Particles In The Water

[lbennet]

Hi everyone,

I want to ask you guys about what I think its a common problem, but in my case, after several month trying different stuff, is remains unsolved.

I have a 20gal community tank with:
6 platis
6 cardinals
2 bloodfins tetra
1 molly dalmatian
2 small clown loaches.
No live plants.

No ammonia and ph is 7.2-7.4
40% weekly water change

My tank's water used to be crystal clear, but about 6 month ago I started to see particles in it, then I bought a second filter (now I have two aquaclear 20-40), but that didn't solve the problem.

So far I have tried increasing water changes, I removed all the deco, I remove all the gravel, I turned off the old filter an leave only the new one running, but none of this alternatives have solved the problem. I also bought the "polishing sponges" for the filters and then a bag of antiphosphate.

About one month ago another symptom appeared, I dont know if it is related or not with the particles issue but some fishes are "resting" at the bottom.

I have noticed that frequent water changes (twice a week) helps to alleviate this issue (fishes resting on the gravel).

do you think that I have to measure another water parameter besides ammonia and ph that can help me identifying these problems?

Please take a look at these videos, the second one is with filters off.

http/youtu.be/5Pu0-MwMEFc

http/youtu.be/BlpD3z7xKGo

thanks for you comments
Carlos

 

[Jinty McGinty]

No idea but I have something similar going on, but thought was normal.............

Lovely fish and tank too.

 

[Caprichoso]

How often do you rinse your filter media? If the sponges are clogged, it will just keep pushing out all the particles it sucks in. Also, with AquaClear, it's best to have 2 sponges and some ceramic bio rings on top. It will increase your bacterial colonies and likely straighten the problem out. Make sure you are not over feeding as well. Why do you have anti-phospahte in there? Also, what is your nitrite level at?

 

[lbennet]

How often do you rinse your filter media? If the sponges are clogged, it will just keep pushing out all the particles it sucks in. Also, with AquaClear, it's best to have 2 sponges and some ceramic bio rings on top. It will increase your bacterial colonies and likely straighten the problem out. Make sure you are not over feeding as well. Why do you have anti-phospahte in there? Also, what is your nitrite level at?

Hi,

My sponges are clean, I even exchanged them for a time with the polishing sponges, which are supposed to get rid of any particle in the water.
I used for a while the anti phosphate because I read somewhere that the phosphate was another cause oh cloudy water.

Do you think that my tank is overstocked? that's another cause of cloudy water and that's why I installed the second filter.

I dont know about nitrite, actually, thats one of the questions I'm asking here, besides ammonia and ph, what other parameters are important for my tank.

thanks
Carlos

No idea but I have something similar going on, but thought was normal.............

Lovely fish and tank too.

Hi
I don't think that those particles are normal, the water used to be clear before, and also, I watch a lot of videos out there in youtube of gorgeous particle free tanks.

but I'm kinda new in this hobby, so I'm not quite sure on whats normal and whats not....

Thanks for the reply

Carlos

 

[Caprichoso]

Ammonia, nitrite, pH and general hardness are good ones to know. Your tank isn't overstocked IMO. Ditch the anti-phosphate, slowly introduce the media I suggested. Gravel vac each week and up the water changes to 50%. Also, you could try doing daily changes of 25% to see if things improve. These particles should go away once you do that. Just to make sure, these "particles" are not "alive" are they? Have you taken a close look?

 

[fluttermoth]

That looks like bubbles from the filters to me...my son's Edge has HOB filters and gets the same.

Your not technically overstocked, but you need to rethink the clown loaches; they can get to over a foot long and are a very social fish that really need to be in a shoal of at least 6.

 

[Caprichoso]

That looks like bubbles from the filters to me...my son's Edge has HOB filters and gets the same.

Your not technically overstocked, but you need to rethink the clown loaches; they can get to over a foot long and are a very social fish that really need to be in a shoal of at least 6.

I thought it was bubbles at first too, but the other video has the filter turned off and then you can see the particles floating on the surface. At least that's what it looked like to me.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Are you near a woodworking shop or something similar? It almost looks like something has been floating through the air and landing in the tank. And did I read correctly that you exchanged the filter media for brand-new filter media? If that's the case then you started the cycle all over again.

 

[fluttermoth]

I thought it was bubbles at first too, but the other video has the filter turned off and then you can see the particles floating on the surface. At least that's what it looked like to me.

I saw that and they still looked like bubbles!

 

[lbennet]

Are you near a woodworking shop or something similar? It almost looks like something has been floating through the air and landing in the tank. And did I read correctly that you exchanged the filter media for brand-new filter media? If that's the case then you started the cycle all over again.

Hi

I live in a regular house in a regular residential zone, no wood shop nearby.

About the filter media, I need to correct myself, my filters are not aquaclear, are aquatech, there are two cartridges, one clothbag with carbon inside and another with the filter bio media (which i never change, just rinse in the aquarium water once every few months).
What I did was to replace the first cartridge with the polishing sponge on one filter only.

I'll buy the two recommended water tests, nitrites and hardeness and then I'll post the results.

I'll also try to do more water changes 25% during this week, but I already try that some months ago.

Thanks and good night.

Carlos

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I'd measure ammonia/nitrate/nitrite/ph
gh/kh too if you are buying kits anyway.

It COULD be that the frequent and rather large water changes are stressing the fish out, but it could also be necessary if you lost some bacteria when removing those sponges...

Water tests will tell all my friend.

 

[lbennet]

Hi guys,
I did the tests, while reading the results please keep in mind that I did yesterday a 40% water change.

Ammo 0
pH 7.2 to 7.4
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 40ppm
General Hardness 45ppm (according to test is between 30 and 60)
Carbonate hardness (alkalinity) 40ppm

I'm looking forward to read your opinions and suggestions.

thanks
Carlos