CLOUDY tank?

Hi <
>I have a 6 foot tank, 1500lph ext canister and 1000lph internal powerhead filter running to look after a single big devil, but the water seems slightly cloudy? I dont think it can be ammonia levels? It happened after my last water change. the external cannister is only a week and a half old but the water was slightly cloudy before i put it into action. Is barely noticeable, but it isnt crystal clear like it used to be. Any ideas?<
>Cheers

[GTR73]

A few questions:<
>Is it a newly established tank?<
>What media are you using?<
>And how many litres is your 6FT?<
>Maybe it''ll take a few days to settle down if you''ve just set the tank up.<
>However have a look at your filter media to determine if it will filter out the finer particles that may be causing the cloudy effect. I''m guessing your tank is around 500L so your external is moving the tank''s volume about 3 times an hour. Some people reckon it should be more but I personally think 3 times in an hour is sufficient. So your internal cannister can act as a bit of a water polisher, so maybe get your hands on some finer filter media (like good ol'' the wool mat) and try it in the internal. It''ll probably clog up quick so check after a day or so to see how much it''s picked up.<
><
>By the way, if you''ve just upgraded to a bigger tank did you use the same internal filter untouched from your old tank? Always a good idea as you''ve already got the bacteria colony in your established filter, so pack the wool mat in there as extra (if there''s room). With one fish you should be right but your external will take a few weeks to get established biologically.

[ashhhh]

 so long as its no serious water quality problem, for crystal clear water put some carbon in one of your filters,<
>I use and highly recommend this product "zero colour" available from any good LFS, its a handy sized bag filled with a mixture of carbon and some other different coloured media it cleaned my 4x2x1.5 display tank within a day, tannins and all  Cheers<
><
>Ash.....<
><
>

[GTR73]

The problem I find with carbon is it can only absorb a certain  amount from the water, with the catch if you leave it in your filter too long it''ll leech those impurities back into your tank. <
>So I''m not a big fan which is why I didn''t mention it, but that''s just my opinion and each to his own. <
>I certainly wouldn''t throw it in an external filter as potentially the carbon will stay there for 3 months which is way too long. My understanding is carbon will absorb to it''s threshold within a week, but I could be wrong.  

[ashhhh]

I think it would depend on how polluted the water is, to how quick the carbon will become useless.As long as you have a healthy biological filter and good prefiltering you should at least get a month or so.<
>I have my carbon at the very last stage of my filter, so the water goes through 2 sets of prefilter sponge (which are cleaned every 3-4 days wich takes 5mins) then goes through the bio section, then a final sponge with a piece of perspex with holes in it which the bag of carbon sits on.Of course if you are lazy and leave the carbon in for longer than necessary it wont do its job, and as you said yeah each to his own. Carbon is not very expensive so why not give it a go, it may just do the trick........ Cheers<
><
>Ash.....<
><
>Edited by: ashhhh at: 11/7/05 18:36<
>

Carbon is an option. But wont really make your tank less cloudy. If its a new canister is wont really be doing anything to filter your tank, it will take at least 10-15 days for a decent level of bacteria to build up and start working as it should. <
><
>And when you wash your filter sponge''s or wool, always do it in tank water (not in the tank of course, but syphon some into a bucket) that way you dont kill the bacteria. And do it softly. <
><
>You can also get a product called "Stress Zyme" which will help to cycle your filter quicker, there is a few other products that do the same thing. And make sure that your not over feeding the fish, Is there any food left on the bottom? If i have a fussy eater i always feed tinny amounts over 15-20 minutes and make sure none hits the bottom. But again depends on the fish.<
><
>HTH.<
><
>Glen

[DeagonTheo]

Cloudiness is virtually impossible to filter out unless you use Diatomacious earth. It just takes a while for the bacteria in the filters to do its job.<
>Cut down on feeding untill it clears then go back to normal.<
>Theo<
>

[ashhhh]

quote,<
><
>"Carbon is an option. But wont really make your tank less cloudy".....<
><
>yes it will, and yes it does, <
> but from his post I am assuming that his tank is not a new setup and has been cycled, and usually has all parameters in check, and just has dirty water maybe? I dont know<
> Cheers<
><
>Ash.....<
><
>

[here fishie fishie]

Bacterial bloom.<
><
>I''d just do as Theo said & wait it out. <
><
>But if you can''t  <
>Purigen is the best for making water crystal clear.    sh%#s all over carbon & Purigen can be recharged so cheaper in the long run.   <
><
>Frenchy   "A house full of people is a house full of different points of view"<
>Edited by: here fishie fishie at: 11/7/05 22:50<
>

[GTR73]

Anyone ever use GeoLiquid? Never used it myself but a mate swears by it and reckons it clears the water like magic.<
>Can anyone rate it?

Thanks guys a lot of good info there - yes its an established tank been set up for a couple of years, and it went cloudy all of a sudden after a water change, which is WHY I bought the big cannister (aquapro1500). So far hasnt cleared a lot and have done 2 water changes. Opened the big cannister and not much bacteria yet so bought bioballs to add to the concrete cylider looking things. It has carbon then bioballs then like a sponge filter thingo in it. I threw in some old filter in the spare tray for good measure. Is it true I should remove the carbon? Thought I could leave that in there for ages. never had a problem before, but then I never used it b4 either! Will get lfs to test water if it doesnt clear up, however the fish are as happy al larry and ph indicator tests equal colour to a small tank i have full of loaches etc so i figure its ok otherwise the small tank and its weak inhabitants would show detrimental effects b4 the big guys...<
>cheers

[here fishie fishie]

<
>Carbon has a limited life span. Around a month.<
><
>Try & find some course foam for your cannister, it acts as a bacteria collector, catches waste & won''t clog up as quick as the finer padding. Bonus here to is too that it lenghtens the time on having to clean the cannister filter out. Never clean filters under tap water too.<
><
>Once you have finished with the carbon fill the tray up with more mini bio balls or ceramic noodles or a product like Matrix.<
><
>Geo Liquid does help clear the tank up, but you don''t need to use it for that, once the bacteria levels are up in the filters.<
><
>Frenchy  "A house full of people is a house full of different points of view"<
>

[DeagonTheo]

Unfortunately most people are under the impression that water changes will help to clear the tank, this is definitely wrong, as you are throwing out the developing good bacteria to replace it with raw tap water.<
>As I said the filters will not clear the cloudiness, the beneficial bacteria will.<
>Feed less or not at all. Dont clean your filters. It will clear once there is a balance.<
>Theo<
>

[GTR73]

Theo and Frenchy, you''ve raised a point that I once asked on other forums (even on here too), that I was shot down for - as the bacteria builds up in your tank and filters the clearer your water will be. Someone said this wasn''t the case but my experience indicated exactly what you guys have said. I started off a new canister and 4FT last year and at first I would clean the canister once a month - my water clarity wasn''t as good as previously. <
>I since learned to just leave the thing alone and now that it''s been running untouched for last three months my water clarity is best it''s ever been. So take heart Coby. <
>But I suspect this is due to an established bacteria colony in my canister (and on rocks etc), not being disturbed too frequently.<
>So can we establish exactly why - is this because an established bacteria colony is at peak efficiency in line with the waste load of the tank? Therefore the clarity is related to the amount of bacteria and how the colonies perform???<
>I agree with you guys whole heartedly but would love to know the science behind it.<
>Cheers. Edited by: GTR73 at: 12/7/05 12:36<
>

[here fishie fishie]

Quote:as the bacteria builds up in your tank and filters the clearer your water will be. Someone said this wasn''t the case I bet they aren''t using their filters properly.  so in their own case they are right <
><
>What you will find is that most people use internal filters, cannisters & the like, & the sponge that is in them is dense     & in internals not much sponge at all. <
>(is it a ploy by manufacters to then sell other products/ chemicals??)   <
><
>Bacteria needs oxygen, but because the dense foam clogs up quick with dirt, the oxygen can''t get through the sponge, hence the bacteria only live on the outside of the foam & on the inside, if there are any bacteria they may/will die. The surface area then isn''t large enough to support the bacteria, the little amounts of bacteria that do exist are hardly going to process much in the way of waste products. <
><
>I use coarse foam, hardly has to cleaned out at all. Once or Twice a year. Still do water changes weekly to keep the water clean. But I know the bacteria are alive & well in the filters.<
><
>For internals, use a plastic tube that fits the connection of the powerhead. Drill small holes throughout the tube. Bottom end of tube has to be closed. Get a cut of coarse sponge. Fit over tube, ta da, a better functioning internal filter, that only has to be cleaned once in a blue moon.<
><
>Frenchy  <
><
>ps:<
>Quote: In order to obtain stable aquarium water you need a sufficiently large bacterial flora which can process most  the waste products. <
>by;Kjell Fohrman. From an Ad Konings Book. "A house full of people is a house full of different points of view"<
>Edited by: here fishie fishie at: 12/7/05 14:05<
>