Should I upgrade my filter

Hi all
I have a Juwel Korall since end of march . Had to get light changed after it melted yes melted. Recently had problems with oxygen so was suggested I get this little device that goes on front of filter and creates bubbles as filter in an underwater variety... But still have problems with filter. These ones only have blue sponge which has been changed twice already and is cleaned every week. Is it really any good if it doesn't have carbon etc.... Last night the filter again stopped working properly and even though it's been fully pulled apart and cleaned its still not very strong flow so oxygen attachment not working. I'm going to get new sponge again today but should I upgrade and if so to what bearing in mind it's a small tank and hubby hates the sound of the constant water so needs to be underwater variety ... HELP

Hi Cassie,

can you post some details on the volume of the tank, the fish / livestock in the tank and the specific model of the filter? will help in getting your problem sorted out It may be a case of the filter is simply not up to the job but would need the details to determine this for sure.
You mention that you have replaced the filter sponge 2 times to date too. Typically, you would not need to change these sponges unless they are literally falling apart. The problem with replacing all the filter media is that your filter begins the cycling process over again each time as you are throwing out all the beneficial bacteria with the filter media. The best thing to o with the filter sponge is to rinse it in water from the tank every time you do a partial water change. This way you leave a lot of the bacteria in the media and remove most of the gunk from it at the same time. Never clean the filter media in tap water as the chlorine / chloramines will kill the beneficial bacteria.
Also, if you do need to change the filter media for good reason, then its advised to only replace half of it at any given time, this will help maintain the bacteria in the filter.
Your filter should be ok without the need for carbon too. Most people will only use carbon in the filter to remove medication from a tank after a course of treatment for and infection / disease in the tank. Other than that, its not really required.
The bubble attachment you are referring to for the filter is a venturi and allows the water flowing out from the filter to draw air from the water surface and blows bubbles. These bubbles themselves don’t actually add oxygen to the water, its the surface agitation they create that helps with the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water.
The best option could be to adjust the direction of the filter outlet so it creates some turbulence on the water surface. You don’t need to actually spray the outlet water over the surface creating splashing to achieve this, if you keep the filter outlet below the water surface and point the outlet at a slight upwards angle it will create enough agitation without a lot of splashing noises. Hope that makes sense

It could also be worth taking a sample of tank water to your local fish shop to get it tested and ensure the water parameters are ok. If you get a build-up of ammonia in the tank, your fish will often behave as though there is an oxygen deficiency. Its worth getting the water tested every 2 to 4 weeks if possible as it will allow you to determine if there are any problems developing in the tank.

Cheers,

Bill.

Ear-plugs for your hubby are a cheap option to stop him moaning as a first step.

A few questions....
what fish are in the tank? and how long has it been set-up?

I am wondering what made you think you had oxygen problems?

The air-ventura (creates bubbles) on the outlet of a filter needs to be compatible with the filter outlet to work.
Depending on filter pump and on air-ventura, the rate of flow and depth of the filter affect if any bubbles come out or not.
Some filters will not be compatible with an air-ventura unless it is driven by an air-pump.
If you sponges get clogged up, then that will also prevent the air-ventura from working properly as the flow rate is reduced.

On the media, carbon can be a useful addition to a filter but is not vital.

Unless the filter has been in use for very long time, the filter sponges only need a bit of a mild washing out in aquarium water every now and then. If the filter sponge has started to deteriorate after a long period of use, then that is really the only reason to replace it.

Replacing the filter sponge should only be done is absolutely necessary as that is dangerous to the fish.

A filter itself will use oxygen in the tank, by the way, in order to remove highly toxic compounds (ammonia etc)

An upgrade to a better filter is usually a good thing, but that depends on what fish you have.
If there is still a fundamental problem in the tank, then a new filter will not necessarily solve that.

ian

looks like 2 of us were typing away at the same time.

Thanks for coming back : answers to your questions :-

I changed sponge on advice of shop who said it should change every six weeks. First was very scummy but that was my fault for not cleaning it often in waste tank water when changing. Don't have chlorine problem cause we have own well and water quality very good. Tank set up end of march fish built up over time with 4 taken from old small tank . 3 baloon mollies 2 clown loach 1 cory Dora's and small bristlenose plec. 2 guppies 2 dannio & - golden gourami. & 2 neon tetra .

Thought I had oxygen issue cause they were going to surface after few days of cleaning filter and shop said that was the issue. That's why I joined here cause its such a learning curve. There is definately prob with filter today cause flow not creating bubbles out through attachment ! But what should I do now ? Really want to get this right !!

Sorry left out details : filter came with Juwel tank which I think is bio flow mini ... Tank is 60 ltr. The Venturi attachment was creating bubbles for last two months it's hitting off heater and creates a decent flow. I'm in Cork so not sure where I could get water tested .. Any one know ?
Had baby mollies recently and have moved them to small 10ltr Fluval which has no problems.
Final question what would contribute to Amonia in tank ?

Hey Cassie,

if your fish are going to the top, gasping for air, then something that has definitely worked for me in the past (although your husband won't like it), is adding a sponge filter (in addition to what you have), powered with an air pump. These can make a bit of noise, but they add oxygen, plus filtration at the same time. These sponge filters are a life saver and are very cheap (I bought a teeny one for €2.05, including P&P for my fry tank off ebay).

best of luck
Helen

hi Cassie

...and fairplay to Bill, Ian & Helen, I agree word for word...

I would add to this by saying to make sure You clean the Impeller and the Impeller housing when doing filter maintenace, this will increase the flow of water in Your tank.
if the above mentioned is not regularly cleaned it will eventually burn out the motor, resulting in having to replace to pump head or having to replace the filter altogether.
if You ask Me, I'm not a big fan of the filters that come with the Juwel Korall

assuming it's the Bioflow Mini Filter

I wouldn't be a big fan of a filter that only has one big sponge in it, it doesn't allow space for any biological media making it too easy to over do it when cleaning and wash all the bacteria away...
the 270l/hr pump head is fairly weak, upgrading this to the 400l/hr might not be a bad idea but it still doesn't address the problem of the lack of biological media in the filter.

Juwel Cirax is a very good biological media product
fish.aquaristic.net/en/Filtering/Interna...act-Bioflow-3-0.html
www.fish-fish-fish.com/juwel-media-compact-cirax.html

...but again, You also want more space for a coarse sponge and a polishing sponge...



unless I could replicate something along the lines of what is pictured above, I would replace the filter...

hope this helps

here's a link You might find interesting
www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=13718

Des

Hi Cassie, I should have said welcome to the forum orginally (and also, a Hi to Helen as well).

By the sounds of things, you seem to be having a perpetual 'new tank syndrome'.

You tank and filter needs to mature somewhat. That takes time.

The water and filter will develop bacteria that will remove ammonia and nitrites from the water; those bacteria are mainly growing on the filter. They need oxygenated water and fairly stable conditions.

The bacteria that remove ammonia grow quite quickly, but the ones that remove nitrites are slow growing.

If you completely change the filter, then it is like starting all over again without the bacteria.

I would recommend giving the filter sponges a quick wash in the old tank water when doing a water change.
You do not need to go manic on the washing.....just remove the gunge, and squeeze a few times.

The bacteria themselves will form a reddish brown colony (a bit slimy as well).
You don't need an excessive colony else it will start to die off and pollute the tank, so a gentle squeezing will remove the excess dead bacteria and clogged food during the gentle washing.

Remember....use the old aquarium water for washing the filter.

A smaller filter will clog much quicker.

Ammonia comes from the beakdown of food and rotting plants etc in the tank, BUT the main source of ammonia is from the fish themselves.

All you fish are freshwater, and they produce ammonia as a waste product instead of producing urea.
Thus it is like swimming in your own piss (so to speak).....except ammonia is much more toxic than our pee is to us.

Gasping at the surface may well be a response to elevated ammonia levels that are not high enough to kill the fish. Elevated ammonia is much more dangerous than reduced oxygen.

Now...your well??? Ummm.......does it have Lime added to prevent Cholera etc?
If so, then test the pH.
A high pH will make ammonia much more toxic to fish.

As for testing......my recommendations would be to buy your own test kit and do it yourself. You may learn to do a better job at it than your local pet shop.

Ian

wow
there was only one reply when I started typing
looks like a lot of other users where busy typing too
plenty of sound advice
hope You find an answer
the best of luck

Des

My god but ye are a great mine of information... I did use water from my sisters tank when setting up so I know the new tank cycle was not major issue but reckon I might be over cleaning filter now. The lack of other media in filter doesn't seem good though. I did clean motor recently when I brought filter back to shop and was shown how ( the manuals you get are crap with these things) . My sister has a spare filter so might look and see if that any better.
Thanks for all the advice it's much appreciated

You can have a great laugh at the poor translations to english in some of the manuals.
Best one that I had was the instructions for using a heater that originally came from Russia.

Fluval supply a DVD with their big external filters. But a bit sad to sit their watching some bloke showing you how to wash the filter sponges using a full 300 watt 5.1 surround sound on the DVD player.....it ain't quite Avatar.

ian

Hey everyone...

just to update you : ye were so right in your advice Called to the shop yesterday where they told me to bring back filter and they will check it and replace if necessary as sometimes the small filter gets clogged so easily the motor can't handle it as they are not brilliant strength (as ye said)... also told me not to change sponge so often as im losing all the good bacteria (ye said that too)

When i got home i gave filter one more strip down and wonders of wonders its producing a good flow and bubbles again. i reckon though the motor will definately need a stronger one soon so going on to put that on my list. Also shop is going to do a test on the water for me just in case.

Again THANKS A MILLION for your good advice cause the postage stamp size manual barely shows where the plug is !!

Glad you got sorted out Cassie

the forum is a good place for advice so feel free to ask any questions you have. If we are honest about it, the rest of are still learning too, no matter how long we are in the hobby.

BillG wrote:

Glad you got sorted out Cassie

the forum is a good place for advice so feel free to ask any questions you have. If we are honest about it, the rest of are still learning too, no matter how long we are in the hobby.

Well put BillG

Just to add to the info stream, you can also split the sponge in two by cutting it, then , when the filter Sponge becomes clogged, you only need to remove and clean one half, it means you won't have huge drops in nitrate removing Bacteria, also, get to love that musty, Earthy odour from the Sponges, that indicates a beautiful, healthy biomas living there, it's when it gets an Egg-like smell, you need to worry.

Kev.

stretnik wrote:

Just to add to the info stream, you can also split the sponge in two by cutting it, then , when the filter Sponge becomes clogged, you only need to remove and clean one half, it means you won't have huge drops in nitrate removing Bacteria, also, get to love that musty, Earthy odour from the Sponges, that indicates a beautiful, healthy biomas living there, it's when it gets an Egg-like smell, you need to worry.

Kev.

Now that's a great tip