Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Good Morning 🙂 I saw this little 5 gallon at the LFS and thought it was kinda neat. I purchased it for something to do till my 40 gallon breeder get here. I set the tank up on Feb 27th and due to shipping delays, plant selection is just not available, and I don't want to risk ordering and have dead plants arrive, so I was just going to wait a few weeks. I added 1 plant, sand substrate, and all that other jazz. I changed the rocks out just to match better. For fun, I checked the chemistry yesterday march 3rd (see below) and was surprised. Later that evening, suddenly all this white stuff (which looked like someone dropped Kleenex in the water) started floating around. I managed to get most of it out, and this morning it seems fine. What was it? I didn't have it happen in my 20 gallon. Is it because I don't have enough plants? I also provided a picture of the filter drawer, which has a pump, heater and filter (which I changed out for a coarse sponge instead of the disposable ones). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 It looks like dead plant matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Colu it felt a bit slimy.. it was gross! I tried to look up bacteria film, or something like that.. but could get a good idea of what it could possibly be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 I Think looking at it to me looks like something that has come from your plant i don't think it's anything to worry about 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Except for the mystery stuff, the tank looks nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 Okay cool! @Frank and @Colu what do you think about the filter compartment? I am not familiar with this type of pump and return system. I have seen nano tanks with this type of set up. Is there something I need to know? I had to put some filter floss in the return because it kept making sucking noises.. even when the bottom drawn was full, and the tank was full. Do you think I can get a single pea puffer in there? I am going to add WAY more plants in there.. and some wood if I can find something small enough. This thing is cycling faster than my 20 gallon did.. crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 (edited) is the pump at the top or bottom of the filter and how many gallons per hour is your pump Edited March 4, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Colu The specs are as follows: water pump flow 98 GPH, 5.2 watts. It is 5G of living space, with 1.5 gallons at the base where the filter/pump are. Size approx: 12.5in Width x 9.25in Depth x 18in Ht. The pump is adjustable, so I can slow or speed it up as well. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanTruth Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 It kind of looks like free floating biofilm to me. Strange since it seems like a pretty new setup and and there’s no driftwood in the scape. I guess the plant might have brought it in. Regardless, I agree it’s probably not harmful and you got most of it out you said. The scape does look nice though. I like the rocks you used and the overall uniform color scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 The sucking noise could tapped air in your filter I would turn off your filter lift out you media basket put back to force out tapped air 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 98gph seems like a lot of flow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 5 minutes ago, Frank said: 98gph seems like a lot of flow. You want a minimum turn over of 80gallons an hour turn over four time the the volume of your tank I think think that will be fine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Frank I wouldn't know to be totally honest... I have never seen a filter like this.. unless it was on a table top water fountain. I have it on the lowest (it has a dial thing on it to adjust it). But when I had it on full.. I was pretty strong.. I might be reading or interpreting it wrong, so I sent the product description below. The full name is the Pro Clear Fishtastic iTank all in one 5G aquarium kit.  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 I think it will be fine be if your worryed you can turn it down 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.K.Luterman Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 That's a really neat little tank. I agree that it's probably just biofilm, I've seen similar stuff happen in my tanks when they were new. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Colu my filter media is not fully under the water. Do I need to cut it so it is? should I lay it flat instead? Where do you find information about pumps gallon/Hour specs? For instance I have an Aqueon quietflow LED pro 10 in my 20 gallon high. Where would I find if that is a good enough gallon per hour pump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Colu I took the filter media out of the drawer, and I had filter floss in the return to stop the sucking and drain sound out as well. and its still is making a what sounds like a "fountain" sound.. It has these little what looks like overflow grids in the front and side.. where I think the sound is coming from  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Your filter media should be fully submerged if it does a minimum of 4xthe volume of water per hour in your tank it will be fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Is water coming out of the filter makeing the noise as it goes back in to the tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 (edited) I have a little internal filter, that gets air trapped in the pump, and it then makes a noise. I have to rotate it in all directions to get the air out. Edited March 4, 2021 by Frank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanked Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 I'm going with biofilm also.  I have a zero tech tank and the film forms a solid sheet across the surface because of zero surface movement. This video might be useful.  1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Colu There is no noise coming from the filter drawer where the pump is. The noise is coming from the inside were the water flow black spout is and the overflow line area. It literally sounds like a bath tub draining.. and even filling the tank does nothing because it goes through the over flow into the front drawer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 I think your over flow causeing the noise as the water goes in to the filter they's not a lot you can do about 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 (edited) Is there a mini-sump below the tank? If that's how it works, you might search out how to reduce the noise from the overflow/filter inlet. Edited March 4, 2021 by Frank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 @Colu I had stuffed it with filter floss which seemed to help .. but was not sure if it would damage anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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