Filter Emergency

[smokinjoe2122]

So yesterday after a weekend away I found that the motor died in my Penguin Biowheel. Everything is closed on a Sunday nights, and the temprature is in the mid 80's, so I panicked, went to Walmart of all places and bought an Aqua-Tech 20-40 hang on the back filter to get oxygen circulating again. While I do have powerheads and such, I know that summer days are not good for having low aeration. My question is this. Does anyone know anything about these, and are there any good hacks or mods for them? It has a carbon filter with a bio-fiber cartridge that is supposed to collect bacteria... I do have about 40 lbs of live rock, a crappy skimmer that does produce some wet skimmate, and a few powerheads in a 29 gallon hex tank... Anyone know anything or any advice for this thing would be great....Also I do water changes per week or really close to it...

Thanks

 

[jtnova13]

you shouldn't need the HOB filter if you have 40 lbs of live rock in a 29 gallon tank. Which powerheads do you have?

Plus, adding a brand new filter to an existing system will cause a bacterial bloom and ammonia/nitrite spikes which you want to avoid.

 

[smokinjoe2122]

you shouldn't need the HOB filter if you have 40 lbs of live rock in a 29 gallon tank. Which powerheads do you have?

Plus, adding a brand new filter to an existing system will cause a bacterial bloom and ammonia/nitrite spikes which you want to avoid.

I have a maxi-jet 600 with aeriation tubing mid tank and another smaller basic powerhead blowing near the bottom (Tank is taller than wide) Other than that, I have a nano Fission skimmer, which is junk, but does take some proteins out. I was afriad of using a new filter, but I dont think my tank, being tall, has good aeriation in it. What kind of ammonia spike are we looking at here? I can deal with algea blooms, they've been comming and going often in the last couple months...

 

[seffieuk]

Plus, adding a brand new filter to an existing system will cause a bacterial bloom and ammonia/nitrite spikes which you want to avoid.

Eh, why would adding a new filter cause a bacterial bloom and ammonia/nitrite spikes? One that is dirty might, but a new one?

Seffie x

 

[ben1987]

most of the bacterial colonies will live within the rock wont they?

 

[jtnova13]

wouldn't a brand new filter have to cycle? it might not be a huge spike, but any little bit can kill corals.

Point a powerhead at the surface of the water to increase aeration i think.