!!!BLACKIE!!!!

[dodo]

My polyfilter and filter floss suddenly become black(real BLACK) in colour

Any clue what could have happen?Toxic? Poison? All fishes and corals seems ok

[chanbi]

Poly filter turning black is quite normal which simply mean that it is about time u change it out to a new one (life span over). As for normal filter floss, will it turn black? U must have not change/wash it for a very long while?

[dodo]

polyfilter never turn black b4...when i said black....it is pure black....not brown...brown is normal.... i know....but it is like those black fountain pen ink....can u visualised that.

I change my polyfilter every 3mths....it is jus 1mth+ ago i last change my polyfilter.

I dun wash my floss....i changed them just like the polyfilter....every 3mth...1mth+ ago i last change my filter

[Achilles Tang]

If it is extremely black... something is seriously wrong with your water.

Did something die and you didn't notice?

You better do a water change and monitor....

[chanbi]

Sound quite serious. Did u add any new stock to your tank? Changing the filter floss every 3 mths sound a bit too long. I wash/change mine every week..

[dodo]

nothing die(i hope when i go home tonite)

corals as usual....fishes still rushes to the surface to anticipate me feeding them the moment they see me

haaaiiii....dun really know what's wrong

it's real black....maciam mini oil spill in my marine tank (wonder any sunken tanker in my tank)

will need to do a partial water change this Saturday. Hopefully, my Majestic can withstand till then cannot afford the time during weekdays*sigh*

Normally, my filter floss(cotton) are still white after one mth. Light Brown the 2nd mth. Dark Brown the 3rd-4th mth. One week change I think is highly not neccessary while the floss is still clean.(waste $ leh....economy no good u know) (abit kia-su)

[yazid]

Did you add carbon recently?

[onghm]

Below is from poly filter's website.

Isn't it contradicting ? Assuming its DARK means black ???

So to replace when brown or black ?

Quote

WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR POLY-FILTER ?

When the POLY-FILTER turns DARK in color, it is still operating effectively and does not have to be replaced. However, when it begins to turn brownish in color, it should be removed, discarded and immediately replaced with a new POLY-FILTER

[dodo]

carbon is all the while there.....anyway.....carbon should not affect anything

1st-Carbon are not suppose to lose colour.

2nd-Carbon should be place below the mechanical filter(ie floss).

I am placing my floss on the top layer of my sump, followed my polyfilter.The next layer contain my carbon, phosguard, nitrate sponge and bioballs. My last layer is all my crushed corals chips.

All these problems only occur last 2 days

[dodo]

Water parameters all seems ok....no test to the calcium level yet....dkh,ph,NO2,NO3 & NH3 all seems fine or within acceptable range.

Maybe tonite test again.....*sigh*

Seldom have water problem except for high calcium

Come to think of it....maybe it's the calcium that turns toxic....now being flushed out onto my filter floss/polyfilter

[Hon]

hey dodo

Check out the polyfilter instruction on the packing. I remember they did specify different colour stand for specific high concentration of toxic.

[Tanzy]

It might be heavy metal poisoning in the tank. Could be due to dust from construction site or almost anything. Whatever the case, do a large water change and run fresh carbon and another polyfilter, then monitor the tank closely.

[dodo]

you maybe rite tanzy...dust from construction....rite now...there is some upgrading project at my block....but i really dun understand tat the floss can be pure black in colour ....large water change...mmmm maybe will do a slightly more than normal water change...hopefully not heavy metal poisoning becos there is no way I can determine whether tis is true

luckily my fishes all seems well and swimming as usual...corals open as usual

[Tanzy]

The polyfilter might have absorbed most of the 'poison' that's why the animals aren't affected. It's best to replace it with a new one just in case.

[newdamsel]

Have you tested for PO4??? They can turn phosguard really yellow in awhile... but i dunno abt polyfilter...

[dodo]

Dear All,

I found out wat contributes to my 'black' problem.

I thk AT is rite....something died and I did't notice

My huge blue tang 'mati' liao....maybe the black substance source comes from the dead fish

Thank you for all your concern.

[chanbi]

How small is your tank? Or how huge is your blue tang? Can't imagine a dead fish will cause the filter to turn black.

[dodo]

mine is a 70gallon tank...my blue tang is i thk slightly more than 3"...the biggest fish in my tank

i was also wondering y a dead fish can make my filter turn black leh <_<

[chanbi]

But i guess what is important is that after u remove the dead fish and change your filter floss, u don't see it turning black this morning? If yes, it is definitely something worth taking note in the future..

[dodo]

i am sorie....can't find the corpse...blue tang may have died...then for some unknown get flushed down to the filter

[Tanzy]

I wonder how you miss the biggest fish in your tank and didn't know it's dead?

[dodo]

err....sorie everyone i jus found my blue tang AGAIN....hehehehe

really tot tat it was dead in the first place probably hibernating last nite

phew....hence my record still stays intact

BUT the big question still remain :-i still can't figure it out wat happen or rather wat causes my floss to turn black....guess i need to change my carbon,phosguard, floss and polyfilter tomolo and see wat color it urns to the following day those media must be exhausted rite now

hopefully everything turns out fine eventually

[Tanzy]

You left the black polyfilter in the tank!!!!

Take it out and throw it away!

[dodo]

dun worry man...poly filter changed,floss changed,carbon changed,phosguard changed

everything changed....every fishes in the tank seems like nothing has happen b4 leh....

was wondering could it be my big blue tang pass a big amt of shit that causes my floss to turn black...heavy eater man the blue tang

anyway....water parameters all ok after water change this afternoon will continue to moniter