Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:21 pm Re: Any ideas why a cycle randomly dies out
I have my FX6 on 125gallons with this setup for my male 5" RES , Piggley.
I took red baskets out for every cm of space.
Very top of top basket , flat black pad "or" a blue one too protect my media , a media bag of carbon then one with purigen under that black pad.
The middle and the bottom baskets are full only with bio rings !
My stock tank itself has river rocks.
I only do 10%-15% water changes. I adjust percentage as needed but for 125 gallons "never" go over 25%.
This setup holes a cycle for me very well !
Only other thing it could be is if you are doing higher % on the water changes. Try if you doing 25% go to 20% even 15% and monitor.
Two full size turtles in 60 gallons , must be females , two males normally would fight. How many inches total between the two ? That's a very heavy bio load for 60 gallons even with a FX6 ! I always recommend the 10 gallons water for every inch of shell for a tank . This is yes more swimming room but more for us to be able to control the waters parameters ! Helps to hold a cycle easier and maintenance is easier too !
That setup was great when they where small and growing but now at full size ? Bet you are having to do very large water changes and that's what killing your cycle. Sorry upgrade time on tank or you will be just busting your butt in maintenance. I'm retired on a budget so I use stock tanks 1/4 the cost of glass tanks. See my videos on what you can do with them and my cycled water.
No true need for sponges (mechanical ) in all three center baskets if you have correct amount bio to "dissolve" the organic waste then the white pads on the outside catch that.