Aquarium Cleaning Question

[goldenpuon]

I have a 40 gallon with 8 goldfish. However, I am unsure of what to do with cleaning as of late.

Over the past 2 years, I have done a 25-33% water change every 2 weeks and also scrubbed the plastic plants, the sides of the tank, and siphoned out any debris at the same time as the water changes.

The aquarium is bare bottom tank (no gravel or sand).

It has a AquaClear filter (not the best HOB filter) and a #1 sponge filter.

A few weeks ago when I checked the water, the nitrates were at 60 (too high). The PH, KH, and GH were also low. PH about 6.8 and KH around 80-90. (Note: My tapwater has a low PH and KH but I use buffers to get it up a bit for my goldfish.)

I also believe the nitrates had slowly climbed up because a few weeks before I had tested, the nitrates had been about 40-on the verge of being too high.

After I saw this, I changed a few gallons a day and then decided to do a 25% water change every week and do another 25% water change as well as cleaning out the tank every other week.

After about 2 weeks, the nitrates were just below 20.

However, I am unsure of what to do as far as cleaning. After 2 weeks without being cleaned, there is barely any debris at the bottom of the tank and the water is still crystal clear.

My thought is the high nitrates are not a result of the tank's dirtyness but more likely the filter's. I clean the filter once a month and every time, it is very dirty and has brown diatoms growing in it. (The actual aquarium has no brown diatoms growing in it) My thought is they are coming from the filter or, perhaps the unseen particles when I scrub the sides of the tank every 2 weeks that get into the water.

So, my question as far as maintance (a part from getting a more efficient filter), what should I do as far as maintance? I don't want to overclean but want to keep my nitrates in check.

Does doing a 25% water change weekly and cleaning out the tank every 3 weeks sound good? Or does doing a 25% water change every week and cleaning out the tank every 2 weeks sound better?

The reason I bring this up is there is not much waste visible to require a lot of cleaning and I do not want to overclean (I may be doing that). However, the nitrates going up to 60 told me otherwise.

Note: I have another tank- a 10 gallon- with 2 goldfish that is also barebottom which I do a water change on and clean out every 2 weeks that has nitrates that never go much above 20.

Advice/input is appreciated.

Thanks.

Renee

[babygeige]

How long have you been running that particular sponge? After a while, sponge filters just get too dirty, rinsing them off doesn't do any more good, and they must be replaced for the best results. They last quite a long time, but it might be time to change yours. Just be certain not to change the sponge and your aquaclear filter components at the same time. That's the nice thing about AquaClears: they have the 3 different media types so you can swap them out without losing your good bacteria.
Maybe your fish are getting bigger and creating more waste, (not necessarily poo), so that stepping up the maintenance routine would be a big help toward keeping the nitrates from getting too high.

I think that with 8 goldfish in the 40 gallon tank, if you have the time to clean the tank every 2 weeks, then go for it. I doubt that would hurt anything.

Good luck!

[Carl]

I agree with babygeige' points.

I might add as for the Aqua Clear Filter, although these filters have their short comings (as I note in my Filtration article) aerobic bio filtration is not one of them, in fact it is one of the best in this aspect of filtration.

The problem is that you have only aerobic/nitrification bio filtration (including the Sponge Filters). This is why I so strongly second babygeige's advice to keep clean/new sponges in rotation in both filters as eventually these end up producing copious amounts of nitrates as they get older (this is a simplistic explanation) .
Even though I think a bare bottom tank is good idea with goldfish, it has one drawback and that is there is no where to provide for anaerobic de-nitrification. ( please understand I am not suggesting you change to a substrate, only understand this is a minor drawback).

The increased frequency water changes are the best suggestion IMO, followed by adding Matrix & or Purigen to your Aqua Clear Filter (another positive of the Aqua Clear is the space to add these types of products).

Please see Aquarium Nitrates

Carl

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the help you two!

Babyegiege, the sponge DOES get dirty very fast due to it meaning so only a Hydro Sponge #1 size and also being at the bottom of the tank. I ahve had this sponge in for about 2 months- rinsing in tank water every 2 weeks. It does not look very dirty when I clean it out because I rinse it well but because of its location, I know it does.

I also agree the goldfish could be creating more waste, even if not poop. They have grown a LOT and I have increased the food I give them as a result.

This is my AquaClear filter. I believe it is made for either 50 or 70 gallons.

www.marinedepot.com/Aqua_Clear_70_Hang_On_Back_Power_Filter_UL_Listed_HOB_Power_Filters_for_Tanks_Over_30_Gallons-Hagen-HG10595-FIFRHBTO-HG10615-vi.html

I use a carbon for the AquaClear filter I change every other month.

www.fishsupply.com/sheg-0612.html

I have a a Foam Pad that came with the filter. I was told by the petstore NEVER to replace it. It can be found here. Is that true? My stays a dull brown color no matter how much I rinse it.

www.fishsupply.com/sheg-0613.html

I also have a bag with some kind of ammoni/nitrite trapping stuff of some sort. Again, I was told by the petstore NEVER to change it and i never have. Should I?

I believe it is this product right here.

www.fishsupply.com/sheg-0611.html

I was thinking, maybe never changing those 2 things in the filter as intructed by a petsmart employee *rolls e may be the reason for my nitrate problem. I clean them once a month along with the filter but they have not been changed since I got the filter- a WHOLE year. This does NOT include the carbon which I change every 1-2 months.

Is this likely a problem contributing to the nirtrates?

As well, with the Purigen or Matrix, I would use this by putting it in a bag that comes with it in my filter right?

Sorry for all the questions. I will try to chnage my sponge filter as soon as possible. I am still trying to get a credit card so I can buy a bunch of sponge filters and a few other supplies.

Thanks agin.

Renee

[babygeige]

You definitely want to change out that foam pad that's in your Aquaclear. I don't remember how often AquaClear recommends you change it, but when I used that filter, I probably changed out the foam every 3 or 4 months. Like the Hydro sponge, it lasts a long time, but I would change that out as well. Change the hydro sponge and Aquaclear a few weeks apart, and you should be good.

The sponges can be pretty deceiving. They might not look too dirty, but all those pores hold lots of junk. Same goes for the foam pad in the aquaclear.

I don't know about the ammonia remover from your other link. I never used it. Your tank should be cycling well enough on its own that it doesn't need that. I used the BioMax ceramic rings in my aquaclear. I only changed those out every 6 months or so. BioMax also comes in a bag that you just throw in the filter, are you sure that's not what you have? The BioMax pieces are more cylindrical, while the ammonia remover that's in the picture you linked to looks more like small stones. Either way, I think that's something you'll want to replace before too long as well.

How long have you been running the Aquaclear?

[goldenpuon]

Thanks Babygeige for all the valueable info! I have been running the AquaClear about a year so it is DEFINITELY time to change te ammonia remover thing and the foam pad!

To be honest, I was never really sure of what the ammonia remover thing was until I looked it up tonight. All I knew is it came with the filter and it did something beneficial with the water.

I know why the brown diatoms are growing in the filter now (that has confused me for a long time). I will change the foam pad and ammonai remover stuff as soo as possible. (But like you said with not wanting to do things too fast, i will wait on the sponge for the Sponge filter.)

I'm sure the filter will also be a lot less dirty when I clean it too! I am so happy I figured out (almost for sure) why my nitrates were climbing. (I also read Carl's article on Nirates)

Renee

[babygeige]

Glad I could help! You'll have to update us once you change out a sponge. I'm interested to see how much of a difference it makes!

[goldenpuon]

I know I have not been on this thread for a long time. However, I wanted to point out that it WAS indeed the old filter media that was the problem. The nitrates have not been going over 20 and right now are probably under 15.

I replaced the old sponge in the filter. I also threw out the old bag with pellet shaped things (it may or may not have been ammonia remover thing) several months ago now. I replaced the "possible" ammonia remover bag with a bag that has surface area for beneficial bacteria.

Speaking of how it has been 4 or 5 months now, I am due to change the sponge and bag of pellets for area for beneficial bacteria. I forgot the name of the bagged pellets for the bacteria (it was not from Carl). However, when I replace it, I will be using the Lee bag and the Matrix I got from Carl. I am curious how much better it will work for the beneficial bacteria than what I have now that is due to be replaced.

The goldfish in there are also doing very well. The ones that have not deformities or problems weight wise are growing and not doing any worse and the rest are fat and growing like weeds.

Renee

[Carl]

I forgot the name of the bagged pellets for the bacteria (it was not from Carl). However, when I replace it, I will be using the Lee bag and the Matrix I got from Carl. I am curious how much better it will work for the beneficial bacteria than what I have now that is due to be replaced.

Was the other product Bio Home?

This too is a good product.

Matrix has a long life and often never need changing, just rinsing.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

I forgot the name and threw out the box a while ago. I have no idea if it's Bio Home or not. However, it seems to be working well.

I'll let you know about the name if I remember. However, I have a feelings the decrease in nitrates is not so much from the brand I am using to provide room for beneficial bacteria as much as changing the old filter media (sponge, bagged pellets, etc) several months ago that were over a year old when I replaced them. They were probably working as a semi-nitrate factory.

Still, I do expect to see somewhat of a change (maybe even lower nitrates) when I eventually replace the pellets in the bag that provide room for bacteria with the Matrix. It seems like REALLY good stuff. I feel kind of bad I haven't used the Matrix yet. I had bought the other pellets for housing bacteria and wanted to use it first because before starting on the larger container of Matrix pellets.

Renee