Hm.....what's in that filter bag? Is it just carbon? Is there any other media in the filter? Is that the new filter or an old one? Seems very dirty to be new and if there's just carbon in there maybe that's the issue? If you are cycling the tank without fish I'd clean it all out and start fresh with a new filter. To answer your questions above about cycling, click on the links in my signature below: 'new empty tank' and 'what is cycling."