Ok, so my 10g tank (not planted) has kind of pissed me off since day 1. It looks crystal clear from a distance and from 2ft away. But if you look close you see that there are like little white specs floating all over in the tank. It does not look even close to a bacterial bloom. I do weekly water changes, sometimes more. I thought that I rinsed the gravel out well at the beginning. (even if I didnt, after it being set up since early september I would expect it to have come out with probably 20+ water changes) I will try to get a pic or video. I look closely at my 5g and I cant find anything of the sort. It looks crystal clear. I did turn off the air pump, and it helped a little but it is still annoying. Any ideas or is it just something i am going to have to put up with?
cloudy but crystal clear?
- Thread starter nerdyrcdriver
- Start date
never heard of that before! Iv only seen cloudy water from bacterial blooms. the gravel was new I take it?
I'd need to see a pic, but it sounds a lot like what my tank does... Just out of curiosity, what type of filter do you use?
It may be something different, but I began seeing light colored 'floaties' in my water. It reminded me of the 'stuff' that comes up when I gravel siphon. I had just been using sponge material in the filter. I added a good layer of filter floss as the last step in the filter to better polish the water. At least for me, this finer filtration has trapped these tiny particles.
I will try to get a good video tomorrow or pic. I cant find my good camera. I use a tetra pf10 I believe. It is a hob with a bio bag (filled with carbon?) and then what seems like filter floss big enough to shove a piece of gravel through easily. The gravel was new at the beginning. I am going to try using a cartridge from my 5g in the back of the hob if it fits. For that extra step. Either that or place it in the front. I should probably get around to seeding a new bio bag for the tank as well. I havent replaced it once yet and I have had it running since early to mid september. At least there is enough room to see the new media. I will try putting in a new bag (with the old one still there) and see if that helps at all.
I would call them little "floaties' looks kind of like what comes up when I clean the gravel. I think part of the problem is I have the smallest size gravel vac that the store sold (bought it for the 5g hex a couple years ago) It works great on the 5g. But in the 10g that has a thicker layer of gravel along with a lot more water, it just stirrs up a lot of crap and actually sucks out 35% of it. Frustrating. I plan on getting a bigger gravel vac soon for this tank. I think the hose is too small too. It doesnt let enough stuff past fast enough to get what I need out of the water.
I would call them little "floaties' looks kind of like what comes up when I clean the gravel. I think part of the problem is I have the smallest size gravel vac that the store sold (bought it for the 5g hex a couple years ago) It works great on the 5g. But in the 10g that has a thicker layer of gravel along with a lot more water, it just stirrs up a lot of crap and actually sucks out 35% of it. Frustrating. I plan on getting a bigger gravel vac soon for this tank. I think the hose is too small too. It doesnt let enough stuff past fast enough to get what I need out of the water.
id say replace the cartridge and see if that helps. man you just cant catch a break with the 10g can you? is it still cycling?
oh right it isnt cycled, my bad
long day at school, not in the clearest state of mind
dont even do it if the tank is cycled bc then it will be uncycled or you'll atleast have a huge mini cycle
if i change the catridge i let it sit in the tank in a filtration sock for a day or so to build up bacteria. there is still good backteria living in the subrate and once it is established its easy for it to grow. ive never had much of an issue doing this, changed cartridges a few times but i never reallly got a huge ammonia spike i was looking out for. very minor ones that were gone in 24hrs and i just dosed with amquel and tested for about a week to make sure. maybe im just lucky because my tanks have alot of plant life or something.