boring fish tank new filter question . simple if you know . 1 sentence?

[thornezoo]

Add a product called Cycle. It contains the bacteria cultures needed to balance the water. I've used it for years to set up brand new tanks (emergency situations included - broken glass) with no cloudy water.

And I wouldn't recommend turning the filter off and on. Most filters will not run right if the water drains out of them, like after a power outage. I have to actually check my filter to make sure it doesn't burn up if we lose power. But not only does the bacteria live in the sponge in the filter, it also adds oxygen to the water as the water cascades back into the tank. don't turn it off, it will only make things worse.

If you want to increase the bacteria, you could also add a sponge filter that sits inside the tank and bubbles out of the top. Water is forced through the sponge, but not as turbulent as with a regular filter. Of course, you would keep the filter you already have, just add the sponge filter for an additional place for the beneficial bacteria to colonize.

 

[miguel]

Doesn't matter how good or bad your filtration might be, your water will always be cloudy when it is cycling. If you get a very good filter that can hold a lot of bio media, it will cycle your tank faster. Like the fluval fx5 cycled my tank in only 13 days. You will have to wait until your tank is fully cycled or get a extremely good filter (cycles your tank 8-10 an hour) with a lot of bio media

 

[insenergy]

its 4 yrs old juwel 280 l vision. water dissaster after moving house. ive read loads on how to get water clear but nothing like this question .... its my own idea, will it work ?
i just installed a new inetrnal filter to try help deal with cloudy water (eheim powerline) can i turn it off and on ? i.e. put it on the timer to go off and on at the same time as the lights ? perhaps this might allow still motionless time for the bacteria to breed more efficiently ? or will it make the water more cloudier when it turns on with the lights by pumping out all that has grown inside it over night ? it may take 8 weeks for the bacteria to be right to clean the water but i want to cut that time

 

[catx]

A filter should be on 24/7 - only turned off when your hands are in the tank during routine maintenance (electricity, water, and you don't mix!).

I think you're asking that anyway, whether the filter can be turned off right? The simple answer is no.

You need the filter to be on and the water to be moving for bacteria to thrive - as soon as the water stops circulating the bacteria will begin to die as it needs oxygen too! The bacteria should eventually reside mostly in the filter media anyway.