Habitat - Indoor :: Fluval fx5 help

[DonnaG]

I cleaned my tank before I had to make an emergency trip out of town. I was gone three weeks. When I got home my turtle tank is cloudy, greenish and stinky.

Questions:
1) I performed my regular tank claning procedure, but the biomax hasn't been changed in a year. I wash it each time I clean but it is not new biomax. Should I put in new? Of course, I am just assuming the problem has something to do with the biomax.

2) I have 120 gallon tank. Do I need to empty the tank and start with all new water? Half new water? Or (assuming I get the filter problem taken care of) will the filter be able to clean up this problem?

I'd post a pic but I've forgotten how.
Thank you, thank you.

[DonnaG]

Just finished cleaning filter. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned in months rather than weeks. Super dirty. When I Started to put in the new carbon I noticed it is 3x150 zeo-carb rather than 3x100 carbon... Would that have caused the problem? I have a canister of Marineland Black Diamond media premium activated carbon that I can put in a bag instead of using zeo-carb. I am out of Purigen because I don't think ever cleaned it correctly (it was never white again, just kinda grey) so I have been buying new every time. Thoughts?

[ljapa]

Unless the biomax looks like it is clogged by bacterial growth, you don't really need to change it.

Green water is free floating algae. That means light and excess food in the water column. One of the things algae eat is the nitrates your bacteria in the filter excrete. So, better filtration won't necessarily stop algae.

It may simply be that since you did not perform weekly changes, the nitrates built up to where the algae could go wild. You may fight it for a bit, but I bet if you up your water change volume and make sure you clean the crud your filter collects until you have it under control, you'll be back to normal soon.

[DonnaG]

Because of personal situations that involve extended periods of time away from home, I've gone as long as 5 months without cleaning the filter with no problems. I've never had to change the water in this setup, just add more as evaporation occurs. That said, I'm emptying the water, cleaned the fx5 and starting all over again.

[steve]

Was there anyone monitoring the turtles/tank while you were gone?

[devilduck]

I suspect ljapa is correct, it looks like you had a algae and bacteria bloom brought on by excess nitrates. Since you are only topping off the water in the tank you are not removing nitrates generated by the filter. After a few months they hit a level where it's perfect for algae growth, hence the green water. It is recommended least a 50% water change, once a month. This is easy to do if you have a python type other water changer.

How are you cleaning the filter media? Sponges and biomax should be rinsed out in de-chlorinated water. The carbon, if you use it should be the only media that needs replacement.

[VeipaCray]

Agreed with ljapa and devilduck. Too many nutrients in the water + excess light.

Is your tank getting any direct sunlight? (aside from whatever basking light you have)

[DonnaG]

I did an almost 50 percent water change on Saturday. I need to do that every month, seriously? Thats a lot of water. Admittedly, it's been over a year so it was probably just timing. If it doesn't clear up by this weekend I'll empty it again.
No direct sunlight, the basking area covers a third of the tank so not much of that light gets to water. Remind me how to post a pic please and I'll do that. I've been testing the water off/on and nitrate level was okay... BUT now that I put that in writing, I was called away for an emergency situation and I did NOT test this time. I just cleaned everything because I knew it could possibly be a while before I could return. A friend comes in to feed them but wouldn't have a clue about cleaning the filter.
Dechlorinated water... Hmmm I wash everything out with the water hose... Don't know if water is chlorinated or not... But since it's tap water I guess it wold be. So I would power wash biomax and sponges with water hose to flush all the yucky stuff out and then soak/rinse in dechlorinated water? Just purchase some sort of aquatic dechlorinator?
Poor Turt and Caroline... They have grown so incredibly this past year (growth spurt especially for Turt) I suppose with size comes more waste. LOL
Thanks guys.

[ljapa]

A 50% change monthly may not be needed, let your nitrate readings guide that. And it's possible yours were low because the algae has been feasting.

Look at a python system for water changes. It really makes them much less painful.

Washing filter media in tap water isn't good. The chlorine/chloramine can kill of your good bacteria, which can lead to an ammonia spike, which can also feed algae. When I clean the filter, I siphon tank water into a 5 gallon bucket. I put the filter media in that and rinse it. Sometimes I will was the sponges under tap water, which definitely kills the bacteria on a sponge, but I have enough biofiltration between my canister and refugium that that is not a concern.

I use a python water changer for the rest of the water change and for refilling. It's much easier than when I was using a series of buckets.