How to get rid of debris?

1478 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by algae.assasin, May 5, 2014

AlecFish

Discussion Starter · May 2, 2014

3

I've had my 75 gallon tank setup for about 6 or 7 months now, and ever since I started I've always had problems with these small floating debris, mulm, particles whatever you call it in the water column. I have an Aquatop cf500 and I've recently put an ehiem ecco pro 300 as of a month ago. Both have a spray bar on the output, its possible there's too much flow going through the tank but I feel many other members on here have much more than I do. So my thought was that I'd be getting crystal clear water but, nothing has changed. I also threw in a few micron filter pads to make sure nothing gets by. But the particles are still very apparent in the water column. Is this something everyone has and isn't noticing? Or am I missing something?

I've attached a couple pictures so you guys can see what I'm saying.

Also on the side note, many of my plants have holes, especially on my hygro compact. Any idea on how to improve this?

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jrman83

· #2 · May 2, 2014

The water looks pretty clear to me.

For your plants, what light do you have? Are you enriching with CO2? Fert regime?

LuckyCharm

· #3 · May 2, 2014

I had the same problem before.
The way I fixed it is by using a clear water bottle. Cut off the bottom end and fill half of the bottle with filter floss and finally place an air stone at the bottom of the bottle.

It's basically an air powered filter for debris.

Good Luck

AlecFish

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 3, 2014

jrman83 said:
The water looks pretty clear to me.

For your plants, what light do you have? Are you enriching with CO2? Fert regime?

I'm trying to keep everything low tech, low maintence type of deal. Lighting wise I have a hd twin tube T8 diamond plate fixture. For ferts I dose flourish comp. twice a week, excel twice a week. I also have a bottle of flourish potassium which I'm assuming what the problem is. But it's odd because nearly every plant in the tank is lacking full leaves or healthy looking growth. I haven't had this problem before to this degree. Something must be out of balance, curious to see what you think. To be honest there are really no plants in my tank that are thriving besides my jungle val and rotala. No pressurized co2 as I'm trying to keep everything low maintenance and I'm on a tight budget.

Thanks for the idea on the water bottle filter! I will definitely get something rolling this weekend. Should I place the filter where I see the most debris or does it really matter?

lauraleellbp

· #5 · May 3, 2014

Do you have any sponge prefilters on your filter intakes? That might boost your mechanical filtration and help with the particles your're seeing.

Did I understand you correctly that you've only got 2 T8 bulbs over this 75gal tank? Is that one row consisting of 2 bulbs, or two rows of bulbs that run the length of the tank?

AlecFish

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 3, 2014

lauraleellbp said:
Do you have any sponge prefilters on your filter intakes? That might boost your mechanical filtration and help with the particles your're seeing.

Did I understand you correctly that you've only got 2 T8 bulbs over this 75gal tank? Is that one row consisting of 2 bulbs, or two rows of bulbs that run the length of the tank?

I have two bulbs running the length of the tank, a 6700k and I'll be picking up a 10,000k today to help boost the color of my fish. Let me know if you think the lighting is to low. I also have sponge pre filters on both intakes.

jrman83

· #7 · May 3, 2014

For a 75g I would want at least 3x 32W T8. You can to 4 even and get in a simple shop light powered with GE 10000k bulbs from HD.

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AlecFish

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 3, 2014

jrman83 said:
For a 75g I would want at least 3x 32W T8. You can to 4 even and get in a simple shop light powered with GE 10000k bulbs from HD.

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Okay, well would the 4 bulb T8 shop light still give me the option of running no co2? I figured since the reflectors on the diamond plate would give me enough to support low - med light plants. I feel like a 3 bulb would be perfect, any ideas on shop lights for them? I live by a lowes I could go have a look later today.

jrman83

· #9 · May 3, 2014

My kid's tank had a 4x shop light with no CO2 and it did fine. You may have to find the right photo period and up your ferts a little but not need CO2.

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AlecFish

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 3, 2014

Well, I decided to go with a dual T5 fixture that I had laying around. I had used this in a past experience with this tank, but it looks spectacular and I can see the colors of my fish great. So I grabbed an 18000k and a 6700k for bulbs. Let me know if you think I should go with something else. I'm going to ease into this new light. I'll keep the existing light on but slowly decrease the photoperiod of the T8 and increase the photoperiod of the T5. I work at a pet store, we have a show tank running a 75 gallon with dual T5 and isn't running co2, so I'm going to try to replicate this in my tank. That's my plan!

charlie 1

· #11 · May 3, 2014

AlecFish said:
I have two bulbs running the length of the tank, a 6700k and I'll be picking up a 10,000k today to help boost the color of my fish. Let me know if you think the lighting is to low. I also have sponge pre filters on both intakes.

Just a stab at your issues.
Regarding lighting , you can have a look at these, Reflectors are available for them - 2 t5 HO strip comes plug & play bulb included.
http://sunblasterlighting.com/t5-fixtures.php

Don`t know what you are using for substrate, but a trial of some sort of root tabs should help, since I noticed you are only dosing excel & Flourish comp. the latter provides more traces & very negligible Macro nutrients, hence why I think root tabs may be of good source for Macros to your Hygro & other good root system plants.
I would suggest holding off on your lights & give what I suggested a shot & see if it improves.
Regards

lauraleellbp

· #12 · May 4, 2014

I run 2x54 watts of T5HO on my 90gal and it's right on the edge of needing CO2. But mine is also a Catalina fixture with good reflectors, so that makes a difference.

You should be able to work with that, though. You can always raise the fixture higher or use floating plants if its too much light.

charlie 1

· #13 · May 4, 2014

lauraleellbp said:
I run 2x54 watts of T5HO on my 90gal and it's right on the edge of needing CO2. But mine is also a Catalina fixture with good reflectors, so that makes a difference.

You should be able to work with that, though. You can always raise the fixture higher or use floating plants if its too much light.

Key to controlling intensity.

AlecFish

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 4, 2014

As far as dosing ferts go, I can't test for the amount of micro and macro nutrients. Should I just experiment to see what works best?

lauraleellbp

· #15 · May 4, 2014

Yep, that's always what it boils down to in the end, since everyone's tank is going to have different plant species, total plant mass, etc.

Pick a dosing strategy to give yourself a starting point, and then watch your plants.

algae.assasin

· #16 · May 5, 2014

Wrap the intake of your power head with poly fill. I replace mine twice a week.

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