No that's filtration media not bio-media. The filter pads you have can be rinsed in tank water every couple of weeks until it starts to fall apart then replace it. Bio-media would somthing like ceramic bio rings or somthing similar.
My new piranha is sick!!
- Thread starter noob4lyfe
- Start date
No that's filtration media not bio-media. The filter pads you have can be rinsed in tank water every couple of weeks until it starts to fall apart then replace it. Bio-media would somthing like ceramic bio rings or somthing similar.
Now for the improtant stuff. The perameters are not horrable but not great either. Like I explaned before ammonia is more toxic as the Ph rises an any presents indicates a tank is not fully cycled or the bio-load has overwhelmed the ability of the bio filter to deal with it. A Ph of 7.2 is fine but you must do a 25% water change and add 1table spoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of tank water. Tomorrow do another 25% WC no salt, do a 25% WC every day for the next week while the tank cycles. Do you have any water conditioner/dechlorinator such as Seachem Prime? You sould use this to make the tap water safe and detox the ammonia. There is a product called Seachem Stability that will help inoculate your bio-filter and boost the ammonia eating beificial bacteria. If you don't have these things you should go to the LFS and get them, they will help you alot. But the 1st thing you need to do is a water change to remove some ammonia.
Bio rings. Will do. Just had a couple questions.
Case in point. If the filtration media holds the waste. Would it not also house the bacteria as well?
"Rinsed IN the tank", hope im reading that correctly. The waste is put back into the tank? Confused at the moment here. Why siphon and take out the waste then?
Also, by taking out the water. Are we not removing the beneficial bacteria, because that's the only thing i did not rinse/clean.
Given the params I listed. How's the condition of my tank. Are the bacteria present and living or are my fishes in danger.
Quick update on my progress:
Today I did a 35% water change this morning(didnt do it yesterday). My tank gives off fumes similar to walking into your lfs. That same hazy smell. Not sure if thats good/bad. I would assume good?
My piranha as of last night was swimming around. It seems to attack the exos over night. I will give you a couple more pictures of the damage done to them.
I would assume it is fed because their is usually food floating, which i remove after couple hrs. Food was present overnight as well. Still now the condition of all 3 fishes is worse, but i mentioned its not a problem. I just thought they could get along.
Aqua Salt. I purchased some. You said Tblspoon which is 15ml/ 5 gal. Is that about right. Will add some upon your reply
Quick update on my progress:
Today I did a 35% water change this morning(didnt do it yesterday). My tank gives off fumes similar to walking into your lfs. That same hazy smell. Not sure if thats good/bad. I would assume good?
My piranha as of last night was swimming around. It seems to attack the exos over night. I will give you a couple more pictures of the damage done to them.
I would assume it is fed because their is usually food floating, which i remove after couple hrs. Food was present overnight as well. Still now the condition of all 3 fishes is worse, but i mentioned its not a problem. I just thought they could get along.
Aqua Salt. I purchased some. You said Tblspoon which is 15ml/ 5 gal. Is that about right. Will add some upon your reply
Filtration media will house benifical bacteria but is not intended as a dedacated surface for the growth of bateria. Filter media and bio-rings should be rinsed in tank water not inside the tank I guess I should have explained that better, sorry for the confusion. I fill a 5gal bucket with tank water and rinse of the bio-rings then rinse out then filter pads. The reason for the Seachem Satbility (or similar product) is to replace some of the bacteria lost during filter cleanning.
Add 1 tbls of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of tank water for today and then follow my other post about how to proceed. In a week take another sample of water back to the LFS to be tested. One important thing to keep in mind the Prime will throw you readings off so don't have your water checked within 24 hrs or adding it. The tank sould be fine, just do the daly WCs while it finishes cycling.
Hey so I've been busy for past few days. Wanted to post an update.
The fish started rejecting the daily feeding sessions and started to get comfortable with its tank mates. I began to wonder why until i found this...
Day 1
And then shortly after..
Day 2
Day 3
On day 3. I had just shut the lights off, and heard splashing noises for about 5-7min. I thought something was moving around, fishes having fun. But it was by far the worst attack I've seen in the tank yet.
Now as it stands. I have no more tank mates.
The fish started rejecting the daily feeding sessions and started to get comfortable with its tank mates. I began to wonder why until i found this...
Day 1
And then shortly after..
Day 2
Day 3
On day 3. I had just shut the lights off, and heard splashing noises for about 5-7min. I thought something was moving around, fishes having fun. But it was by far the worst attack I've seen in the tank yet.
Now as it stands. I have no more tank mates.
Hey so I've been busy for past few days. Wanted to post an update.
The fish started rejecting the daily feeding sessions and started to get comfortable with its tank mates. I began to wonder why until i found this...
Day 1
View attachment 897840
And then shortly after..
Day 2
View attachment 897841View attachment 897842
Day 3
View attachment 897843View attachment 897844View attachment 897845
On day 3. I had just shut the lights off, and heard splashing noises for about 5-7min. I thought something was moving around, fishes having fun. But it was by far the worst attack I've seen in the tank yet.
Now as it stands. I have no more tank mates.
The fish started rejecting the daily feeding sessions and started to get comfortable with its tank mates. I began to wonder why until i found this...
Day 1
View attachment 897840
And then shortly after..
Day 2
View attachment 897841View attachment 897842
Day 3
View attachment 897843View attachment 897844View attachment 897845
On day 3. I had just shut the lights off, and heard splashing noises for about 5-7min. I thought something was moving around, fishes having fun. But it was by far the worst attack I've seen in the tank yet.
Now as it stands. I have no more tank mates.
Now to get to the boring stuff.
Okay the behavior of my fish has changed slightly. It is no longer under that log anymore. But instead is on the right side of the tank. Next to the heater and food box.
It just sits there. One time, I saw it take a round, come back to that corner and go 70 degrees horizontal. I freaked, tapped the glass, and it swam away. It now swims at a slight angle, and when it stops it puts just enough energy to stand still. Using fins, and now tail (before it didnt).
There may be another issue at hand too. The lid for my tank was a DIY project. I used wood and put it together with nails + spray painted it black. Heres the issue: the nails are a tad rusted. And with the bubbles creating evaporation, it touches the wood and may can leak on the sides where the nails are. I cant confirm if that rust water is entering the tank.
I was doing a quick water change. And saw this on the ground
I'm not completely sure if that rust water or coca cola. But It didn't smell like coke. And I usually put my lid there or hanging from the fish tank desk. Thing is, it was tilted vertically for this to happen, but that much wouldn't lead into a tank on a regular horizontally placed lid.
Okay the behavior of my fish has changed slightly. It is no longer under that log anymore. But instead is on the right side of the tank. Next to the heater and food box.
It just sits there. One time, I saw it take a round, come back to that corner and go 70 degrees horizontal. I freaked, tapped the glass, and it swam away. It now swims at a slight angle, and when it stops it puts just enough energy to stand still. Using fins, and now tail (before it didnt).
There may be another issue at hand too. The lid for my tank was a DIY project. I used wood and put it together with nails + spray painted it black. Heres the issue: the nails are a tad rusted. And with the bubbles creating evaporation, it touches the wood and may can leak on the sides where the nails are. I cant confirm if that rust water is entering the tank.
I was doing a quick water change. And saw this on the ground
I'm not completely sure if that rust water or coca cola. But It didn't smell like coke. And I usually put my lid there or hanging from the fish tank desk. Thing is, it was tilted vertically for this to happen, but that much wouldn't lead into a tank on a regular horizontally placed lid.
Thats what I thought would be best. During a water change, I could fill up my bucket as usual, and rinse the rings + filter. Is there a limit to do this every 4 months or so, or is it an eyeball figure type of thing.
