Bits Of Poo? In Water Problem!

[who-izzet]

I have a 5ftx2ftx2ft tank and I admit my tank is abit over crowded. I don't have any problems with the fish or health and havn't really but there is alot of black bits of what I guess is poo on the sand substrate. I have an eheim external filter which is for the 5ft tank and I clean it as instructed and I also have a Fluval 4 internal filter but I can't seem to get rid of these black bits that can be from 1mm to 3mm.

I am looking to downgrade with the fish. I have 4 very large plecs that could be the main cause. I am also thinking about getting rid of the 4 5 inch Kissing G's, to try and solve this problem.

Other fish housed are small bala sharks x2, 3 large golden barbs, 1 large sydnotis, 2 bolivian rams, 1 very large sucking loach, a group of medium corys and about 20 livebearers.

Any suggestions that could work with sand substrates? Or can you confirm it's the plecs? or what else could be the problem? It really annoys me because I like the water crystal clear but not sure this is a good idea. I do regular water changes 10% once every Sunday. Also I will add I have bogwood in the tank but cleaned the tank and took out the bogwood for a couple of weeks and to no effect and I have 5 onion plants and 2 anubuis which are in tip top shape so I doubt its the plants.

 

[Larissa]

It sounds like you need to get a substrate vacume/syphon and clean your sand when you do your water changes. This might help take care of the "poo" problem lol.

 

[who-izzet]

It sounds like you need to get a substrate vacume/syphon and clean your sand when you do your water changes. This might help take care of the "poo" problem lol.

lol thanks Larissa, I've tried syphoning it out but it's back within days. A 25% water change normally makes the water clear but it takes exactly 7 days to get dirty again.

I'm sorry about the poo bit but I'm not sure how to spell faeces

Thanks.

 

[Larissa]

That's completely normal. Fish poop, and it builds up pretty quickly - especially if you have a lot of fish. All you can really do is regularly clean the substrate or get a dark coloured substrate like black sand or gravel to mask it. Having a few less fish might help as well, but I'm not sure by how much. HTH.
-Larissa