Cycle Challenge

[rkc772]

Is not the bio-wheel a patented product of Marineland Inc.? they are esssentially the only one with this specific product.

Eclipse, Penguin, Emperor, Magnum & BIO-Wheel PRO are all Marineland products. I hear there are kits to adapt many HOBs to fit a BioWheel. Aqua-Tech has a bio mesh that sits in the water (poor o2), but you can put a bio-wheel into it.

IMHO Bio-Wheels are an excellent HOB solution (alternative) to wet/dry.

i agree that HOB with biowheel are really great... i had a 29 gal eclipse tank with 12 goldfish sized 3-4 inches plus corydoras and plecos. barebottom and the biowheel just handled it right.

 

[guppy]

Okay. Thanks for all the + input. I think I'm going to try a 50% water change to start. If this does not work I'll try what guppy suggested. At this point I feel my filtration is adequate with 10x per hour turn over. I've got bio sponges in both filters.

I've noticed on some of my plastic plants a white cotton type growth. It's very fuzzy looking. What is this? Thanks again.

I'm pretty confident I'll get through this.

That is fungus growing on food leftovers or (less likely) on fish waste, a strong sign of over feeding and a major source of ammonia, what food are you using?
Once your filters are established, especially the UGF, your filters should handle the 4 rpbs until they reach at least 9", since they are 2" now that gives you at least a year, maybe more. Rpbs often stop growing at around that size in which case they should be fine for life.
I don't think chompers realised that these are 2" juvies.

 

[GarrettT3]

I've cut the feedings back. I'm giving them flake, bloodworm and tubifex in variation. I did a water change 50% and added clinoptilolite zeolite to the filters. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll test the water tonight and see where I'm at.

 

[guppy]

Go really light on the flake.

 

[fsc46]

I agree with guppy. The problem is over feeding. You can feed your fish every other day and they will be just fine. Do this until you get your problem under control.

If you see food floating in the tank 2 minutes after feeding, then you over feed them. Cut the amount in half and try again in two days. Feed them only once each feeding day! Don't forget to clean out your filters either. They must be full of food right now and a huge source of amonia. Hope this helps.