Fish gasping after change of filter

[ban_tse]

Hi

2 days ago i changed my HOT filter which had been running smoothly for months to a Eden 501 canister filter.

I transferred the mature ceramic rings (not many though) to the new canister filter, and filled up the canister with the supplied ceramic rings, unrinsed.

All seemed fine at first, but last night i noted my fish (1 firefish, 1 scooter blenny and 1 marooon clown) were gasping and not looking lively at all.


I have reattached the old filter (now running together with the new one) in case the sponge media from the old filter would help (would it??) and now hoping the fish will get better.

done a little water change too... Will change more tonight if the situation does not improve.

Tank specs:

tank size:
10gallon

livestock:
1 scooter blenny
1 firefish
1 maroon clown
2 sexy shrimp
some yuma
4kg live rock

using 2x 11W PL tubes
no chiller
no skimmer

I know the tank is rather small, but things looked stable till the addition of the filter. Hence, if the current condition of the livestock is due to the addition of the filter, what is the main cause?

a) "new and clean" filter media?
b) change of water flow (more current now perhaps)?
c) not rinsing the ceramic rings first before use?

please advise. Thanks!

[benny]

Hmm... I would have run two filters together for a while before finally remove the older one. Your new filter is obviously not matured/cycled yet.

Cheers,

[ban_tse]

Hi benny, thanks for the prompt reply.

now hoping that the resumption of the old filter and the current live rocks will stabilise water conditions.

I REALLY HOPE THE NEW FILTER DOES'NT BECOME AN EXCUSE TO BUY NEW FISHES!!!!

Ben

[benny]

Reusing the older filter will not solve the problem if you've killed the bacteria in your old media.

Cheers,

[ban_tse]

I did not wash the old filter media. Just took it out of the tank to 'let dry', did'nt even bother wringing the sponge.

hoping that some of the BB would have survived.

any alternative solutions/things i can do to salvage the issue?

Ben

[Weirong]

I did not wash the old filter media. Just took it out of the tank to 'let dry', did'nt even bother wringing the sponge.

hoping that some of the BB would have survived.

any alternative solutions/things i can do to salvage the issue?

Ben

I think you are now cycling 2 "new" filters instead of 1!
Try adding some bacteria you can buy from lfs. That should speed things up.

[ban_tse]

Lost my scooter blenny....sigh..

but the other 2 fish have stopped gasping and are lively again.

Will run the HOT filter for at least another fortnight before i remove it.

Hope I don't get any more surprises.

Thanks guys for the advice!

ben

[|squee|]

You let your media dry, so that'd have killed off the BB. Better get some bottled bacteria fast.