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help with water clarity


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#1 H2O

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Posted 21 March 2003 - 07:27 PM

I've got a 1m by 24" by 24" tang community tank with limestone and white gravel. It has been set up for nearly one year. The problem is that it seems to have really fine bits floating around when you look closely at the water with the lights on. :wall The filters I'm using is an eheim wet/dry cannister and two internal filters. There is really good circulation in the tank. What can I do to get rid of these bits?



#2 SLugg0

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Posted 21 March 2003 - 07:54 PM

Some things that I do successfully with my tanks to clear them of any fine debris is to either use an aquaclear mini packed with just filter floss left running on minimum flow for a few hours, or get a box filter and pack it with filter floss and leave that running as well.

Other more expensive long term solutions are to invest in a diatom filter to 'polish' the water but these are fairly expensive and not commonly used. The other option is to use some sort of flocculating agent although these have been known to cause problems with fish gills. The way the flocculant works is that it binds all the smaller particles into larger ones that sink and either collect on the bottom of the tank of get sucked up by one of the filters you have.

Chers
Jon



#3 CommodoreKev

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Posted 21 March 2003 - 09:16 PM

Are you sure it's lime stone, could it be sandstone. I had a problem with sandstone breaking down. Maybe less water circulation would stir it up less, let it settle to the bottom, and then give a chance to suck it up with a gravel clean? I've only got 2 peices of sanstone left in my tanks cause of this problem.



#4 matt1066

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Posted 24 March 2003 - 03:04 PM

I would invest in a Vortex diatom filter, a bit pricey but worth every penny. I use it weekly whenever I do a water change. After I'm done and the Vortex has made my water crystal clear, I attach a siphon hose to the intake and hoover th e substrate again. Leaves tour substrate just as spotless. They are difficult to get used to using, so if you decide to buy one give me a shout and I'll tell you about the shortcuts you can take to make your Vortex perform perfectly.

If I had to choose one indispensible piece of equipment-that would be it.

Regards,

Matt



#5 Mazimbwe

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Posted 24 March 2003 - 05:47 PM

Do you have the air-intake attachments hooked up to your internal filters??

I had a similar problem with tiny particles floating around my tank when I first got into fish. Turns out that my tiny particles were no more than the tiniest air bubbles.

Also, if you have a spare cannister filter(left over from the purchase of your last second-hand tank, through the Quokka) use that as a water/substrate polisher. Instead of using all the usual media, just use the very fine stuff(this doesn't need to be expensive Ehiem filter wool, if you ask around I'm sure you will find many peep's adapt things to do the job at a cheaper price) and run the Cheap polisher for a couple-o-days, in the water, then attach your Vac nozzle and do the bottom.
Might not get the water/substrate as clean as a flash Vortex but will cost a lot less too.



#6 H2O

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Posted 24 March 2003 - 07:58 PM

Due to my setup I can't add an aqua clear filter, which works well in clearing up fine bits in the water. I was thinking of getting another cannister filter but, from what I have read so far the Vortex sounds like a better investment.

With respect to the Vortex are there any additional costs for filter media etc after purchase or is it a once off purchase cost?

Does anyone know where I can get one "cheaply".

Thanks



#7 SLugg0

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Posted 24 March 2003 - 11:26 PM

From my understanding you need to keep buying diatom powder for the vortex filters which can be costly (correct me if im wrong). I am also interested in an approximate price ? I think Ben had some sort of cannister filter for sale with a "diatom" filter cartridge.. sounds interesting.

Cheers
Jon



#8 00 MooRRii 00

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Posted 25 March 2003 - 12:30 AM

Anyone know a chepa alternative for the same kind of problem in a large 8x3x2.5?



#9 mtchye

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Posted 25 March 2003 - 01:48 AM

For me the white fine filter floss method works the best. I know many people use it in trickles as the first media at the top that the dirty water encounters, this filters out most of the large gunk and lets the biomedia underneath do its work... This is what i use: Blue filter foam prefilter at filter inlet, white fine floss .. then followed by whatever bio media.. the blue foam keeps the really large stuff out of the filter and also helps keep the impeller bits cleaner, and can be easily rinsed out everytime it gets dirty... the white stuff polishes the water and makes sure you practically never have to wash your bio media further along the line as they will not be clogged.

HTH

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#10 nOOSE

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Posted 25 March 2003 - 07:23 PM

yeah i got the same problem where i have bits floating around in my tank. i run a cannister filter system which i made myself using a bucket and a powerhead. i'm pretty sure the bucket filter is working coz water comes out of the other end. i have bought a really fine white filter media which should be polishing my water really well but i still have heaps of floaties.

i have a 4 foot by 2 foot by 20". and my pump does max of 1400L/h but it's got a head of about 1 and a half metres. so it would prolly be running at onli max 500L/hour

Would u recommend a stronger powerhead.?



#11 emp1re

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Posted 25 March 2003 - 08:03 PM

i have a 6x2x2 tank running on a trickle filter system.

i used the white fine filter floss at the top of my trickle filter to collects any dirty or large particles. Then bioballs and green filter sheet in the middle . At the bottom i has 2 bags of active carbon, this will attract any ionised particles in the water before the water is pump back into the tank. Active carbon become ineffective after 2 months of used.



#12 matt1066

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Posted 27 March 2003 - 05:14 PM

If you go with a Vortex the only additional items you will need on an ongoing basis is diatom powder @10usd for 5 lbs. Last about 3 months. You will alos need to replace the filter bag every 6-7months @ $10usd. Go with a mail order company for all that stuff. Dont know what you have down there, but in the U.S. we are crawling with mail order houses.

I just cant tell you how great they work, once you get the procedure down.:bd

Matt



#13 SLugg0

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Posted 27 March 2003 - 09:10 PM

Just to let you guys know the cost here is a local mail order place based in Perth (I'm in no way affiliated with this place etc etc):

http://www.aquaria.com.au

The Diatom Filter, Vortex X-L- $399.95



Diatom Filter, Vortex D-1- $325.95



Vortex Diatom Freedom Filter - $??



Haven't seen these available in Australia but unlike the above 2 these are meant for continuous use in an aquarium

Diatom powder 1 kg - $7.95
Diatom powder 5 kg - $29.95

Both are suggested for up to 200lt tanks (I'm sure they could be used on larger) and im not sure exactly what the difference is between them.

Another interesting thing I remember a while ago is that in the Pool section of bunnings when I was looking at chemicals they sold "diatomous earth" which may be the same as diatom powder.. it was used in pool filtration. Maybe something to check out.

Cheers
Jon

Edited by: SLugg0 at: 3/27/03 4:38:54 pm


#14 matt1066

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Posted 28 March 2003 - 04:52 PM

WOW! Vortex XL 99usd

Matt






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