New All Glass 1700ltr setup. (457gal)

[aropal]

Running filters with carbon at the start is often a good idea. There are all sorts of things which might be floating around in the water in a new aquarium that you would do well remove.

However, the granular carbons, as you observed, can cloud the water at first. It is just a lengthy washing process. I would suggest that you wash less of it at a time so that at least you see the water clear more quickly.

There is nothing more disheartening than washing an enormous quantity of carbon or indeed sand, and not seeing any results for the longest time.

There is an option to granular carbon and that is to use carbon filter pads. They’re like black sponges and will not colour your water; though give them a little rinse of course. I used Eheim’s own carbon pads in my Eheim filters when I first started 'em up.

 

[FisHaRNekEd]

That's an idea, but I like sleeping in my bed, in my house. The dog kennel just isn't as warm and comfortable!

Understood sir' , I guess i can blame my own divorce on the fish.

 

[BFT]

Understood sir' , I guess i can blame my own divorce on the fish.

No wife = Spare room for more fish?

Must look further into this! hehe

 

[PoopSmart]

At first when you said community tank I thought what a waste, but now that I think about it, thats brilliant.

To them (community fish) this is possibly the best life those fish could ever have.

Plus you could put Discus and some beautiful rams (those are my g/f favorites) along with those angels, and just don't tell your wife they are cichlids.

 

[Mystix212]

If you had no wife, you'd still have no spare room as you share the same room. Lol. But you can turn your bedroom into a fish room. Imagine the smell if you didnt use carbon, covers and do water changes. Phew.

 

[bmxer4ever]

At first when you said community tank I thought what a waste, but now that I think about it, thats brilliant.

To them (community fish) this is possibly the best life those fish could ever have.

Plus you could put Discus and some beautiful rams (those are my g/f favorites) along with those angels, and just don't tell your wife they are cichlids.

I was thinking the exact same thing! Discus....and Angels.....and Blue rams. They would probably end up breeding in there too...awesome! Definetly worth thinking about.

"Hey Honey, look at the beautiful Discus Fish..."

"They're not cichlids are they...?"

"Oh no....they're Discus Fish....."

Heehee....!

 

[Lil_Stinker]

I was thinking the exact same thing! Discus....and Angels.....and Blue rams. They would probably end up breeding in there too...awesome! Definetly worth thinking about.

"Hey Honey, look at the beautiful Discus Fish..."

"They're not cichlids are they...?"

"Oh no....they're Discus Fish....."

Heehee....!

Hang on there, angels are cichlids too ...

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/angelfish.php The timid, temperamental, and delicate Angelfish, first described as early as 1823, is a fish every freshwater aquarist is familiar with. This graceful disk shaped cichlid, though named for the marine angelfish, bears little resemblance to these fish or even to any other fish in the Cichlid family!

 

[BFT]

At first when you said community tank I thought what a waste, but now that I think about it, thats brilliant.

To them (community fish) this is possibly the best life those fish could ever have.

Plus you could put Discus and some beautiful rams (those are my g/f favorites) along with those angels, and just don't tell your wife they are cichlids.

I have been seriously thinking about some discus, I certainly like the idea of some blue rams. Angels were always going to be in there. How would I go with the discus and only lightly planted, not to mention the 600watts of light. Would they become skitish/shy?

Cheers.
Dan

 

[Mystix212]

Discus dont get shy over light. But in a 457G tank, I'd get roughly 8-11 discus. Then perhaps 2 or 4 angels, then 10 rams, and a bunch of cardinals.

 

[taksan]

Hmm I've been misinformed.
Bugger.
Thanks for clearing that up.
But the question still stands, if I put the carbon in the filter as it is, it will surely turn all the water black. Thats a hell of a lot of water to change out!
So do i just keep washing it till it stops turning the water black?

Cheers
Dan

no It won't ..... wash it once !!!!!
in fact
the tanks not cycled so you should be using it at all.