New filteration problems, I think??

[smrf010]

I have a 35 gallon hex with a 150 watt metal halide fixture and a Berlin protien skimmer. Just a couple of days ago I upgraded my fiter to a penguin 280 bio wheel. Since then, thousands of white bugs crawl the sides of the aquarium and algea grows very very fast. I dont now what to do. If any one can help with this problem that would be great. Thanks

 

[smrf010]

Another question?

Another question?

My water seems to be cloudy alot of the time and greenish. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks again.

 

[oyam123]

are the "bugs" a problem? or are they pods?
Algea is best cared for by cutting back on feeding, less light (time), and a good skimmer.

 

[jdieck]

Re: Another question?

Re: Another question?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6617353#post6617353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smrf010
My water seems to be cloudy alot of the time and greenish. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks again.

Yes go back to the skimmer. The pinguin just promotes nitrification accumulating more Nitrates. Just let the live rock do it's job.
Check your Calcium and Alkalinity just to check if you are having precipitation, otherwise you are having a bloom of bacteria. water changes, less light and the skimmer shall take care of the issue in less than a week,

 

[smrf010]

They might be amphipods. I was reading on them and they sound very similiar. I have a berlin airlift skimmer. It was a cheap purchase and would you suggest buying a different one? What would you recommend for a 35g?

 

[jdieck]

Airlift is not necesarely bad if you get good quantity of fine bubbles and skimmate is taken out. If you do not have a sump and you doubt the skimmer performance try to look for the back-pack. There have a double one with fairly good capacity.

 

[wjhuie]

Try a remora or a remora pro there both great skimmers.

 

[JmLee]

get a canister filter with carbon.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6621460#post6621460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wjhuie
Try a remora or a remora pro there both great skimmers.

Yes this is also a good skimmer for that size tank. If you have space I would get the pro with the larger pump.

 

[dchao]

It could only mean one thing, your old Berlin skimmer was working. And you took it out, and replaced with a clean bio-wheel that didn't have any nitrification bacteria colony yet. Guess what, the fish and coral wastes had no where to go, and what you were seeing was another "new tank cycling".

I would put the skimmer back ASAP, even it's not the the best skimmer out there, but it's still working for you to export wastes and nutrient. I will remove the bio-wheel when the tank settles down since the bio-wheel can only convert ammonia to nitrate, and then stop there. You will have nitrate problem down the road if you don't remove it.

If you are increasing your bio-load in the future, upgrade the skimmer is an option, adding a canister filter with only carbon is another (carbon will remove dissolved organics just like a skimmer does, but the carbon must be changed at least monthly to avoid nitrate leak)

 

[smrf010]

My skimmer is still in the tank. I had a cheap filter in the tank with the skimmer before and I removed that and put in the bio wheel. Will the tank cycle itself with the new filter and will the algea will die off? Im starting to worry because by now the sides of the aquarium are covered in algea.

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6625028#post6625028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smrf010
My skimmer is still in the tank. I had a cheap filter in the tank with the skimmer before and I removed that and put in the bio wheel. Will the tank cycle itself with the new filter and will the algea will die off? Im starting to worry because by now the sides of the aquarium are covered in algea.

How is your Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates? I also think as mentioned above that by removing the old filter with it's nitrification capacity some waste was left behind and now after the bacteria has catched up you may be seeing an increase in Nutrients specifically Nitrates as the reproduced bacteria is converting the previously unprocessed waste.
In any case the best way to get rid of Nitrates fast is to step up water changes, I would do a series of 3 to 4 20 to 30% water changes two days apart while tracking Nitrates and see how it goes.
Also keep on cleaning your glass right before every water change so you can export as much of the algae spores as possible with the water changes.