I really could use some advice on my current situation on my new 55 gallon dirt set up.
I set set up my 55 gallon after waiting years to finally being ready. The plants are growing well but the tank is cloudy. I followed instructions on dirting with clay using mostly remineralized top soil. I spent weeks readying the soil & finding a pure clay source.
I added 1 inch of just RMT & 5-10% natural pure powdered clay mixed in with the RMT on the bottom. I then placed 1 inch of Flourite that was well washed around the sides then I capped over with 1.5 - 1.7 inches of washed Flourite. If my flow is high meaning I can move the bottom plants around a little not a lot but a little the tank becomes cloudy. Say 70% clear at best.
Now I did install a 15 watt UV inline filter later on to try & help clear out the tank , thinking it was bacteria & an algae bloom since it looked slightly tan green looking at times. So that reduced the flow on the Ehiem 2215 & the tank became 95% clear over night.
Then the flow became almost near zero because I forgot to put back the upper plate inside the filter thinking I needed to take down the filter which is not a good idea because of new bacteria developing. I did it any way this time I took the UV off an noticed a much better flow now in the tank.
However the tank went back to being 70% clear again!, meaning cloudy looking. I am not really sure if it is because of the added flow causing clay to leech out from the cap, or trashing my bio filter using my house water which is run through a water softner, I know my bad I did use prime while rinsing, However I forgot that I switched from KCl to NaCl which probably is not good for the filter bacteria. I should have used the by pass water & primed it I know now but forgot about that little detail.
All levels show no NH3, NOR NO2. So what is going on?? Is my tank cycling or is clay leeching up into the water through the 1.50-1.75 cap??? An if so can I build more cap maybe with pool sand over the top. I really would not rather add anything since its now day 20 & most of the plants are growing well.
I am a clear water freak , I would rather tear the tank down & rebuild if I knew the tank would never clear. I feel even though I may have damaged the filter bacteria the hazy water is from clay particles leeching out not bacteria.
A couple of questions: #1 Should I spike the system with ammonia to challenge it, since in 20 days I never picked up a NH3, NO2 spike at all.
#2 If it turns out the clay is leeching , what can I do to stop it if anything? Add pool sand over the Flourite?
The UV is deceiving because it slows the flow which means less substrate disruption, however the tank got to within 96% clear!
#3 Will pool sand make the substrate anaerobic an if so this is probably not good.
Advice would be great. Thanks
I set set up my 55 gallon after waiting years to finally being ready. The plants are growing well but the tank is cloudy. I followed instructions on dirting with clay using mostly remineralized top soil. I spent weeks readying the soil & finding a pure clay source.
I added 1 inch of just RMT & 5-10% natural pure powdered clay mixed in with the RMT on the bottom. I then placed 1 inch of Flourite that was well washed around the sides then I capped over with 1.5 - 1.7 inches of washed Flourite. If my flow is high meaning I can move the bottom plants around a little not a lot but a little the tank becomes cloudy. Say 70% clear at best.
Now I did install a 15 watt UV inline filter later on to try & help clear out the tank , thinking it was bacteria & an algae bloom since it looked slightly tan green looking at times. So that reduced the flow on the Ehiem 2215 & the tank became 95% clear over night.
Then the flow became almost near zero because I forgot to put back the upper plate inside the filter thinking I needed to take down the filter which is not a good idea because of new bacteria developing. I did it any way this time I took the UV off an noticed a much better flow now in the tank.
However the tank went back to being 70% clear again!, meaning cloudy looking. I am not really sure if it is because of the added flow causing clay to leech out from the cap, or trashing my bio filter using my house water which is run through a water softner, I know my bad I did use prime while rinsing, However I forgot that I switched from KCl to NaCl which probably is not good for the filter bacteria. I should have used the by pass water & primed it I know now but forgot about that little detail.
All levels show no NH3, NOR NO2. So what is going on?? Is my tank cycling or is clay leeching up into the water through the 1.50-1.75 cap??? An if so can I build more cap maybe with pool sand over the top. I really would not rather add anything since its now day 20 & most of the plants are growing well.
I am a clear water freak , I would rather tear the tank down & rebuild if I knew the tank would never clear. I feel even though I may have damaged the filter bacteria the hazy water is from clay particles leeching out not bacteria.
A couple of questions: #1 Should I spike the system with ammonia to challenge it, since in 20 days I never picked up a NH3, NO2 spike at all.
#2 If it turns out the clay is leeching , what can I do to stop it if anything? Add pool sand over the Flourite?
The UV is deceiving because it slows the flow which means less substrate disruption, however the tank got to within 96% clear!
#3 Will pool sand make the substrate anaerobic an if so this is probably not good.
Advice would be great. Thanks