Day 2 (Fluval 90 Roma)

[RCA]

Day 2 (Fluval 90 Roma) Started by drew7951, Today, 08:24 AM
 
Ok Day 2, still a bit cloudy.

 
I would say, still keep your filter on and give it chance, or do a 20% water change to assist it, of course gently, so as not to disturb the gravel.  Do you have any filter wool in your filter?
 
Can you tell us what filter you have please?

 
 

Hi and thanks,
 
It is a Fluval U2 filter as standard.

 
 

What media came with your filter? It could be a good idea to add some sort of filter wool/polishing pad to help if you haven't got one.

 
Cool, that is a good filter. 
Both of us are stating that the filter wool will get rid of the finer particles that the sponges are not removing.
 
What you can do is get some filter wool and push it inside the two sections where the sponges are, i.e. do not remove the sponges.
The cheapest way to buy filter wool is in a large sheet and cut it to size.  Fluval do them for the filters pre-cut but that works out very expensive.
I would tend to put them after the sponges but before the bio-max, that is in the middle, this way the sponges take out the larger particles then the wool catches the finer particles before hitting the bio-max.
 
With filter wool I find it best to replace it rather than try and clean it, but of course DO NOT do this with your sponges.  They need to be rinsed in old aquarium water when you do a water change.
 
Hopefully I have the filter correct.  Any questions on the above please ask.
 
Oh, and where do you have the jet from the filter currently running?  Top, middle or bottom of the filter?

 

[Mamashack]

i am just going to pop out and buy a tester but they are £15 cheaper from other online stores

 
I got mine from Ebay for just under £20 - it had a good expiry date and arrived within a couple of days. You can maybe afford to wait a day or 2 as hopefully you are now contemplating fishless cycling. It will take about a week for the ammonia-munching bacteria to develop so there's no immediate rush to buy from PAH.
Good luck and help is always available on here!

 

[drew7951]

Hi,
 
Thanks for this info, i will get some filter wool today as i havent even looked inside the 3 cartridges or added anything. it is currently using the top outlet, Is there a best one to use at certain stages?
 
Silly question but do you need to turn filter off to take cartridges out for these sort of additions and cleans.
 
Thanks

 

[Arcticfox1977]

Hello and welcome. I've gained loads of knowledge on these forums. Great group of members. Like already mentioned I have a post already active which I asked the same questions as you. I am completely new to tropical fish. Bought my tank 2 weeks ago and left it fishless for 1 week. Only added 2 solutions. 1 was to dechlorinate your water and the other to kick start the good bacteria, cycle. Got my supplier to test the water and bought 3 fish on the week, with pressure from my 5 yr old. A week with fish in the tank now and I've lost count of the amount of water changes within that week. I have the api water test kit. Seems to me to be very accurate. I change 10% water first of all to reduce the ammonia build up, but noticed 1 fish was gasping for air at the top. So I removed 40l of water and this got the ammonia level down to 0 and the fish were happily swimming again. I have a 95l tank. Any other other questions don't be afraid to ask. Even add me as a friend and we can share our experiences.

 

[drew7951]

Hello and welcome. I've gained loads of knowledge on these forums. Great group of members. Like already mentioned I have a post already active which I asked the same questions as you. I am completely new to tropical fish. Bought my tank 2 weeks ago and left it fishless for 1 week. Only added 2 solutions. 1 was to dechlorinate your water and the other to kick start the good bacteria, cycle. Got my supplier to test the water and bought 3 fish on the week, with pressure from my 5 yr old. A week with fish in the tank now and I've lost count of the amount of water changes within that week. I have the api water test kit. Seems to me to be very accurate. I change 10% water first of all to reduce the ammonia build up, but noticed 1 fish was gasping for air at the top. So I removed 40l of water and this got the ammonia level down to 0 and the fish were happily swimming again. I have a 95l tank. Any other other questions don't be afraid to ask. Even add me as a friend and we can share our experiences.

Hi,
 
Looks like we are having a very similiar exsperience, i too have a pestering 5yr old ha ha. i have done exactly the same so far (2days), been using the solution from the store. Going to get my tester over the next few days. enjoying so far
 
Cheers

 

[RCA]

You can put piccies in your other post too, but I see your logic
 
I will contact a moderator to get rid of this post now as it seems like you are getting the support in the original post
 
Also, if you keep it all together, if people subscribe to be update on how you are going then they continue to be notified
 
PLEASE ALL POST HERE TO HELP ANDY OUT ...
 
-- END --

 

[drew7951]

Thanks RCA.

 

[RCA]

Hi,
 
Thanks for this info, i will get some filter wool today as i havent even looked inside the 3 cartridges or added anything. it is currently using the top outlet, Is there a best one to use at certain stages?
 
Silly question but do you need to turn filter off to take cartridges out for these sort of additions and cleans.
 
Thanks

 
OK, well you may find that the bio balls are still inside a poly-bag in that case.  Also, it is a good idea to rinse new media before it goes in the tank as it removes the dust.  Do this in water from the aquarium now it is up and running.
 
OK using the top outlet as this will keep the surface water moving.  If you are adding plants then the middle section is best.
 
Yes, turn the filter off.  I bought one of these filters for some friends, I will look through my email for some good videos I found on how to maintain them.
 

Hello and welcome. I've gained loads of knowledge on these forums. Great group of members. Like already mentioned I have a post already active which I asked the same questions as you. I am completely new to tropical fish. Bought my tank 2 weeks ago and left it fishless for 1 week. Only added 2 solutions. 1 was to dechlorinate your water and the other to kick start the good bacteria, cycle. Got my supplier to test the water and bought 3 fish on the week, with pressure from my 5 yr old. A week with fish in the tank now and I've lost count of the amount of water changes within that week. I have the api water test kit. Seems to me to be very accurate. I change 10% water first of all to reduce the ammonia build up, but noticed 1 fish was gasping for air at the top. So I removed 40l of water and this got the ammonia level down to 0 and the fish were happily swimming again. I have a 95l tank. Any other other questions don't be afraid to ask. Even add me as a friend and we can share our experiences.

 
Thanks Articfox, great to see you spreading your wings or fins should I say

and great you can pass on your learnings.
 
Andy, I would stick to the fish-less cycling though, as already mentioned along with the link provided as below.
 

Hi, drew! Welcome to the forums! Did you rinse the heck out of your sand before putting it in your tank? Tell us more about the tank, and what kind of fish you're planning to get. Have you read through the fishless cycling thread? 

 

[drew7951]

This is great guys, thank you for all the help.
 
Cant believe it, the bio was still in a bag. Duh

 

[RCA]

Fluval U2 Filter Maintenance (as promised)
 
How to manage your U2 filter
I have the older model so not quite as advanced as this in one of my aquariums, but found these for some friends.
I clean mine out at every water change i.e. weekly, occasionally fortnightly if the previous week they have had a good service.  That is because I generally over filter too, i.e. have filters that are larger than required.
Main thing is always remember to keep some water from your aquarium to rinse the sponges and bio-max in.  NEVER rinse them under the tap as the good bacteria you have built up with be killed.  Hopefully the good bacteria is already starting to mature, if you are carrying out the instructions as per the fish-less cycling?
 
How to clean the impeller
Only thing is, I would not bother about taking the impeller itself apart (unless it is jammed), as this guy does, just take it out whole every now and again and clean it, plus the chamber.
Also, rather than under the tap, I clean mine in aquarium water extracted from the aquarium using a small bottle brush and cotton ear sticks

I do all my filters impellers about once a month, and give them a good strip-down/full service.  With the sponges weekly/fortnightly as above.
I love his "boys" room, bless him

 
These should help you too Arcticfox as your filter should arrive soon, hopefully

 
Let us know which of the filter sponges are in there and whether you are planning live plants in your aquarium?  Oh, and I would also be interested to know if anything is in plastic bags inside your filter chambers?  If so, this maybe why it is not clearing your aquarium

This is great guys, thank you for all the help.
 
Cant believe it, the bio was still in a bag. Duh

 
Hah, easily done, that is why it is struggling, hopefully now it will filter a lot better for you

FYI: The moderator has apparently decided to merge your two topics, rather than delete the one with the picture, hence the link I had used in here to your original post will no longer work, everyone please note.
Funnily enough, I was writing up the above for you and when I went to post it said your topic no longer existed so I went on the hunt to find you again.
Hopefully it is all together for you now, even if a little disjointed.

 

[drew7951]

Thanks RCA, i will have a look through these. ive read the instructions in the booklet and says just what your saying.
 
Edit: very useful vids.
 
Cheers

 

[drew7951]

Day 4,
 
Lovely and clear.
amunnia - 0
Nitrite - 0.8
Nitrate - 20

 

[RCA]

Ha, it is now working without the bags inside   Looking promising so far...

 

[drew7951]

Hi,
 
Tank now appears to have cycled and i have started stocking with fish, quite enjoyed the last few weeks getting the tank right.
3 mollies and a couple of swordtails so far. all going well. thanks for the support looking forward to enjoying now.

 

[RCA]

Great, got an updated picture with your fish it the tank?