If you have excessive algae and the tank doesn't receive sunlight you're nitrates or nitrites are too high. The only way to bring them down is to do larger and/or more frequent water changes. Also, adding algae removal chemicals is a bad idea so I wouldn't do that. They may solve the problem but they create others.

I don't add anything to my tank except a dechlorinator (Seachem Prime) in water change water that I let sit for a couple days for the chlorine to evaporate anyway. But the Prime which is superior and ironically cheaper than Tetra or Wardley has additional benefits. It neutralizes nitrates and nitrites for 24 hrs, so it's like your fish are swimming in 100% fresh water for a day. It neutralizes any present heavy metals like copper if u have copper pipes on your house, and instead of adding a fake, synthetic layer of protective slime coating on the fish like the other stuff does which makes the entire tank slimy, instead it promotes the growth of natural slime coating on the fish. I highly recommend it, you can find it on the rainforest site. You only use 1/10 of what the others call for so get a small bottle. A $4.50 100ml bottle treats 1000 gallons.

MidnightToker( • )( • ) wrote:

Tanks cleaned, water changed.
Fenster,
Last week my FX4 stopped working. It wasn't clogged up or due for a cleaning.
Took it apart, checked everything. Cleaned it anyway. Changed impeller.
Waited an hour, still didn't purge or run.
Did you know that you can buy a new motor for the FX series (2,4 &6)?
Ordered a new motor from Fluval for $93.00 shipped.
Went outside did a couple hours of work, when I went back in the house the pump ran perfectly fine.
I have no idea why?????

So now I have an FX4 with all the filters, an extra impeller AND an extra motor. Lol Idk...

RobertHively wrote:

maybe you just had a bad motor that finally stopped working intermittently?

I have an FX6, which is pretty much the same thing as you have. Just a different pump- I think. It automatically cycles every 12 hours and whenever the sensors indicate there is too much air in the filter so it can purge the air upon auto re-start (2 minutes???).

Is your intake lines(s) connection above water level such that the filter could be sucking in small amounts of air that build up inside the filter causing it to automatically stop to purge the air? Is your intake hose connection to the filter airtight? Is the lid on the filter really tightened up?

I spent 2 hours cleaning my tank, filter, media, etc., yesterday. Had the same problem with the filter until it fully purged itself of air...

Beyond that, I cannot think of anything else...

rfenst wrote:

Everything is running fine now.

I just checked all the things you mentioned. Good to go.

As far as having a bad motor, it was the first time it just cut off on me in the 7 months I've owned it. Lady before me said she bought it new and ran it everyday for 2 years.

I'm not sure how long the motors are supposed to last. Any idea?

Takes me about an hour to clean both of my tanks when I don't have to mess with that FX4.

How often do you clean your FX6? I only have to clean mine every 3 months. I think that's in line with the Fluval maintenance schedule.

RobertHively wrote:

Everything is running fine now...

How often do you clean your FX6? I only have to clean mine every 3 months. I think that's in line with the Fluval maintenance schedule.

RobertHively wrote:

My Neolamprologus Pulcher Daffodil (Daffodil Cichlid from Lake Tanganyika) had about 12-15 babies!!!

This species will, as a cohesive group (five fish), guard and grow-out territory for the mated pair and their offspring- for successive generations. And, they don't eat their own.

Could even have a second spawn and hatch-out in another month or two.

Never expected to accomplish in less than six months and starting out with juvenile fish that haven't grown out yet!

Here is an internet phot of the parents:


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSa4h3qjEfEhh9b4zGYnSZRH-rc3bKHQ3O5ZUmoAvuN3_BIW_W4eZWtEi3OGQ&s

rfenst wrote:

I clean my filter every 30-90 days because I am working on breeding and the fish respond really well to clean water. Also makes the tank look much better.

7-8 gallons of water change per week. Easy-peasy. Recommended turnover filter rate is 4x/hr. My water turns over 11x/hr. 🌫

We have a lot of phosphate in our tap water. Started using some media that eliminates phosphate. Also use some charcoal. No more algae!. Water is crystal clear. I'll change it out as soon as my phosphate reading increases or it doesn't look as good as I want it to.

This is a major hobby for me. Give me a call if ...you ever want to talk about aquariums

rfenst wrote:

Mazel Tov!
Who is catering the Bris?

frankj1 wrote:

Use a Fluval charcoal pad at the very bottom of the FX4, is that what you did?

RobertHively wrote:

^

Thanks for the info.

I'd like to try that on my FX4 one day. Never hurts to have more carbon filtration.

RobertHively wrote:

PM your name and address and I will send you a big bag full of carbon and another with phospate remover. Let me know the size of your tank as well...

rfenst wrote:

My Neolamprologus Pulcher Daffodil (Daffodil Cichlid from Lake Tanganyika) had about 12-15 babies!!!

This species will, as a cohesive group (five fish), guard and grow-out territory for the mated pair and their offspring- for successive generations. And, they don't eat their own.

[h]Could even have a second spawn and hatch-out in another month or two.

Never expected to accomplish in less than six months and starting out with juvenile fish that haven't grown out yet!

Here is an internet phot of the parents:


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSa4h3qjEfEhh9b4zGYnSZRH-rc3bKHQ3O5ZUmoAvuN3_BIW_W4eZWtEi3OGQ&s

rfenst wrote: