Help Filter change.

M

Moby

Fish Fanatic

Joined

Aug 5, 2021

Messages

66

Reaction score

24

Location

Hertfordshire

• Oct 12, 2021

• #1

I changed my filter from a Tetra all sponge filter to Aquael turbo plus 6 days ago.The Tetra has four sponges the Aquael has outside sponge and ceramic noodles.I cut all the sponges from the old filter into the new added a few noodles on top.Today checked water surprisingly a big nitrite spike and slight nitrates increase.Doing a big water change at the moment.Any ideas?

 

foxgirl158

Fishaholic

Joined

Jul 10, 2021

Messages

669

Reaction score

479

Location

USA

• Oct 12, 2021

• #2

Did you keep any old media from your old filter?

 

OP

OP

M

Moby

Fish Fanatic

Joined

Aug 5, 2021

Messages

66

Reaction score

24

Location

Hertfordshire

• Oct 12, 2021

• #3

Yes as i said all the old media went into the new filter.Tank fully cycled for about six months.The tank has plenty of live plants.
Thks.

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2021

Bruce Leyland-Jones

Fish Aficionado

Joined

Jul 1, 2021

Messages

3,559

Reaction score

3,178

Location

Cleator Moor, Cumbria

• Oct 12, 2021

• #4

Any spike is unlikely to have anything to do with your filter change, especially given that you kept the old media and used it in your new filter.
I did likewise;

That said, your only a relatively small proportion of your beneficial bacteria will be living in that old (and new) media...the ret will be on every available surface in your tank, including substrate, wood, rocks, plants, etc..

Was your tank properly cycled?
Do you have lots of growing plants?
How many fish in there?
How big is the tank?

 

OP

OP

M

Moby

Fish Fanatic

Joined

Aug 5, 2021

Messages

66

Reaction score

24

Location

Hertfordshire

• Oct 12, 2021

• #5

Tank 64 litres.Fully cycled 6 months ago and no problems.Plenty of live plants and floating.All small fish,Cpd.chilla rasboras,tetras 12 small fish in total.
Thks

 

Bruce Leyland-Jones

Fish Aficionado

Joined

Jul 1, 2021

Messages

3,559

Reaction score

3,178

Location

Cleator Moor, Cumbria

• Oct 12, 2021

• #6

Sounds good.
...And definitely a nitrite spike and not nitrate?

Has something perhaps died, or there was some abandoned food/organic waste and you're seeing the after-effects of effective beneficial bacteria?
Your water supply hasn't changed its parameters, without you knowing?

 

OP

OP

M

Moby

Fish Fanatic

Joined

Aug 5, 2021

Messages

66

Reaction score

24

Location

Hertfordshire

• Oct 12, 2021

• #7

I’ve been using water from a water butt for six months as I have very hard water with no problems so dont think it’s that.Done a big water change 5 hours ago and still showing high nitrite and a small rise in nitrate.Been keeping fish for thirty years can‘t make this one out.I suppose it keeps it interesting.

 

Playsander

Fish Crazy

Joined

Oct 12, 2021

Messages

205

Reaction score

189

Location

Essex

• Oct 12, 2021

• #8

How are you testing your water?

 

Bruce Leyland-Jones

Fish Aficionado

Joined

Jul 1, 2021

Messages

3,559

Reaction score

3,178

Location

Cleator Moor, Cumbria

• Oct 12, 2021

• #9

Moby said:

I’ve been using water from a water butt for six months as I have very hard water with no problems so dont think it’s that.Done a big water change 5 hours ago and still showing high nitrite and a small rise in nitrate.Been keeping fish for thirty years can‘t make this one out.I suppose it keeps it interesting.

Click to expand...

Nothing dead in the water butt?

 

OP

OP

M

Moby

Fish Fanatic

Joined

Aug 5, 2021

Messages

66

Reaction score

24

Location

Hertfordshire

• Oct 12, 2021

• #10

Testing water with API test kit.Water butt seems ok.
Thks.

 

foxgirl158

Fishaholic

Joined

Jul 10, 2021

Messages

669

Reaction score

479

Location

USA

• Oct 12, 2021

• #11

Moby said:

Yes as i said all the old media went into the new filter.Tank fully cycled for about six months.The tank has plenty of live plants.
Thks.

Click to expand...

Oh my bad, I didn’t understand that’s what that meant, sorry. I don’t really know what might have caused this then, unless something died. Good luck figuring it out!