So i have recently got a new fish tank 5.5 gallon.
the tank has now been running around 1-2 weeks. for the first week i did not add any fish but just fed the tank a few flakes every day.
Now i have got 3 little White Cloud mountain Minnows in there to properly start the Cycling process. so far so good the ammonia does not reach about 0.25 PPM at the moment it was heading that way but did a 50% water change last night and it back to 0.25.
i was just wondering as now the filter SOUNDS like it may have become blocked with fish flakes is its making a rattling sound and sound like the water is struggling to get into it (i believe that this is down to the sponge getting blocked).
So my question is how do i clean the filter? i have a super fish aqua internal 100. its got a cartridge that you can release and a little flap you pull off to open to get access to the sponge which also has activated carbon in the middle of it. I don't want to do it wrong as it could upset the cycle in my tank.
any advice on this would be helpful as i don't want to do it wrong and it prolongs or hinders the cycle.
Also if anyone knows, does this kind of filter have media in it somewhere as the manufacture recommends you replace the cartridge every month or so but surly i will loose all the good bacteria that has built up right?
thanks
Lewis
the tank has now been running around 1-2 weeks. for the first week i did not add any fish but just fed the tank a few flakes every day.
Now i have got 3 little White Cloud mountain Minnows in there to properly start the Cycling process. so far so good the ammonia does not reach about 0.25 PPM at the moment it was heading that way but did a 50% water change last night and it back to 0.25.
i was just wondering as now the filter SOUNDS like it may have become blocked with fish flakes is its making a rattling sound and sound like the water is struggling to get into it (i believe that this is down to the sponge getting blocked).
So my question is how do i clean the filter? i have a super fish aqua internal 100. its got a cartridge that you can release and a little flap you pull off to open to get access to the sponge which also has activated carbon in the middle of it. I don't want to do it wrong as it could upset the cycle in my tank.
any advice on this would be helpful as i don't want to do it wrong and it prolongs or hinders the cycle.
Also if anyone knows, does this kind of filter have media in it somewhere as the manufacture recommends you replace the cartridge every month or so but surly i will loose all the good bacteria that has built up right?
thanks
Lewis