Biorb Life 60 - Fish Die After Cleaning The Gravel

[ibizatunes]

Hello
I know the Biorb is rubbish, i begin to regret buying it. However every time i stir the gravel a lose a few fish, they are fine for weeks then when i clean the tank i lose fish

I have had baby fish, and i know the water is fine when i test it.

My question is if i replace the biorb gravel, with sera siporax 15 mm (designed for 200L of filtration) would that give me better filtration that the biorb ceramic filter?

I have brought Eheim 2411 Biopower 160 as well to help filter the water, that filter is designed for 160L (hasnt arrived yet)

The fish are fine till i clean it, i dont use any products like bleach

Any ideas

 

[fluttermoth]

How many and what kind of fish do you have and how long has the tank been set up?

I'm guessing that there is probably uneaten food falling into the substrate that is getting stirred up when you clean the gravel and causing an ammonia spike. I don't think changing the gravel will help.

Can you post the actual numbers from your test results; 'fine' isn't of much use to us, I'm afraid.

Oh, and how are you cleaning the gravel?

 

[ibizatunes]

How many and what kind of fish do you have and how long has the tank been set up?

I'm guessing that there is probably uneaten food falling into the substrate that is getting stirred up when you clean the gravel and causing an ammonia spike. I don't think changing the gravel will help.

Can you post the actual numbers from your test results; 'fine' isn't of much use to us, I'm afraid.

Oh, and how are you cleaning the gravel?

Ammonia 0.1
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 25
I have 1 guppy left, and 1 adult pattie, with about 5 baby patties as well (i lose about 2 fish every time i clean the tank)
I just put my hand in a stir the gravel, as the most of dirt is under the gravel, as the cleaning tube that i bought with biorb doesnt get most of the dirt out
Do you think im over feeding the fish?

 

[fluttermoth]

It's very easy to overfeed fish; remember that a fish's stomach is only about the size of it's eye.

How long has the tank been set up? As you have readings for both ammonia and nitrite, I suspect that your tank isn't cycled.

 

[ibizatunes]

It's very easy to overfeed fish; remember that a fish's stomach is only about the size of it's eye.

How long has the tank been set up? As you have readings for both ammonia and nitrite, I suspect that your tank isn't cycled.

about 6months > but i keep losing fish but the store says im fine to add more in.....
should i stop feeding for a few days?

It's very easy to overfeed fish; remember that a fish's stomach is only about the size of it's eye.

How long has the tank been set up? As you have readings for both ammonia and nitrite, I suspect that your tank isn't cycled.

about 6months > but i keep losing fish but the store says im fine to add more in.....
should i stop feeding for a few days?

i read this post on fishforum.net
Hi Huggies

I've got a 60 ltr Biorb which I had loads of water condition problems with in it's original form but I've now converted it by getting rid of the ceramic media that came with it which to be honest just collected food detritus which was difficult to clean. I've now got it running with an EHIEM aquaball 60 internal filter with siporax filter media which is working really well and aerates the water as well. I've currently got a mix of different Tetra in it plus one male Guppy and a Chinese Golden algae eater, (left over from a previous setup), totalling 16 fish in all. It's planted well and has some rock & bogwood to provide cover with a silver sand substrate. It's working really well, all the fish are in good health and all seem to get on with each other although the Guppy seems to pick on the Serpae Tetra a bit & I'm keeping a close eye on the algae eater.

that is why i think i need extra filter and change the gravel

 

[fluttermoth]

Don't listen to the store! You should definitely not add any more fish until your ammonia and nitrite are both at zero, without water changes, for at least a week.

Yes, I'd not feed at all and test the water every day for a week (fish can easily go that long without food) and see what happens.

You'll need to change the water anytime you get a positive reading for either ammonia nitrite, as they're both very toxic to fish.

 

[ibizatunes]

Don't listen to the store! You should definitely not add any more fish until your ammonia and nitrite are both at zero, without water changes, for at least a week.

Yes, I'd not feed at all and test the water every day for a week (fish can easily go that long without food) and see what happens.

You'll need to change the water anytime you get a positive reading for either ammonia nitrite, as they're both very toxic to fish.

ok wont feed them for a few days, and will do a water change, will adding extra filter and extra gravel help bring ammonia and nitraite down?

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm sure an extra filter will help, as I don't think the Biorb's filtration system is very good (although I've never owned one) but you still need to test the water and change as neccessary until the beneficial good bacteria grow in the new filter.

I wouldn't rely too much on that person's advice; anyone who think it's ok to put a Gyrinocheilus in a Biorb isn't to be trusted, IMHO.

 

[ibizatunes]

I'm sure an extra filter will help, as I don't think the Biorb's filtration system is very good (although I've never owned one) but you still need to test the water and change as neccessary until the beneficial good bacteria grow in the new filter.

I wouldn't rely too much on that person's advice; anyone who think it's ok to put a Gyrinocheilus in a Biorb isn't to be trusted, IMHO.

2nd question then

What would be the best setup have 1 box of sera siporax 15 mm (designed for 200L of filtration) and have biorb gravel together in the same tank
Or should i take out the biorb gravel and just have the sera siporax only which will increase water follow to the main biorb filter
Should i get a extra box of sera siporax as well to really boost the filtration

I have added a extra internal filter as well the Eheim 2411 Biopower 160 to help

Any advice would be useful

 

[fluttermoth]

You have to remember that Siporax is just a good home for the beneficial bacteria; it's not some kind of 'wonder product' that will suddenty make your tank better. That depends on using as large a filter as you can fit in the tank, without creating a 'washing machine' effect, and growing the bacteria.

 

[CezzaXV]

If disturbing the gravel is a problem because of detritus, would it be an option to switch to sand, or would that not be possible because of the filtration?

 

[ibizatunes]

You have to remember that Siporax is just a good home for the beneficial bacteria; it's not some kind of 'wonder product' that will suddenty make your tank better. That depends on using as large a filter as you can fit in the tank, without creating a 'washing machine' effect, and growing the bacteria.

The Eheim 2411 Biopower 160 is about as big as i can fit in my tank, which will help with the filtering
The siporax is not a wonder product I understand that. I just want to know what is the best setup or the one you would have, if you had my tank, the reason is im not allowed to replace the tank for a new bigger one till i can prove to the wife i wont just kill the fish (which is fair enough)
Chers

You have to remember that Siporax is just a good home for the beneficial bacteria; it's not some kind of 'wonder product' that will suddenty make your tank better. That depends on using as large a filter as you can fit in the tank, without creating a 'washing machine' effect, and growing the bacteria.

The Eheim 2411 Biopower 160 is about as big as i can fit in my tank, which will help with the filtering
The siporax is not a wonder product I understand that. I just want to know what is the best setup or the one you would have, if you had my tank, the reason is im not allowed to replace the tank for a new bigger one till i can prove to the wife i wont just kill the fish (which is fair enough)

Sand would get stuck in the biorbs main filter, so isnt a option however the serporax i have read is better than the biorb ceramic rock, and is large enough not to get stuck in the filter
Chers

 

[fluttermoth]

That looks like a good filter, and should do the job in your tank.

 

[ibizatunes]

That looks like a good filter, and should do the job in your tank.

Cool that is what i wanted to hear, so that filter and just the Siporax or Siporax and biorb filter gravel
Or do i need another box seraorax
Cheers
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-sera-siporax-15mm-1-l-290-g-/270865216916?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3f10d33594#ht_506wt_1270

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd use Siporax in the filter and leave the biorb stuff where it is, unless you're going to remove the Biorb filtration altogether, in which case but the Biorb stuff in the filter, and top up with Siporax, as you may have some nitrifying bacteria living in the Biorb gravel which you don't want to lose.

As long as the new filter is as full as you can get it, it doesn't matter too much what you put in it, but the Siporax would be better than the Biorb stuff.

Hope that makes sense...