I just got a new aquarium set up. I was running well for a few weeks now. I got a new sunsun 304b filter and removed my old hang on the back filter that had established bacteria inside of it. After about two days I have noticed there is now brown algae growing on some rocks, some fish have been gasping/breathing fast and heavy, and 2 of them actually died. I turned down the temperature of the water to 75ish, and I am doing a 50% water change as we speak. I am hoping to get any advice I can. This is a 90 gallon tank and has 14 young african cichlids in the tank. Should I turn on the UV light that is on the sunsun filter?
Need advice. Brown algae, fish gulping air.
- Thread starter stark6935
- Start date
Did you have established biomedia in your new sunsun? or did you attach it to the tank brand new when you removed the hob?
Sounds like your tank was almost about to complete cycling or just finished cycling and you the removed the source to keep it going (the hob), by replacing it with a new canister...
As mentioned, unless you seeded the new canister prior to using, you basically kick started the whole cycle process all over again...
If you still have that old hob running on a tank, i’d quickly move it back to this tank if possible while the new filter plays catch up...
As mentioned, unless you seeded the new canister prior to using, you basically kick started the whole cycle process all over again...
If you still have that old hob running on a tank, i’d quickly move it back to this tank if possible while the new filter plays catch up...
To add to above 2 good comments: don't turn on your UV until you're sure your cycle is more established -- best to let your beneficial bacteria get all settled and colonizing before turning on the UV, which could kill any free floating bacteria that haven't settled on something yet (e.g. biomedia, decorations, substrate, etc.).
Until then, probably the best way to deal with your brown algae is to scrub it off surfaces as you can and then soon afterwards do a 30-50% water change. The brown algae (actually diatoms) will come back (until you eventually start using UV), but it'll help reduce it in the meantime. Also consider to reduce lighting time and amount of food given to fish., as both of these also affect algae growth significantly.
Until then, probably the best way to deal with your brown algae is to scrub it off surfaces as you can and then soon afterwards do a 30-50% water change. The brown algae (actually diatoms) will come back (until you eventually start using UV), but it'll help reduce it in the meantime. Also consider to reduce lighting time and amount of food given to fish., as both of these also affect algae growth significantly.
Great advice from the guys above.
You maybe could consider skipping feeding for a day or two. Just to keep the stress on the system to a minimum.
I have 4 x sunsun 304b filters on my tank. All packed with ceramic tubes. They are great filters. However one point I would like to make about them is the UV light. I have not ever used the light in mine, and my tanks are fine. I was given a second hand 304b that came with another tank I bought, and this chap had used the UV light. You could see the difference on the inside compared to mine when you opened it up. You would be surprised at how quickly the UV degrades the plastics on the inside. The "tunnel/tube" the water flows down into the filter where the UV is was crumbling and falling apart leaving small gaps where the water could escape into the trays.
Considering I have had mine for a couple of years and they still look pretty much new inside and function well, compared to this chap who only had his for about a year (or so he said.)
As Islandguy11 mentioned above it, it may be better to reduce lighting instead of looking to UV light.
See link below for a comment stating something similar on an amazon review.
You maybe could consider skipping feeding for a day or two. Just to keep the stress on the system to a minimum.
I have 4 x sunsun 304b filters on my tank. All packed with ceramic tubes. They are great filters. However one point I would like to make about them is the UV light. I have not ever used the light in mine, and my tanks are fine. I was given a second hand 304b that came with another tank I bought, and this chap had used the UV light. You could see the difference on the inside compared to mine when you opened it up. You would be surprised at how quickly the UV degrades the plastics on the inside. The "tunnel/tube" the water flows down into the filter where the UV is was crumbling and falling apart leaving small gaps where the water could escape into the trays.
Considering I have had mine for a couple of years and they still look pretty much new inside and function well, compared to this chap who only had his for about a year (or so he said.)
As Islandguy11 mentioned above it, it may be better to reduce lighting instead of looking to UV light.
See link below for a comment stating something similar on an amazon review.
Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Sunsun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit with 9-watt UV Sterilizer
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sunsun Hw304B 525GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit with 9-watt UV Sterilizer at Amazon.com. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.
www.amazon.com
As mentioned, the over long periods of time, UV light when on has the potential to ware out plastic by softening it up to the point it could start leaking...
That was the main reason i gave up my old UV unit, coz after “x” amount of time, different problems kept popping up and it would start leaking...
That was the main reason i gave up my old UV unit, coz after “x” amount of time, different problems kept popping up and it would start leaking...
Good points in last 2 posts re: canister UV lights that I didn't touch upon. There is some debate whether or not the plastic is degraded on (esp. on newer) canister filters with UV, but I for one don't use them because I'm not sure about it (which is why I'm using 2 X Sunsun 704a's (not 704b's with UV). If one did use a canister UV I wouldn't recommend to run it 24/7 just to be on the safe side. Also these canister-type UV's are only capable of Level 1 sterilization (algae control) at best, not Level 2 (pathogenic control), so I always use larger external UV sterilizers which can accomplish both if flow rate is correct.
Fat Homer not sure how long ago you're talking in reference to your old UV unit, but imo even the (newer) budget level (external) UV sterilizers nowadays are quite good quality (though some come with better bulbs than others). Of course you generally get what you pay for, but I've been using several Atman UV's (similar but maybe a tad better than Sunsun) for 2 years now and no problems whatsoever, they do their job and dependably so, no leaks or other dramas. That said I've also heard plenty of other stories similar to yours, just basing my input on my own particular experiences.
I use (cheap) Sunsun 603a pre-filters on all my UV's; also (knock on wood
) and likewise have never had a single problem with these mini-canisters.
Fat Homer not sure how long ago you're talking in reference to your old UV unit, but imo even the (newer) budget level (external) UV sterilizers nowadays are quite good quality (though some come with better bulbs than others). Of course you generally get what you pay for, but I've been using several Atman UV's (similar but maybe a tad better than Sunsun) for 2 years now and no problems whatsoever, they do their job and dependably so, no leaks or other dramas. That said I've also heard plenty of other stories similar to yours, just basing my input on my own particular experiences.
I use (cheap) Sunsun 603a pre-filters on all my UV's; also (knock on wood
) and likewise have never had a single problem with these mini-canisters.This was a few years back already and i ran them for between 1-2 years each before i started to see problems arise such as weakened plastic...
Im sure there are a lot of factors though that play into this, including how well placed the unit is inside cabinet, how secure the bulb is inside the unit is etc...
So definitely wouldnt say all are bad but as you basically mentioned, UV’s capable of LV2 sterilization tend to cost a lot more to begin with and really do need their bulbs replaced every 6-12months for maximum effectiveness...
Im sure there are a lot of factors though that play into this, including how well placed the unit is inside cabinet, how secure the bulb is inside the unit is etc...
So definitely wouldnt say all are bad but as you basically mentioned, UV’s capable of LV2 sterilization tend to cost a lot more to begin with and really do need their bulbs replaced every 6-12months for maximum effectiveness...
The brown algae on rocks is not a bad thing, and is only coincidental that it appeared at the same time as the gasping.
The problem was, by removing the established filter, you created a condition for an ammonia spike.
Put the established filter back (as long as you haven't let it dry out), and run both filters for at least 6 to 8 weeks before removing the HOB.
The problem was, by removing the established filter, you created a condition for an ammonia spike.
Put the established filter back (as long as you haven't let it dry out), and run both filters for at least 6 to 8 weeks before removing the HOB.
Ok. I threw the HOB filter back on as soon as I saw the fish up near the top gulping for air. I did try to seed the new filter with the old HOB filters media, but I don't think it was enough. I did a 50% water change, and since the HOB is back on they seem to be doing better. I think I did interrupt the cycle. Thank you for the advice and I will keep you updated on any adverse changes.