Help filter died

[cleo]

Help filter just died it was a drop side fileter and the silicone has given way and I can't fix it so I'm off to buy a new filter. It is a 6x2x2 tank with discus and I already have a fluval 404 what do you sugget and I really would appreciate a quick reply as I'm in the middle of a water change. Thanks in advance

[bartek]

Firstly where are you? Fill in your location please.

With a tank that size I would buy another canister filter.

I loke the eheim range as they are great quality and will run for years as well as provide super filtration. WOuldn't go smaller then a eheim 2217.

If you like the Fluvals I would go with a FX5. Its a huge filter with lots of media space.

All depends on what find of money your looking to spend.

[ILLUSN]

go an eheim 2217 as a quick fix, but try and get yourself and eheim 2080 (pro 3)

[cleo]

Thanks for the replies I got a Rena filstar XP4 it is all set up now and working but now all the fish are at the top is this because I did such a big water change and the filter died so the new filter dosen't have the good bacteria in it. What so I do now I'm just about to go and test the water to see what is happening there.

[Krumpet]

Sounds like they need air. Gently take the temp down to 30'c put as many airators in the tank as you can or failing that point the filter outlets to shoot across the top of the water to get the water surface moving.

Check your ammonia/nitrite levels and put a and if the they are still high do another big water change then add a double or triple dose of seachem prime (depending on the test results) in your tank which should detoxify the ammonia/nitrite... for a little while

I would also clean out your old fluval 404 in a bucket (ONLY USING TANK WATER!!!!!) and then tip all the s*&t back into the tank near the intake pipe of the new filter. Sounds crazy but it will seed your new filter and cycle it much faster...

Keep testing each day and if ammonia goes up too much or fish look really stressed do a big water change and redose prime accordingly.

Please note, I am certainly not an expert but that is what i would do...

[ILLUSN]

fish up the top is usually lack of oxygen, thats caused by too high a temp or not enough surface agitation, it can also be caused by the fish being unable to absorb oxygen, this is caused by gill damage, usually chlorine burning the gills, did you age your water BEFORE you did your water change
? if not did you add dechlorinater ass you did your water change? what dose of dechlorinater did you use?

[stormhenge]

fish up the top is usually lack of oxygen, thats caused by too high a temp or not enough surface agitation, it can also be caused by the fish being unable to absorb oxygen, this is caused by gill damage, usually chlorine burning the gills, did you age your water BEFORE you did your water change
? if not did you add dechlorinater ass you did your water change? what dose of dechlorinater did you use?

i think it could have something to do with the fact that he was using a side drop filter before, which does a good job at aerating the water, but now hes replaced it with a canister.
so the oxygen levels have changed and the fish arent liking it.


the solution is the same, i was just pointing out an obvious reason for the recent oxygen problem.

[cleo]

Thank you to everyone who replied I am happy to say that at this point in time all my Discus are looking beautiful. I played around with the spray bar on the filter and lifted the other one above water level so that both were breaking the surface. I did loose 5 Siamese Algea eaters, two tetra and 1 Bolivian Butterfly but all the others seems fine.
Thanks again to your prompt response. Bev