Water doesn't look clear....

FaFaFooey

AC Members
Aug 27, 2006
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San Diego
I've had my tank up and running for a few weeks now. 70g acrylic with sump box, fake plants, driftwood, 9 tiger barbs, and the temp at 82 degrees. Now it looks like tiny lint particles floating around in the water, and even sticking to the sides. Is it maybe my sump is not working properly? This set up was used when I got it so really I don't even know how the sump is supposed to work. It also came with a cannister filter but I didn't hook that one up because I couldnt figure out how I would run or where to put it. Anyways, I'm worried maybe my filter is not working properly. Any ideas?
 
Try running your canister and seeing if it helps.

I don't think (im not sure because ive never bothered with a sump) sumps are supposed to be the only filtration in a tank. Espically a tank of that size.

If you don't want to add your canister (which I think you should) then perhaps you can add a powerhead with a sponge filter to see if it clears up ...

If it does then you know the problem.
 
Well my biggest problem with the cannister is where to put it. There are 2 rectangular openings on the top of the aquarium, which are being covered by my light strip, then there is a small round hole being used by my return line from my pump in the sump box. I can not move that since it is PVC pipe connected to underneath the tank. Then there is an opening for my overflow box that houses a couple sponges but I would think that would useless for a filter line anyways. I also have a canopy covering the entire top of my aquarium. So....I'm not sure where to put the cannister filter.....I would be more than happy to use it.
 
how often are you changing the polypadding in the sump?
 
A sump is really just bio filtration if I am not mistaken (I don't run one). A canister would add mechanical to that. I would definately run both. Adding something like filter floss to the canister might help trap out the tiny particles and clear that water right up.

If you don't knwo how to setup the canister try the manf.'s website. They usually have manuals on them.
 
premade sumps, not diy, have a slide out tray positioned over the biomedia for filter floss / padding
 
Well what I have, has the name on the front of it...."Living Reef Systems, Inc". Where the water runs from the overflow box, down the pipe through the bottom of the tank and flows into the box, there is a scrubber like filter pad? Which then runs onto a tray that has a bunch of squares in and then trickles down to more scrubber like looking filter pads rolled a bunc of times tightly, then trickles down and flows into the next compartment where the pump then leads the water right back up through my overflow box and then into the tank itself. Sound about right?
 
I have a sump on my 75 ..it is the only filter I use.

many sumps have (as budrecki pointed out) mechanical filtration. mine utilizes a tray where floss or a pad is used( I opted for a pad with a layer of ceramic rings under the pad). it filters out most of the larger particles. it also has a section where the water lows up and over a dam..at this point I added sponges(ac ) where it adds a secopnd point to filter out particles.

I had a bloom when I first ran the tank earlier this year..it stopped after a couple days and is clear now.
 
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