Changed filter and water at the same time >_< please help

Omni-

Don't panic, this can be dealt with.

Unfortunately, any time you change your filter you will remove most of your beneficial bacteria. At this point, I recommend doing 50% water changes at least once per day, depending on your stocking level, until your cycle re-establishes itself. You're essentially following the procedure for a "fish-in cycle". If you have a liquid test kit, you can test daily for ammonia and nitrates. Once your ammonia has dissappeared and the nitrates have appeared, then you have re-established your cycle.

You can try to speed up the process in a couple of ways. If you have access to a tank that is already cycled you can attempt to squeeze some of the filter gunk from the cycled tank into the back of the filter in the affected tank. If you don't have access to an already cycled tank, you can utilize a product like Nutrafin Cycle. These products are essentially beneficial bacteria in a bottle. Just put a cap full into the back of your filter so that the bacteria goes right into your filter media.

In the future, if you need to change the filter cartridge, I recommend soaking the new one in your tank for at least a week prior to swapping out. Keep in mind that the filter cartridges don't need to be replaced all that often. Typically you can just rinse it in the bucket of tank water that you siphoned out during your water changes. DO NOT rinse it in straight tap water since that will kill your bacteria as well.

As I said before, this is definitely something that can be dealt with and happens to folks from time to time, but is easily preventable with some good knowlege.

:iagree:
Also, the bacteria that are beneficial for your tank are primarily in the filter media and attached to the surfaces of objects in the aquarium rather than actually in the water. So removing the water isn't so much the issue as is removing the filter media.

Omnipresent said:

My fishes are in stress and all staying at the very top of the aquarium, never going down and always swimming fast.

I made a blunder of changing water AND filter at the same time. Now, after seeing my fishes in pain...I did some reading and found this excerpt:
" Never change your filter at the same time you chnage the water because you will remove too much beneficial bacteria, reducing any mnatural biological filtration. this could eaisly shock your sfiha and can cause disease out break caused by too much stress." - Source: http://newaquariuminformation.com/a...aquariums/freshwater-aquarium-maintenance.htm

Obviously, that link does not explain how to remedy your mistake. So, I'm seeking help of you experienced people.

What do I need to do, to bring back the 'good' bacteria? Do I need to do a water change? if so, what %? I have a 20 gallon tank

thanks!!

Click to expand...

Was that copy/pasted? If so I would never trust a source that writes an article with so many errors. Anyway.

Beneficial bacteria does live in your filter and in your filter media. The thing is that it also lives on/in your gravel, on your aquarium walls, filter walls and any other solid object that is in the tank. There is a lot of bacteria in the tank.

Bacteria, in general, does not live in your water.

Really, changing out your filter and your water wont do anything too bad to your tank.

What are your water parameters? Nitrate? Nitrite? Ammonia? pH?
Do you use water conditioner?

-CHris

It's important that you get readings on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Also, how exactly did you change the filter media?

Coach is correct...hardly any bacteria reside in the water column as they attach to surfaces. Some will be on other places like the substrate and any hardscape you have.

They bacteria are able to double their population every 24 hours or so...you shouldn't have to re-inoculate anything at this point. Just monitor the ammonia/nitrite levels and do water changes if you see a spike.

If at Petsmart or Petco, look for Dr. Tim's One And Only although most of them don't carry it... but a LFS may. If you can't find Dr. Tim's, then look for Tetra SafeStart which is supposed to be the same (for long legal reasons which I've explained in other threads... lol) These two products will provide you the correct nitrifying bacteria to get your cycling going again. Also, rubbing your new filter on the top layer of gravel or decorations that have been in the tank a while will transfer the good bacteria to the new filter and help speed it up.