Filter not working/not big enough

[Rahied]

All right so I have a 55 gallon tank that I just set up 2 nights ago and it is really dirty.. like there is stuff floating around probably from dead fish and poop and stuff like that.. I figured I would need to clean a lot.. but after 2 nights?

It has a Fluval 305 pump which it does have water running threw it but I just don't think it's doing anything

Tank is 12.5x21x48

 

[AquataHolic420]

why is it probably from dead fish?? are all your fish dying?? Water changes will help clean your water, do like 35-50% water change and clean, REALLY clean your filter and hoses... then BAM your tank will be spic n span..

 

[Rahied]

why is it probably from dead fish?? are all your fish dying?? Water changes will help clean your water, do like 35-50% water change and clean, REALLY clean your filter and hoses... then BAM your tank will be spic n span..

Well my oscars snack on gold fish sometimes.. but I just did a water change and cleaned everything and it got dirty after 2 days

 

[AquataHolic420]

OHHHHHHH, ok well atleast your fish arent dead...

Oscars are very messy fish PERIOD. They waste alot of food, so youre going to need to get more filtration to stabilize this.. I would Recommend printing out a coupon off Like www.bigalsonline.com and getting a coupon for an aquaclear70 or aquaclear 110, and then go to petsmart so they can price match. This will help reduce the stress on that one filter that is not doing a sufficient job.

I just got 2 Aquaclear 110's from petsmart, 39.99 Each, when they are regularly 79.99 each. i saved a penny off of the price of one filter becuase i bought 2 with the coupons.

Also what substrate do you have? I would recommend throwin away all your gravel unless you vacuum the gravel frequently which is annoying. SAND SAND SAND!
Good luck

 

[Rahied]

Hmm I just pulled the pump out of the water and it's not working... there is water in and and it's on and sounds like it's running but no water is coming out of it.. and I have to leave for work in 10 min ****

 

[WyldFya]

There are a few problems here.

1) OscarS is a big problem. Multiple oscars in a 55 is too much, especially if fully grown.

2) Very weak filtration for a very messy fish. Up the filtration with either a couple AC 110s, or a bigger canister. Fluval 305's are not that great of mech filters as they come. I'd recommend the AC110s if you want to go by the cheaper route.

3) The volume of water is very small, the more water you have the more diluted your toxins will be.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Ok, so I have been out of the loop for a while...Did something happen that filters don't have to be cycled anymore? Considering that the tank has been set up for two days, does this mean that the filter is new too or is it an old one that has been moved?

And yeah, Oscars are messy eaters and messy poopers. How big are the oscars and how many do you have? Are they a new purchase or were they moved from another tank?

 

[ArmanS]

yeah I was thinking maybe it wasn't cycled

 

[Rahied]

yeah I was thinking maybe it wasn't cycled

Thanks for all the input but I figured out the problem.. when I set the pump under my stand the out line twisted and clogged it up.. so I undid it and it is running much better now.. looks much cleaner.. still smells pretty bad so I figure I will do a 50% water change/clean in the morning thanks all

 

[CHOMPERS]

good plan. Keep an eye on things for a while. You will need to do a lot of cleaning and water changing until the filter cycles. You can get some bacteria in a bottle at you fish store, but it isn't as good as adding old filter material. Ask around to see if you can get some.