Beginner filtration question

[troyofhouston]

Guys,

I just changed out my entire aquarium. It's a 75 gal. and I just removed all decorations and removed the gravel. I replaced it with a lava rock background (with caves) and sand.

I had an issue before I did all of this with the water clarity. There always seemed to be little white particulates floating around that made the water look slightly cloudy (not totally cloudy) but I always strive for perfection. LOL!!! Now that I have changed everything out (24 hrs ago) I still seem to have this cloudy haze.

I currently am running an Eheim 2028 and an Eheim 2215. Both are flowing awesome but the don't seem to be catching those tiny particulates that are keeping me from achieving that crystal clear look.

Is there something else that I can do? Should do? Or am I just being too impatient and OCD?

Any advice, suggestions, or imput would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

T.

[imagirlgeek]

It could be a couple of things....

1. Could be a bacterial bloom. Are you testing your water? I would rule that out first since it's dangerous to the fish.
or
2. Just could be crap stirred up in the water. A sponge filter does wonders. I've also used Seachem Clarity on occasion with success. I believe it just binds those tiny particles so they are filtered out more easily.

[stevenallenbarnard]

sounds like a bacteria bloom. keep up regular water changes and it should stabilize itself.

[Mzungu]

What kind of media do you have in the eheims? Adding some fine filter pads or some filter floss (without changing out too much of the media already in there) might work wonders. :)

[mark razmandi]

sounds like a bacteria bloom. if your water has a white haze then thats most likely what it is. what kind of media and how much of it do you use? put some quilt batting or pillow fiber in the filter and your water will be crystal. also if you wanna use some kind of product to help you can use purigen, its the best in my opinion.

[geoff_tropheus]

What kind of sand did you use and how well did you rinse it?

[eklikewhoa]

Could it be the intakes/outputs are drawing in air and cause microbubbles? possible air leak?

Many possibilities.

[troyofhouston]

I got the sand at Leslies and rinsed it really well in a 5 gallon bucket. I kept messing with it trying to get it to produce more cloudiness and could not....so I figured it was rinsed well enough.

I don't believe that there is any air being introduced. I think I will try some floss in the 2028 (since there is room) and just see what happens.

Well, the water has cleared up a bit as of today. There doesnt appear to be any pariculates floating around anymore, just a white haze. I was debating getting a Magnum with a micron filter but think I will try the sponge material in one of my canisters first.

[mark razmandi]

I got the sand at Leslies and rinsed it really well in a 5 gallon bucket. I kept messing with it trying to get it to produce more cloudiness and could not....so I figured it was rinsed well enough.

I don't believe that there is any air being introduced. I think I will try some floss in the 2028 (since there is room) and just see what happens.

Well, the water has cleared up a bit as of today. There doesnt appear to be any pariculates floating around anymore, just a white haze. I was debating getting a Magnum with a micron filter but think I will try the sponge material in one of my canisters first.

my leslies made a white cloud almost like a bacteria bloom....try a water change.

[troyofhouston]

I'll give the water change a shot and see what happens.

Thanks for the advice Everyone!!

[troyofhouston]

Ok.... This is wierd. There looks like there is an oil film on the surface of the water.

Anyone ever seen this?

[cichlid1409]

not weird at all.....need more surface aggitation, or a surface skimmer on your filter to get rid of it. and a water change wouldn't hurt.

[mark razmandi]

+1 on more surface agitation, i get this film on my planted tanks. but i dont want surface agitation.

[imagirlgeek]

I've never done this, but I've heard where people use paper towels or newspaper to pick up the film. They say to carefully lay it on the top of the water and gently lift it back off.

It's common...

[FrontosaurusRex]

What kind of media do you have in the eheims? Adding some fine filter pads or some filter floss (without changing out too much of the media already in there) might work wonders. :)

I've heard that people use an Aquaclear110 and filter floss to help get the tiniest particles out of the water. I'm about to do this on my tank.