[Mattymo92]

Hi everybody!

For christmas this year I got a 25 gallon high aquarium kit made by aqueon. I love it and it is my first planted aquarium and first aquarium in about 6 or 7 years! Everything is going great, except one thing that bugs me. The tank constantly has small visible particles floating about the tank. It is only noticeable if your right up close but it bugs the heck out of me. The filter is an Aqueon QuietFlow 30. I have tried putting extra mechanical media (bonded blue/white filter pad) in to try to help but it hasn't seemed to helped get the water clearer. Do I need a different media or even a different filter? and if so any good recommendations? I have been looking online at the Fluval c3 and it looks interesting... Or could there be another issue I am unaware of? Thanks in advance for your advice and opinions! Also I attached a pic of my tank!

View attachment 82066

- Matt M.

 

[HD Blazingwolf]

Well ill start with sand is very fluffy stuff.. it may be sand particles??
It will probably get better with time if thats the case

 

[Aquaticz]

Hi
I only use canisters, because of tank sizes. you can stick it a finer material as a polishier. it makes a difference. HTH


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Mattymo92]

Well ill start with sand is very fluffy stuff.. it may be sand particles??
It will probably get better with time if thats the case

Thanks for the response HD Blazingwolf, but im really pretty positive it is not sand. It is bigger than the sand and irregular in shape.. If I had to guess what it was I would say it is simply floating detrius, which is what leads me to believe I need to adjust the filtration. Any thoughts on that?

- Matt M.

 

[Mattymo92]

Hi
I only use canisters, because of tank sizes. you can stick it a finer material as a polishier. it makes a difference. HTH


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I know you said you only use canisters but do you know by chance if they sell polishers for HOB filters? I was thinking about buying a Fluval 206 canister down the road when I have spare cash if the particles don't subside before then.

- Matt M.

 

[Aquaticz]

Well ill start with sand is very fluffy stuff.. it may be sand particles??
It will probably get better with time if thats the case

+1 HD Blazingwolf

Definitely check how the water is returning to the tank. iI the filter a HOB? if so diffuse it with a recycled soda bottle at the out flow. Cut the bottle like the letter"C' then place part of it above the outflow - with the bottom diffusing the water, bottles sre cheap so cut up a few for practice



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[discuspaul]

Crystal clear water is easily achieved - there's no rocket science involved in doing that - you just have to work at it just a little bit:
- Do a large wc at least once a week (say 50%), vac substrate well with each wc, and wipe the inside glass walls down with paper towelling.
- Use a bag of Seachem Purigen in your filter - change it up & re-charge it about every 3 weeks or so.
- Use double-layered filter floss in your filter - and replace it with new every 2 weeks.
- Use a fine mesh pre-filter sponge on your filter intake - and, this is important - take it off & rinse/wring it out real well every 3 days (takes but a minute).
- Using a UV sterilizer also helps out a lot too, but not essential.

And if you're so inclined, put an AquaClear 70 filter on your tank.

Presto - crystal clear water 100% of the time.

Have a peek at my planted discus tank - running for about 3 years now - water is as clear as this all the time.

http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/Sept2011

 

[Mattymo92]

+1 HD Blazingwolf

Definitely check how the water is returning to the tank. iI the filter a HOB? if so diffuse it with a recycled soda bottle at the out flow. Cut the bottle like the letter"C' then place part of it above the outflow - with the bottom diffusing the water, bottles sre cheap so cut up a few for practice



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Thanks Aquatics, I will definitely give this a try and see if it helps. Seems straight forward enough AND cheap which is always a plus lol

 

[Mattymo92]

Crystal clear water is easily achieved - there's no rocket science involved in doing that - you just have to work at it just a little bit:
- Do a large wc at least once a week (say 50%), vac substrate well with each wc, and wipe the inside glass walls down with paper towelling.
- Use a bag of Seachem Purigen in your filter - change it up & re-charge it about every 3 weeks or so.
- Use double-layered filter floss in your filter - and replace it with new every 2 weeks.
- Use a fine mesh pre-filter sponge on your filter intake - and, this is important - take it off & rinse/wring it out real well every 3 days (takes but a minute).
- Using a UV sterilizer also helps out a lot too, but not essential.

And if you're so inclined, put an AquaClear 70 filter on your tank.

Presto - crystal clear water 100% of the time.

Have a peek at my planted discus tank - running for about 3 years now - water is as clear as this all the time.

http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/Sept2011

Thanks DiscusPaul! Some great advice there. I think I may invest in that aquaclear when I can and will deffinitely implement the other methods you mentioned.

Your tank is gorgeous and so clean! The fish are beautiful too! What size tank is that?

- Matt M.

 

[R.sok]

Hi everybody!

For christmas this year I got a 25 gallon high aquarium kit made by aqueon. I love it and it is my first planted aquarium and first aquarium in about 6 or 7 years! Everything is going great, except one thing that bugs me. The tank constantly has small visible particles floating about the tank. It is only noticeable if your right up close but it bugs the heck out of me. The filter is an Aqueon QuietFlow 30. I have tried putting extra mechanical media (bonded blue/white filter pad) in to try to help but it hasn't seemed to helped get the water clearer. Do I need a different media or even a different filter? and if so any good recommendations? I have been looking online at the Fluval c3 and it looks interesting... Or could there be another issue I am unaware of? Thanks in advance for your advice and opinions! Also I attached a pic of my tank!

View attachment 82066

- Matt M.

I only use quilt batting in my filter & my water is always crystal clear, give it a shot. It is really cheap

 

[Dx3Bash]

What type of cichlids are those? Do they sift through the sand? If so, chances are they will always stir things up a little. So it may not be a filter issue. However, if they are not sand sifting cihclids an Aquaclear or a small canister like a fluval 206 should help with water clarity. Add a 100ml bag of Seachem Purigen and you'll be set.

Sorry, cant see what type of cihclids those are. Im on my small iphone screen and dont have my "readers" with me.

 

[discuspaul]

Thanks DiscusPaul! Some great advice there. I think I may invest in that aquaclear when I can and will deffinitely implement the other methods you mentioned.

Your tank is gorgeous and so clean! The fish are beautiful too! What size tank is that?

- Matt M.

Thanks Matt
My tank is just over 70 gals (260 L), and I use 2 AC 110 HOB's on it.
I keep it that clean by doing exactly what I mentioned above, except that, because it's discus, I do 2 or 3 - 50% wcs a week.
Try out the steps I told you - believe me - it will work!

 

[Mattymo92]

I only use quilt batting in my filter & my water is always crystal clear, give it a shot. It is really cheap

Ok thanks I'll have to look into that and maybe give it a shot as well!

 

[Mattymo92]

What type of cichlids are those? Do they sift through the sand? If so, chances are they will always stir things up a little. So it may not be a filter issue. However, if they are not sand sifting cihclids an Aquaclear or a small canister like a fluval 206 should help with water clarity. Add a 100ml bag of Seachem Purigen and you'll be set.

Sorry, cant see what type of cihclids those are. Im on my small iphone screen and dont have my "readers" with me.

They are Bolivian Rams, and one Golden Ram. They do tend to sift now and again but its not really a constant thing... but that definitely could be the issue now that I think about it.

Thanks for the thought, you may be right

 

[Mattymo92]

Thanks Matt
My tank is just over 70 gals (260 L), and I use 2 AC 110 HOB's on it.
I keep it that clean by doing exactly what I mentioned above, except that, because it's discus, I do 2 or 3 - 50% wcs a week.
Try out the steps I told you - believe me - it will work!

I absolutely will add in those methods into my weekly maintenance. I think it will make a big difference especially since.. and maybe i shouldn't admit this... I have NEVER vacuumed... I always thought that leaving the detrius in the tank to break down naturally was a good idea because its like natural free fertalizer... I mean my ammonia and nitrite stay at zero without vacuuming and I just change the water every time the nitrate gets to 40, so I figured it was good to leave in so the plants could eat the nitrates produced by the waste.

Well thanks again for your reply, I enjoyed learning the methods you use.

 

[Green_Flash]

I also think some Bacter products out there help polish water and make it cleaner and cleaner, surge of good bacteria is a good thing.

 

[Mattymo92]

I also think some Bacter products out there help polish water and make it cleaner and cleaner, surge of good bacteria is a good thing.

Green_Flash, do mean a product like this?
http://www.petco.com/product/3263/Aquarium-Products-Freshwater-Biozyme.aspx
I used this product when starting my tank and still have a lot left if it will help.

- Matt M.

 

[Green_Flash]

I was thinking something like Borneo Wild Bacter Crystal.
http://www.borneowild.com/prod_v.php?g=1&l=5&c=13&p=47&stxt=

 

[discuspaul]

Ok thanks I'll have to look into that and maybe give it a shot as well!

Keep in mind, Matt, that quilt batting and filter floss are just different descriptions/names for one and the same thing.

Fabric stores sell it as 'polyester quilt batting', and LFS's sell it as 'filter floss', except for about 3 X the price of quilt batting.
If you buy it at a fabric store, make darn sure it is completely untreated - no additive compounds, no disinfectants, no fire retardants !

 

[Mattymo92]

I was thinking something like Borneo Wild Bacter Crystal.
http://www.borneowild.com/prod_v.php?g=1&l=5&c=13&p=47&stxt=

hmm never seen that before, looks like better quality than the Mardel stuff Ive been using, Thanks I'll check it out