Do I still add the Start right if adding Easy Balance?

My filter has a black "sponge" like thing in it and a cotton like thing witht the charcole stuff in it. The black thing, it's more like a scrubbie in texture is in front of the other thing, the one with the charcole stuff in it is what I change, I've had the tank for 3 months now and have changed that once. The testing thing I have is a bunch of strips you dip into the water and has little square pads on it that change color, I don't know the exact readings just that they turned to the danger color which was bright pink. For the nitrate that makes it 160-200 and for the nitrite 5.0-10.0. Now when I have cleaned the filter parts I have always cleaned them in the sink, so I should be cleaning them in the old tank water? Also about the irridesents, I think I've found a home for them my cousin has a friend whos mom has an outside pond that she has a bunch of those big gold fish and a few other types of fish in and she said once they get big enough she would take them, she wants them to be around a foot long first though b/c she is afraid the other fish would eat them if not. That was one of the things the fish store misinformed my son about they said they would only get to around 6-8 inches found out they can actually get to be 3'!! I contacted the store manager and tried to return the fish and he kept trying to tell me there is no way in an aquarium they would get that big, I told him they may not but it is not healthy and I didn't want to keep fish I knew in the long run I would harm but it was all for nothing.
 
the black sponge-like thing is what needs to be rinsed in the tank water. that's where your beneficial bacteria grow. the cartridge with carbon in it is replaceable. I have heard that the testing strips are inaccurate, the tests with tubes and drops are more reliable. Unfortunately, many LFS owners and employees give bad info. I don't know why. Maybe they just want to make a buck.
 
That is most likely the problem with my tank then I bet (besides to many fish), I clean the black thing and filter each water changing (weekly) and I scrub it and get as much stuff as possible off when I do, from now on I will not do that.

Thanks!!!
 
Also, the carbon is still not necessary if you don't want to use it. You could just stick in another pad like the black one that is already in the filter and just use those!! Make sure you do some water changes to get the nitrite down to as close to 0 as possible. That and ammonia are really hard on the fish and can cause long term problems...Also, the nitrate should ideally be kept below 40, 20 is much better. You'll want to do more frequent water changes and find a schedule/amount that keeps those low. Real plants help too

Its unfortunate that the store manager feels that stunting the growth of the fish is ok :mad: ... Just goes to show what some of these stores will do to make a sale :(
 
Well I did my water change and rinsed the black filter thing in the old fish water, put the new white filter in, I figured I already paid for it I might as well use it, did not use the balance right, then tested again and it still shows the nitrate and nitrite levels as high, but that is with the strips. I am going in the morning to buy the other type of testing kit and a couple live plants, then will see what the water levels are from that.

Again I want to thank everyone for all the info. This site is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
To make maintenance easier you should pick up a sponge cartridge for an Aqua Clear filter and cut it to size to fit in your filter. No big rush on this - just get it the next time that you have to replace the filter media in your Whisper. The sponge will last forever and will do just as good a job.

Just a note - my brother-in-laws irridesent grew to close to 2 feet before it died during a move. Good luck finding it a new home.
 
Just to be sure

Ok all, I just want to make sure I got this right. I should get the sponge and get rid of the filter with the carbon in it, and do not add anything to the water (Besides the dechlorinater), but instead just change the water ALOT, untill I can get a bigger tank. As far as a testing kit for the water I am going to have to wait because the only place around here that sells fish stuff besides the LFS my son got our fish from is Wal-Mart and they only have the strips that I already have, I tested with these again earlier and they have lightened in the pink color putting my Nitrate at 20-40 & the nitrite at 1.0-3.0. Will do another water change tomorrow and see if that helps. Oh yes the LFS may have the testing kit I am needing but I refuse to give them anymore service what so ever after the crap they gave me and the load of BS they gave my son when buying the fish. :mad: I just wish I would of known about this site before we got the fish it would of help soosooo much! And to Viboy I have found a home for the irridesents...but I have to wait till they are at least 1' long before she will take them she has a outdoor pond w/ other big fish and was worried they will eat them if they aren't at least that big.

Thanks again everyone.
Gin

Thanks again
 
you can use the carbon if you want. it's really just personal preference. And cost. Also, you can order testing kits online if you don't want to go to that LFS (I don't blame you).
 
Don't throw out the actual filter - just the filter media. Replacing the original filter with a "cut to fit" AC filter just allows for easier maintenance and longer lasting filter media (the sponge).

And, yes frequent water changes are your best bet for fish survival.
 
The black foam is called Bio-Foam by Tetra, the manufacturer of the filter. It is supposed to be where the beneficial bacteria grow. I wouldn't wash it at all since it comes after the filter cartridge, which is providing the mechanical and chemical filtration, so should remain very clean. Tetra recommends replacing the filter cartridge (the Bio-Bag, unless you have a different version of Whisper than I have) once every couple of weeks to a month. I replace mine once a month, but swish it good in my drained water with my weekly water changes.

The problem I see with replacing the Bio-bags with a sponge or some other replacement is that the frame on the bio-bag (inside the bag) fits well in the slots in the filters and prevents water from leaking around the filter cartridge, and keeping dirty water from clogging up the Bio-foam. The Bio-bags are something like $2 each (in a 6 pack or 12 pack) at even the expensive LFS's around here, and are less than $1 each mail order from places such as AquariumGuys.com and BigAlsOnline.com. That's not a whole lot to spend to keep the aquarium healthy. They come with charcoal, so you might as well use it.
 
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