HI
Just noticed that my tank filter isn't working its not drawing in any water so the sponges have dried up and NitrItes are now at 0.5. Its very annoying. I know how Bubbles felt now when her tank broke.

First thing tommorrow I am off to get a new one. Will probably get a Fluval tank with the filter built in as there are some good offers on these at the momment.I can then keep the other as a spare tank.

I need to cycle the new tank/filter really fast as my fish are in effect in a goldfish bowl at the momment as they are filterless. I have 3 questions:
1. Can I transefer the tank water into the new tank even if its got some NitrItes in it.
2. Also I have read that ammonia can be used to cycle a tank- where do I buy it from?
3. Thirdly, I do have a spare (not used) undregravel filter, Should I put it in the tank that has the broken filter whilst I wait for the new tank to cycle? Or should I just do daily water changes in this tank?
You know, I have had a few little spikes of NitrIte recently- you may have seen one of my posts. I now realise now that the filer must have been on the blink for a few weeks now. Thank goodness I wasn't away on holiday when it broke down. It does underline the importance of having some back up mechanism. Anyway thanks to KGW I regularly check out the water levels so the problem was identifed early enough so our Goldie and Spot have not been harmed.

What kind of filter do you have (power,sponge,bio-wheel,ect).

bio filter with sponges and some charcoal

I would buy the new filter/tank and transfer about 50-60% of the old tank water across. You can buy stuff from aquarium shops to help your filter mature quickly. I wouldn't bother with the undergravel filter for now. Just keep doing regular water changes until you can set your new tank up. Ammonia levels are a problem which is why i'd keep up with the water changes.

It's pointless even bothering with the old filter sponges as bacteria will die off if the filter stops working/turned off for 10 minutes. Start again and buy something to mature a new filter quickly. You just add it to the water.

Good luck!

Thanks. I bought my new tank today. Its 27uk gallons. I thought it was 20 gallons when I bought it . Its very difficult as all the tanks are a mish mash of metric and imperial measurements and they don't always have the gallonage on them. I did take a pocket calculater but with two excited kids runing around the shop, I guess I mis -calculated. anyway the fish will now benefit from an extra 7 gallons! I did purchase a bigger capacity filter than the tank needed - luckily as it conspires. It is an internal power filter. Annoyingly there are no instructions inside the box so I will have to chase the firm up for some. I bought some stuff to quicken the cycle. So its full steam ahead to getting this tank up and running!