 weeks]. Or you could fishless cycle it quicker with a trash can or something.

[Gesp56]

I'll set it up and work on cycling it normally. Do I have to add fiber or cloth pads in the filter, or will pillow stuffing suffice? Or could I take a large cartridge for my whisper filter and cut it to fit in the eheim? Would that work?