panic and pondering UV light filter

[L number Banana]

I'm having filter issues Newbie to catfish issues. Still.

Normally have filterfree tanks and let nature work thing out - worked perfectly. Wonderful parameter readings, really old active fish, water stayed clear as tapwater, water changes bi-yearly after settling in. So I fall in love with catfish and change everything to something I have no idea about!!! Filters!! Help

I read about catfish being very picky about water conditions and instead of trusting the tried and true (for me), I got paranoid and bought a filter and made a gravel vacuum.
My floaty things won't go away. Water's got nice even readings but when I clean the front glass, it's got light coloured dots on it within an hour. Microscope shows that whatever they are, they're not alive or have any bacterium like bits that makes me think they were alive. No cell-like bits showing.

I thought it was from playing with the plants but when I do that and get stuff floating around, I put the pond filter in overnight and poof it's clear. Not this time so I think I've messed around with the environment one too many times. White floaty stuff is back. It's not like new tank cloudy water. The bits are large enough to see them individually.

Dumb move #2: I opened the top of the filter to see what I could see, moved the bio-plate thingy and sent a nice gush of brown goo right into the tank!! Maybe from P.maccus? Back in goes the pond filter.... clear water in the morning, white spots back in an hour

I'm not really in a panic, yes I am. Just got my first Farlowella and I don't want to lose him!

I'm just wondering if there's some tips tricks or anything that might help me figure out what the white bits are. Yes I probably overfeed but have been really good in the last week and that seems like when it started. Could it be caused by too many shrimp pellet feeding? I watch and the cats eat all of them except the ones that the yamato shrimp run away with. Maybe the fish are pooing too much protein?

My next thought and grovel for help is with UV filters. I noticed that there are now el cheapo UV lights to sterilize wine carboys/barrels. Do you think one of these would help if I filtered my water by it?

Sorry this is so long but I've heard that farlowella don't like big water changes so I don't know what to do or if the white stuff will hurt him somehow. Can't move him to the other tank, brackish or acidic, no good.
Thanks

[MatsP]

Without knowing what the stuff on the glass is, we can't really say what you should do about it.

My guess would be that it is harmless, but I'm far from SURE of that.

--
Mats

[L number Banana]

Morning Mats,

I've decided to set up and start cycling another tank, just in case.

I'm wondering if it's something coming out of the wood? Maybe a fungus? I don't know what good/bad fungus looks like so I'll do some hunting on that. I was holding out hope that someone else may have had the same problem at some point - not that I HOPE someone had problems but you know what I mean.
Geez, I have all these little critters under my care and I feel like I'll letting them down

The fish look happy and hale this morning still so It's time for me to get some sleep.

Thanks

[apistomaster]

I think you have a Paramecia bloom. They are present in large enough numbers to be visible but the actual density per cu. cm is probably low enough you may have to view many samples with your microscope to see some but eventually, I think you will find them.
They often do this in newly set up tanks and will eventually die off. You might try treating with potassium permanganate.
It can take 6 weeks for new aquariums to become established and during that period there may be an ecological succession of various pioneering species of microorganisms. As the aquarium ecology gains complexity these blooms will stop.
It's possible the wood is contributing nutrients that is supporting the bacteria the Paramecia are using and same goes for the uneaten bits of fish food. This stage will pass but do not add anymore fish until this resolves. It will go away.

[grokefish]

As Larry says, don't panic, are the fish looking ok?
Yes?
Well do nothing then.

Matt

[L number Banana]

Hi apistomaster & Mats,

Paramecium sounds like a good possibility. Thanks I just looked it up and an article called 'infusoria for feeding fry' gives a pretty good description of what may be going on. They tend to clump up when their numbers are high which would explain why I didn't see any legs (cilia) moving also may have just had a slide of mush purely by luck. It seems like I've done all the right things if I was actually TRYING to start a culture. Veggie matter higher temps etc etc. Too bad I have no fry to benefit from it

The fish are doing well. The F.vittata is skinny so I'm only really worried about him but then again he looks the same as the Cat-elog pictures so I guess holding back the food a bit won't hurt. I don't clean the side or back glass so there should be enough there to keep him going. The otos and corys have shiny little bellies so they should be fine with a bit more responsible feeding...

I'll give the sand a vacuum just to speed up the clearing. I've seen white water, green water and brown diatoms but this is a new one on me. Live and learn.
No new fish for a while.

Thanks for your help, the UV still sounds kind of interesting though, cheaper than replacement cartridges. I'll keep reading up on that.
Cheers