I recently replaced my hob filter with a marineland c220 canister filter from craigslist. The previous owner used this filter on a saltwater fish tank. I soaked everything for a few days rinsing them out every so often, except for the impellor and the motor. After connecting everything up a small amount of debris came out of the filter right when it started running, but besides that everything was fine. By the next day my dwarf puffer was dead, and after three days the only other fish in the tank, a ghost shrimp died. I have a planted tank, and all the plants are fine so far, but I was wondering there could still be saltwater residue on the filter? My parameters are all safe, so I have to assume it was the filter. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried using a saltwater filter on a freshwater tank and when it might possibly be safe to add fish. I've done three waterchanges since but dont want to add any fish until I'm sure it's safe
Salt water Canister on Freshwater tank
- Thread starter carsona246
- Start date
When cleaned properly...I have never had a problem switching filters from salt to fresh tanks.......Did it just last month actually....
I was hoping i would hear someone doing the same thing, still trying to figure out what might have been the problem
carsona246;4297088; said:
Possibilities are almost endless without knowing the whole process of which you used to go about this I guess
I replaced all the filter media, washed everything out save for the impellor and motor, and soaked the tubing, container, and compartments for a few days and rinsed them out. My parameters are fine so I dont think it was a mini cycle that did it.
Yes, I bought a Rena xp3 cannister filter off of craigslist. The previous owner used it for a saltwater tank/freshwater tank. He told me he used it for salt then fresh so I was a bit confused. Well, I used the filter for about a year. Some of my fishes were dying off for no reason and I did not know why. I thought there was some toxins in my tank. Well, I then bleached the whole tank and changed the gravel. Still, fishes were dying off for no reason. My water parameters were fine. I then took out the Rena XP3, and there were no die offs. So yea, I know where you are coming from. It took me about a year for me to figure this out.
I don't see how a filter can cause such destruction. Clean it with bleach and neutralize with dechlorinator. Maybe the filter media your using has something wrong with it.
My current 200 gallon tank was previously used as a salt water tank. Never had any of my freshwater fish die in it.
My current 200 gallon tank was previously used as a salt water tank. Never had any of my freshwater fish die in it.
I bought a used filter once and had the same effect. I think its bacterial. I had cleaned the filter but was not able to thoroughly clean the tubing that came with it. Thats where my problem was. I bought new tubing and was good.
Good Luck
Good Luck
It sounds like STRAY VOLTAGE.
If its not chemical, heat or biological....
Even if you took the filter DIRECTLY from a saltwater set-up, drained it of water and ran it on a freshwater set-up, no way the residual salt would kill your fish. The bio-colony would die and you would start a new cycle( unless you replace the media with colonized media), but the risidual salt would'nt do it, not in that low concentration.
A mystery marine bacteria may be the culprit but doubtful.
Check the tank for stray voltage, especially if the filter is an ungrounded type...(only two spades on the plug). I have seen voltage as high as 50-60 volts AC on brand new filters and power heads. Unexplained, mystery deaths are often attributed to stray voltage.
Just my opinion and my 2¢.
good luck.
If its not chemical, heat or biological....
Even if you took the filter DIRECTLY from a saltwater set-up, drained it of water and ran it on a freshwater set-up, no way the residual salt would kill your fish. The bio-colony would die and you would start a new cycle( unless you replace the media with colonized media), but the risidual salt would'nt do it, not in that low concentration.
A mystery marine bacteria may be the culprit but doubtful.
Check the tank for stray voltage, especially if the filter is an ungrounded type...(only two spades on the plug). I have seen voltage as high as 50-60 volts AC on brand new filters and power heads. Unexplained, mystery deaths are often attributed to stray voltage.
Just my opinion and my 2¢.
good luck.