New filter - Newbie help required please!

[liesa]

Hi!
We bought a new filter today to replace a corner filter that was not keeping our tank clear. Now we replaced 50% of the water and we were just wondering how long and if the filter will be able to clear the water, as at the moment it is very cloudy. (we have the axy's in a seperate container for now)

it is a cascade 300 filter. thanks for your help

liesa and royston

 

[cynthia]

Liesa - Your new filter is nice, but it might make too strong of a current for the axolotls. If it is the filter I looked up:
http://www.animalworldnetwork.com/pecahapofi.html

You might need to baffle it so it makes less current. (constant current is an axolotl stressor and leads to illness)

As far as clearing your tank goes; if the tank is cloudy because it is still cycling the filter won't clear it. If it is still cycling should clear up in a few days. Complete tank cycling takes a month or more.

Make sure you test your tank water before you add the axolotls in. Ammonia should be zero and nitrite should be zero. Clear water isn't always safe water.

 

[liesa]

ok thanks cynthia! No our filter is internal

this is our cascade 300
alot smaller and it is perfect for our tank.
Our tank has been cloudy for a few days, we never cycled it you see so are doing it now.. its been cycling for nearly 2 weeks now. but gone cloudy in last few days.

so i was hoping that the new filter would clear it? will it not then? Should i change the water and start again?

 

[liesa]

i have a pic now too look!
<-------------


hehehehe

 

[cynthia]

liesa - No do not keep taking water out of the tank you are cycling. Ignore the cloudy water it will clear up on its own in a few days (usually). It is part of the cycling process. Do not clean the substrate during this period either.

You need a water testing kit. Use the water testing kit to see where the ammonia and nitrite levels are.

It usually takes about a month of cycling to get ammonia and nitrite readings down to zero.

You might want to search for articles on tank cycling or search the forums for the topic.

 

[liesa]

thanks cynthia

I will take that into account

thanks for your help

 

[cynthia]

nice picture by the way

 

[liesa]

my ph is 7.5 just to let u know

don't have a amonia and amonium (you know what i mean hehehe) testing kit.
will get it tomorrow
we will let you know how we get on. thanks for all your help