Elite Stingray 15 Filter Help...................

[Jim1984]

I have this filter in my new tank set up and have had 3 zebra danios in the tank for 6 days now, ive been waiting for the ammonia levels to peak and nothing has happened, i then found out that the filter media cartridge has Zeolite in.

Im worried this will slow down or even stop my new tank cycling, has anyone used this filter or has any advice on how to proceed??

 

[betta fish]

I have this filter in my new tank set up and have had 3 zebra danios in the tank for 6 days now, ive been waiting for the ammonia levels to peak and nothing has happened, i then found out that the filter media cartridge has Zeolite in.

Im worried this will slow down or even stop my new tank cycling, has anyone used this filter or has any advice on how to proceed??

Hi, I have that filter and always remove the baskets with carbon/zeolite in to add sponges/ceramic noodles to the space left as it gives a better surface area for bacteria to grow but I always add mature filter sponge to all my new filters so I never have to cycle any tanks as I run quite a few, I would remove the baskets and add some filter floss or sponges and then keep a very close eye on the ammonia readings you should find they will probably rise then you will need to keep up with the water changes, which test kit are you using at the mo?

 

[VaegaVic]

I have this filter in my new tank set up and have had 3 zebra danios in the tank for 6 days now, ive been waiting for the ammonia levels to peak and nothing has happened, i then found out that the filter media cartridge has Zeolite in.

Im worried this will slow down or even stop my new tank cycling, has anyone used this filter or has any advice on how to proceed??

Hi, I have that filter and always remove the baskets with carbon/zeolite in to add sponges/ceramic noodles to the space left as it gives a better surface area for bacteria to grow but I always add mature filter sponge to all my new filters so I never have to cycle any tanks as I run quite a few, I would remove the baskets and add some filter floss or sponges and then keep a very close eye on the ammonia readings you should find they will probably rise then you will need to keep up with the water changes, which test kit are you using at the mo?

Whilst this is true, I use zeolite as last stage filtration in all of my planted tanks to prevent algae from blooming.
However, eventually when the zeolite/carbon block becomes saturated, it will have a nice amount of surface area for bacteria to grow on, although not as much as fine filter floss would.

 

[waterdrop]

I have this filter in my new tank set up and have had 3 zebra danios in the tank for 6 days now, ive been waiting for the ammonia levels to peak and nothing has happened, i then found out that the filter media cartridge has Zeolite in.

Im worried this will slow down or even stop my new tank cycling, has anyone used this filter or has any advice on how to proceed??

Hi, I have that filter and always remove the baskets with carbon/zeolite in to add sponges/ceramic noodles to the space left as it gives a better surface area for bacteria to grow but I always add mature filter sponge to all my new filters so I never have to cycle any tanks as I run quite a few, I would remove the baskets and add some filter floss or sponges and then keep a very close eye on the ammonia readings you should find they will probably rise then you will need to keep up with the water changes, which test kit are you using at the mo?

Whilst this is true, I use zeolite as last stage filtration in all of my planted tanks to prevent algae from blooming.
However, eventually when the zeolite/carbon block becomes saturated, it will have a nice amount of surface area for bacteria to grow on, although not as much as fine filter floss would.

I have read of several planted tank enthusiasts running Purigen or Zeolite as a last stage (making sure it comes -after- the biomedia in the water path) to help suck out those last traces of ammonia and cut down on algae. I've heard it enough that I trust people can make it work. But for beginners who are cycling, I definately think you want to get all of these sorts of chemicals out of there so that you can get the proper feedback from the cycling and of course so that the bacteria have the correct level of ammonia to stimulate the right species and the formation of the two colonies. In the OP's case I would definately swap it out of there. WD

 

[Jim1984]

Right thanks for all the advice. I have managed to pry open the plastic containers holding the carbon/zeolite and have stuffed filter floss in and have done a water change. Hopefully everything will be all good now. Just waiting for the Ammonia boom. Hope my 3 little zebra Danios survive. Really wish i had done a fishless cycle but was a bit niave and believed the advice of my LFS.

 

[waterdrop]

Listening to the LFS just puts you in there with 99% of other beginners. We've all done it somewhere in our past. Don't worry about it, it only starts to feel bad now when you've found one of these serious fishkeeper sites like TFF.

~~waterdrop~~