Penguin 350B bacteria question...

[WJC05]

Got a question for you guys who use this filter as well as any filters like it. When you do a water change, do you take it below the input on the filter? Reason Im asking is I had a tank completely cycled and I took it down past the input and turned it off. Then I filled it back up and turned it back on. Now something happened and my good bacteria has completely crashed....

Has ammonia and nitrites...

Just interested in some opinions on this.. Could the biowheel have been left out of the water too long?

 

[AnDr3w]

How long was it left out?

Did you use dechlorinator?

How long has the filter been on the tank? A

dd prime and Ammo-lock or something like it.

 

[WJC05]

How long was it left out?

Did you use dechlorinator?

How long has the filter been on the tank? A

dd prime and Ammo-lock or something like it.

It was probably left out 10-15 minutes, I used dechlorinator, and its been on the tank probably 3-4 months...

 

[Bderick67]

did you wash the bio wheels?

 

[WJC05]

Nope, I never wash them... Afraid of killing the bacteria..

 

[AnDr3w]

I take it below the strainer sometimes. I have two filters though so it might crash everytime, but my other can be picking up the slack. I highly doubt the bacteria started to die after 15 min.

 

[Bderick67]

I don't think the filter is the reason for your problem, I have several tanks that the bio wheel filters are off for up to 30 minutes and never have any issues.

Have you done any other magor changes to your tank recently?

 

[OscarRobinson]

I run two 350 bio wheels and a mag 350. I've done large water changes in the past, (although I usually do a 40% a week) like a 75%-80% and never had a problem with them. As long as they stay wet you should be good for at least 45mins to an hour with no trouble. You don't clean them when you do your change do you?