Filtered pools 101

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Thanks ladies!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I think, with fish especially, that it can be a lot harder to cycle and keep cycled. Larger tanks are much more stable. Plus, there really aren't many fish that should be kept in a 10 gallon let alone smaller.
But with them just being for land hermit crab use, it'll be easier to maintain.[/quote]


Would this be OK to use? I want to kick start the cycling process.
http://t.petco.com/product/7452/Natures ... SiteSearch

[YYWW]

I will prob use that too, but only on the SW side. I dont know enough about it, really..


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[YYWW]

Btw i've concluded that i need a false bottom for my tank, so i will be spending the next couple months moving, rebuilding, and re-moving. Lucky me, cuz building is my favorite part of crabbing good luck to me crabs though!!!


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[72mm]

Borrowing this thread for a quick Q: Anyone done, or thought of doing, a combined filter/waterfall? My thinking is that if you are lifting water to create a flow you might just as well run some of it through a filter. The waterfall-dude at LizardLandscapes uses a power filter much like the ones you are talking about i think.

[YYWW]

Thought about it. After coming across that tutorial a few months ago, i was ready to buy all the supplies and build me a fall. But i noticed that filters kind of pump water up and spill it down. I figured i would rather build a structure that modified the filter's return water instead, to create a creek instead. Then another part of me wondered when i'd get to that project, with the holiday season coming up and a newborn in my arms.
So now i'm about to redo my 75gal to include a false bottom (waiting on 1 last molter) and we shall see what my ultimate plans become!
A fall would be very nice though. But between the 2, i'd rather have a bubbler than a fall.


Crabbers unite!!!

[72mm]

A biological filter commonly found in those power-filters is really just surface-area where the ba cteria that does all the work can live. If you "feed" those with oxygenated water they will thrive. Getting a colony of this guys healthy is what is called "cycling" a tank.

I wouldn't be surprised if just a layer of gravel or sand in the bottom of a waterfall-pool would act the same way, if not as efficient as a filter. It would be impractical tho, you could not clean the pool without killing your bacteria.

[YYWW]

I noticed a lot of debris in the 2.5 gal SW pool that i never noticed in my smaller 2cup sized pools. Does mixing SW produce tiny white balls?
I figured running the filter will scoop them up, but i plan on rinsing the filter in running tap water until the tank is clear, then starting the cycle. But if mixing SW is always like this, i wont need to bother.
Thoughts?


Crabbers unite!!!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

Mine does if my salt doesn't disolve for one reason or another.

[YYWW]

Ok good to know! It looks so weird i thought i'd dirtied it by not washing the eggcrate platforms before putting it in, but its only in the SW and not FW. Hopefully they settle soon


Crabbers unite!!!

[KellyCrabbieLove]

There are a lot of complaints under reviews for instant ocean on pet's site (I think, it may be petsmart) about how it doesn't disolve as easily as it says. I have noticed it in my water and now you have noticed it. Do you know of any other brands that work better?

[YYWW]

I hear mention of Red Sea. I like the name too.


Crabbers unite!!!

[YYWW]

Ok just tested water for the first time. So 8 days later, everythi g was at 0? Does that make sense? Do i still need to do a water change? Should i put in some fish food???


Crabbers unite!!!

[CallaLily]

If everything is at 0 - ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates - then there's no cycle. How big have your water changes been? You should have seen ammonia rise, then fall as nitrites rise, then those fall as nitrates rise. Once a cycle is established, ammonia will be 0, nitrites will be 0, and you will have nitrates that you'll keep below 40 with water changes.

[YYWW]

Ammonia and nitrates are CLEAR. Nitrite is 0. No water changes yet.


Crabbers unite!!!