Habitat - Indoor :: XP3 not filtering the way it is suppose to?

[Vtolds]

Well rexi was put into her new setup and I though everything was fine except the water is kind of cloudy looking and every couple of minutes the filter seems to speed up and all of a sudden a rush of water comes flying out of the outlet. Is this normal for the XP3 to do this or did I miss somethign when setting it up?

[iac637]

could it still have air in it that it's trying to get out?

[Vtolds]

I just watche dthe video on youtube of a Rena Installation and the one thing I did wrong was I had the pressure Valve was under the water so I have changed it so now the valve is above the water so maybe that will improve it a little bit.

My other question is what have people done to stop there turtles form knocking off the strainer on the intake? also from knocking the pipes on the suction cups.

[iac637]

we made our own from tubing and pvc pipe. lol
we are like Macgyver here with our tanks

[N4784N R4613]

You could use aquarium silicone to glue the strainer on. I know someone has done this, and it has worked fine. The cloudy water is just "new tank syndrome," it happens when the beneficial bacteria starts up. It should clear up in 3-5 days.

[Vtolds]

I wasn't sure what it was because I haven't started up a new tank in a LONG time. Her first tank didn't cloud up so I wasn't sure.

[myrtletheturtle]

one time when i did a 80% water change i accidentally took to much water out and the filter sucked in air so the tubes got air in it...So i had to turn it off and wait a few minutes before turning it back on this should push out all the air...try that

[Vtolds]

Well its not surging any more it is more steady but it seems to be getting cloudier so I hope it clears up soon.

[mikee]

What you have is "New Tank Syndrome" and it can be a pain. You will need to use your test kit and see what is going on. I would make 50% water changes until it starts to subside. Do not clean or change your canister filter as you will need to get the bacteria going to try and keep your tank as near as you can to "balanced". Your tank has to deal with heterotrophic bacteria that put out ammonia, which is dealt with by Nitrosomonas bacteria which is dealt with by Nitrobacter bacteria. The last bacterium leaves Nitrates which is the least toxic to you turtles. It is called the Nitrogen Cycle. Then you deal with the Nitrates by doing water changes at the appropriate time. Opps!! Too long!!

[steve]

I get an air buildup once in awhile, but not every few minutes. Check all the connections, you might have a loose one there that is letting too much air in and possibly leaking water.

[Vtolds]

What you have is "New Tank Syndrome" and it can be a pain. You will need to use your test kit and see what is going on. I would make 50% water changes until it starts to subside. Do not clean or change your canister filter as you will need to get the bacteria going to try and keep your tank as near as you can to "balanced". Your tank has to deal with heterotrophic bacteria that put out ammonia, which is dealt with by Nitrosomonas bacteria which is dealt with by Nitrobacter bacteria. The last bacterium leaves Nitrates which is the least toxic to you turtles. It is called the Nitrogen Cycle. Then you deal with the Nitrates by doing water changes at the appropriate time. Opps!! Too long!!

I tested it and the ammonia was pretty high so I did a quick water change and it probably cut the ammonia in half so I will keep doing that and see if I cant get it into control.

[mikee]

We will make a turtle person out of you yet!! You will have to do that until your "somonas" and "bacter" catch up. Like I said, New Tank Syndrome can be a pain. It is all part of the show!!