I am based in the UK and returning to this glorious hobby after a 30 year absence.

To ALL of the NEW and ‘experienced’ fishkeepers READ AND COMPREHEND!

In the past all you had was your friends, no science or Internet to help.

Today you have this site which is a repository of very informed articles.

When I returned to the hobby I made the mistake of listening to the salesman when purchasing my new tank and filtration!

After finding this site and reading the articles I have now reverted to my old school undergravel filter and have started swapping out the ceramics in my canister filter to foam.

My 200L tank is old school, plants, shrimps and fish. The water clarity has improved, the fish, shrimps (they were never an option in the past) and plants are thriving.

All because I found this site and understood what was being said (reminding me and confirming what I learn’t in the past).

Thank you for your articles, I don’t agree with all of your personal observations – I like ‘a messy’ tank with all sorts of bio detritus. I am also limited in the amount of time available to me 😀.

A quick fix for those with high nitrates, while you are waiting for the bio filters to kick in, small floating plants will sort it in a week or so. You will have to keep removing them to maintain light levels.

Dave feel free to delete or move this post, I am too old to be fussed. 😀

Best wishes to all, Dave G.

n reply to John Henry ………… It should handle it.

I have an established tank running undergravels & a canister filter, (fully cycled & running for 9 months).
I am going to change out the canister filter for a fluidized sump with K1.
My question is with regarding the new K1 filtration.
I assume the fluidized sump will need to go through a cycle & I want to know if the existing undergravel filter will handle this change until the fluidized bed is fully cycled.
Many thanks & thanks for steering us in the right direction.

Cheers,
John

In reply to Andy ……… Thinking about it for a while if one wants to split hairs option 2 is probably the best option. But all three are perfectly acceptable ways to do it.

Your site has kept my special interest/research orientated brain very happy! May I ask your advice?

I’m building a planted discus display tank with a sump. From what I understand from your excellent site, fluidised k1 and foam would be a good combination.

I think, that fluidised k1 is suitable to receive dirty water from the tank as the tumbling action will “chop up” and process dirt. But if there is no form of mechanical filter post the k1, then you will get free floating bits in the display tank?

So this would be problematic?

Chamber 1 – inflow from tank
Chamber 2 – 30ppi foam
Chamber 2 – 45ppi foam
Chamber 3 – k1 fluidised bed
Chamber 4 – return pump

Would it therefore make most sense to have the sump ordered as:

Option 1
Chamber 1 – inflow from tank
Chamber 2 – k1 fluidised bed
Chamber 3 – 30ppi foam
Chamber 3 – 45ppi foam
Chamber 4 – return pump

Or

Option 2
Chamber 1 – inflow from tank
Chamber 2 – 30ppi foam
Chamber 3 – k1 fluidised bed
Chamber 4 – 45ppi foam
Chamber 5 – return pump

Or something else?
I appreciate that a sump of fluidised k1 and a gravel filter in the display tank may be best but isn’t the look I’m going for?

Thanks for your help

In reply to JP …….. Sounds like fin breaks. It is scar tissue from when a fin gets bent too far. Harmless

I followed your filteration setup with K1 in 3 canisters, all static, and undergravel filteration for my goldfish in a about 300litre of tank size. No mechanical filter. All water parameters are good and water is clear. About a month ago, I noticed my goldfishes have this little translucent white bumps on their fins which I cannot determine what symptoms or diseases is this after looking through all your pages on similar topics. They are all swimming actively and eating fine with no mortality. I have guppies and discus in the same water and they are fine too. Any idea what is causing this? Could it be the filteration?

Hydrogen peroxide burns exposed tissue, including the gills of fish. So an Sochting Oxidator will at least irritate the Hell out of a fish and at its worst, kill the fish. See the chapter 16.2.7. Chihiros Doctor for more details