General Care Discussion :: New water filter

[monolithmaji]

I recently got a new Aqua-tech 20-40 gallon water filter, now after less then a week the water looks real mirky it does not smell but it kinda looks like its going through the blooming stage (though the last time that happened it lasted a day).
Before with the old filter the tank would just get really covered with algae so i knew when to clean it. but now, the only place the algae grows is on the replace-able filter cartridges. The filter's say there good for 2-4 weeks.

[steve]

It could be starting to cycle. Was the old filter inside the tank?

[monolithmaji]

We got a new tank (rubber maid) and the old filter was not cutting it so we up graded to the new 20-40 gallon filter it hands off the side of the tank. What do you mean was the old filter inside the tank?

[jwinters]

He meant if the old filter was submersible filter. How big is your tank?

[monolithmaji]

well the rubber maid holds 99L so 24 something gallons, I am sure there is only about half that in the tank itself.

[steve]

The old filter was probably just mechanical filtration -- foam filter material to collect the waste, so it wouldn't really cycle. It looks like your newer filter supports bio-media, so your tank could cycle and begin the biological filtration process. It often gives a white-cloudish appearance to the tank.

[monolithmaji]

well this has lasted for awhile and as far as I know the filter and pump are made by the same people this one is just bigger, and uses the charcoal in the blue filter things.

[steve]

Has it cleared up?

[Gianni989]

On a related note, I recently hooked up a new canister filter and it got murky in one day. Its a white cloudy murk and in the light you can actually see the murk move around. Is it dust from the new filter inserts (ie the ceramic bio and carbon and stuff) or is it bacteria? (I did rub some of my old filter sponges onto the new media).

If its dust, do i just do water changes regularly and eventually it will just go dissipate and dilute?

[steve]

Was the filter added to an established tank?

Did you rinse the media first? Carbon wouldn't be white and the ceramic media I had used in the past didn't cause it to be murky, though some fine particles were found.