Advice on Slate

[777james777]

You could always test the slate in a bucket of water rather than risk contaminating the whole tank. You'll need a fish-only* brand new bucket, so use that. Let the slate stand in a bucket of dechlorinated water (that is, add water conditioner to the water) for a few days for any contamination to get into the water, then try the shrimps in the bucket. Or maybe a bag of live daphnia from a fish shop.


* Don't let anyone else use the bucket for any reason whatsoever. No washing the car, mopping the floor etc

Ive just had a horrible thought

I washed all my stones and sand in a bucket that has previously had zoflora in it. Does this mean my tank is now contaminated and i have to start over?

I did wash the bucket prior to washing the stones

 

[Essjay]

It should be OK. You'll need to do a near 100% water change at the end of a fishless cycle. And if you do a plant cycle, the plants could well remove any contamination. Does the filter have any carbon or activated charcoal in it? That will adsorb organic contaminants like in zoflora. But I would change the carbon a couple of times as it does get full.


The reason for concern over rocks is that they'll be sitting in the tank for a long time, rather than just be in a bucket with lots of water for the duration of the washing like the sand/gravel.

 

[777james777]

It should be OK. You'll need to do a near 100% water change at the end of a fishless cycle. And if you do a plant cycle, the plants could well remove any contamination. Does the filter have any carbon or activated charcoal in it? That will adsorb organic contaminants like in zoflora. But I would change the carbon a couple of times as it does get full.


The reason for concern over rocks is that they'll be sitting in the tank for a long time, rather than just be in a bucket with lots of water for the duration of the washing like the sand/gravel.

The bucket has had zoflora with water in and washed the floors with a mop.
Then has not been used in a while, then the bucket was rinsed out, stones were added and then water. All mixed about, then poured away (this was repeated about 5 times and also with the sand as well)

If I do a near 100% water change at the end of the fishless cycle wont that put me back to square one? I can get my head around why everyone does all the test on the water and then replaces it?

I did open the filter up and it had these "little balls" in there that i had never seen before they almost looked like sweets, is this what you mean?

 

[Essjay]

The bacteria we grow live in biofilm which is tightly bound to surfaces. There are hardly any floating in the water. The only way you'll kill them is by forgetting to use water conditioner to remove chlorine in the water. This is especially true of a newly cycled tank as the biofilm isn't fully developed yet. Chlorine will also harm the fish which is why we use water conditioners to remove it from the new water at water changes.


Carbon and activated carbon are black. Sometimes they come as loose granules, other filters use sponges impregnated with them and the sponges will also be black.
What brand and model is the filter so I can look at what's in it?

 

[777james777]

The bacteria we grow live in biofilm which is tightly bound to surfaces. There are hardly any floating in the water. The only way you'll kill them is by forgetting to use water conditioner to remove chlorine in the water. This is especially true of a newly cycled tank as the biofilm isn't fully developed yet. Chlorine will also harm the fish which is why we use water conditioners to remove it from the new water at water changes.


Carbon and activated carbon are black. Sometimes they come as loose granules, other filters use sponges impregnated with them and the sponges will also be black.
What brand and model is the filter so I can look at what's in it?

hygger Aquarium Filter, 600L/H 10W Internal Aquarium Filters, Water Flow Adjustable Aquarium Pump Filter Wave Maker, Ultra Quiet Submersible Power Filter with Sponges, for 60-120L Fish Tank https://amzn.eu/d/hOoSYsH

This is the filter that I have

 

[Essjay]

I've found the manual and it says it contains carbon impregnated sponge and ceramic balls. It also says to replace the carbon sponge every 2 weeks, in other words they say to throw away a lot of your bacteria every two weeks, so ignore that.

Carbon adsorbs (not absorbs) organic chemicals till it gets full then it stops. That's why they say to replace the sponge every 2 weeks. But you don't actually need carbon routinely, most of us don't use it. But the sponges, like non-carbon sponges, are a very good home for the bacteria you are about to grow. Don't throw the sponges away and replace them, wash them instead. You do this by squeezing the sponges in tank water that you take our during a water change, then put them back in the filter. Sponges last for years and only need replacing when they go into holes.
The ceramic balls are also a good home for the bacteria. The manual says not to clean them and to change them when they degrade. You can wash them by swooshing them round in that bucket of old tank water. And yes, replace them when they start to crumble - in several years time.

 

[777james777]

I've found the manual and it says it contains carbon impregnated sponge and ceramic balls. It also says to replace the carbon sponge every 2 weeks, in other words they say to throw away a lot of your bacteria every two weeks, so ignore that.

Carbon adsorbs (not absorbs) organic chemicals till it gets full then it stops. That's why they say to replace the sponge every 2 weeks. But you don't actually need carbon routinely, most of us don't use it. But the sponges, like non-carbon sponges, are a very good home for the bacteria you are about to grow. Don't throw the sponges away and replace them, wash them instead. You do this by squeezing the sponges in tank water that you take our during a water change, then put them back in the filter. Sponges last for years and only need replacing when they go into holes.
The ceramic balls are also a good home for the bacteria. The manual says not to clean them and to change them when they degrade. You can wash them by swooshing them round in that bucket of old tank water. And yes, replace them when they start to crumble - in several years time.

Thank you once again for the advice, I really do appreciate it! I’d be lost otherwise.

Ok great so when the time comes to do a water change, I take out the sponge and squeeze it… into tank water that has been removed from my tank into a bucket. (Basically cleaning it in its original water)

 

[Essjay]

That's right. It won't need cleaning every water change, but at first look at the sponge every time to see if it's covered in brown goo. If it is, clean it. If it's not, just put it back. You'll soon find out how often it needs cleaning.
It shouldn't need cleaning during cycling as there's no fish poop or uneaten food being sucked in, but once you have fish it will.

 

[777james777]

My slate has been in fresh clean water now for 48 hours and the water is still clear. So I’m guessing this is a good starting sign @Essjay is there a minimum time I should leave it before adding to the tank

 

[Essjay]

Not really. I'd just leave the slate soaking till the cycle has finished. Somewhere to keep it where it won't be in the way.

 

[777james777]

Not really. I'd just leave the slate soaking till the cycle has finished. Somewhere to keep it where it won't be in the way.

Okie Dokie

Do I need to keep changing the water every few days? Its only a 2 minute job

 

[Essjay]

Maybe once a week - unless it smells, then change it straight away. It'll only smell if there is a contaminant, so I don't expect it will.

 

[777james777]

@Essjay after a weeks worth of sitting in water there is no smell or cloudiness from the slate.
Shall I do a fresh weeks worth of water ?

 

[Essjay]

If it was me I'd just change the water every week and leave the slate in the bucket till it's ready to go in the tank. If it put it somewhere else I'd either forget where, or I'd manage to break it into tiny pieces or my husband would do something to contaminate it. I had some nice wood laid out on the shelf in the greenhouse sorry, glass shed and he put the sponge he'd been applying some stuff to blacken the trims on the car right on top of it

 

[777james777]

If it was me I'd just change the water every week and leave the slate in the bucket till it's ready to go in the tank. If it put it somewhere else I'd either forget where, or I'd manage to break it into tiny pieces or my husband would do something to contaminate it. I had some nice wood laid out on the shelf in the greenhouse sorry, glass shed and he put the sponge he'd been applying some stuff to blacken the trims on the car right on top of it

oh dear!

Yeh I have just changed the water in the bucket.
I haven’t “cleaned it” yet.
Is there anything I should be cleaning it with?