Equipment Review and Discussion :: problem with xp2?

[stray_647]

After reading and taking advice from everyone, I finally bought the xp2. I feel very dissapointed. My 20 gallon tank is cloudy and it's only the second day, and it makes a sligt humming noice, that's not too bothersome.

Also, it is not really doing a good job of filterig out small paricles because I see them floating on the surface. Maybe I was expecting too much and should just wait.

There were 4 filteration pads and a bag of activaed charcoal and I added ceramic rings, basically had to cram them all in. If anyone has had the same problem and if this is nothing to worry about, I would be glad.

[steve]

You can't expect a filter to grab all the waste in the tank. It will also take awhile to be able to suck in small debris. It will also have a difficult time trying to capture shed skin on the water surface. I'm not sure about the noise, my XP3 has been very quiet. Is your filter properly primed?

[stray_647]

What concerns me most is why the water is cloudy with a new filter and water change by the second day. I do believe that I primed the filter properly.

[steve]

Cloudy water is usually referred to as new tank syndrome and it basically nitrogen cycle starting up... http://www.aquariumdomain.com/guideTheNitrogenCycle.asp

It should subside once the cycle stabilizes.

[stray_647]

Well I must say, today the water in the tank is much clear, except that my xp2 still does not do a good job of filtering tiny particles on the surface. Do any of you think that a aquarium lid might be helpful. Currently I have a scrren.

I want my turts to have the best possible care and I feel like I ask way too many dumb questions.

[steve]

You'll need to agitate the water surface more if you want to help the filter grab those particles.