Planted Tank And Clear Water ?

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Hi all got a simple question but just dont know the answer to so sorry if it have been asked befor

any how i have a 4 ft tank have alot off plants in it.

The problem i am having is though that the tank water from the front off the tank look crystal spotless in fact but when you look from the side the water look cloudy. It hard to explain it though it not like white bloom it just not clear if that make sence. I am almost convinced it is the plants doing this to my water as i my other tank that dont have plants is crstal. And the water in my hospital tank came from my 4ft tank. Why is it doing this and what the best way to clear it up without med's etc. I have tried carbon and the cotton wool stuff that i can not think what it is called

Cheers ian

 

[ian]

I don't think it'd be the plants causing this Ian, not to sound patronising but is the glass (inside) at the side clean?
also is it a new set up?

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

I don't think it'd be the plants causing this Ian, not to sound patronising but is the glass (inside) at the side clean?
also is it a new set up?

Tank been running now for about 4 months. Yes the glass is clean you may giggle but ya not the first person to say this

I have tried to take a photo off it but it will not show up on the cam. The only reason i think it is the plants is if i put this water into another tank and run the filter for a couple days the water goes clear. And the only place it can be comming from is the plants the 2 tanks are the same setup apart from the fake plants vs live plants

So confussed LOL

 

[SuperColey1]

The only reason i think it is the plants is if i put this water into another tank and run the filter for a couple days the water goes clear.

Do you still use the same filter on the other tank or is it another filter which is 'polishing' the water on the other tank?

And the only place it can be coming from is the plants

Or the substrate or a fertiliser conflict or from a filter problem etc.

In answer to the first question. I have clear water in my planted tank and it has had no water change since September 2009 (10 months ago.) I'll let you judge how clear the water is:

AC

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

The only reason i think it is the plants is if i put this water into another tank and run the filter for a couple days the water goes clear.

Do you still use the same filter on the other tank or is it another filter which is 'polishing' the water on the other tank?

And the only place it can be coming from is the plants

Or the substrate or a fertiliser conflict or from a filter problem etc.

In answer to the first question. I have clear water in my planted tank and it has had no water change since September 2009 (10 months ago.) I'll let you judge how clear the water is:

AC

I thought it might have been the filter so i did try moving the filter from one tank to the other and it did clear. so def not filter.

Substrate i using is sand could you explain what you mean more there please ? And also fertiliser conflict i only use one so does that mean i wont get a conflict? Sorry for sounding dumb.

Still learning a lot as i go.

PS that is one fine tank

 

[SuperColey1]

Substrate i using is sand could you explain what you mean more there please ? And also fertiliser conflict i only use one so does that mean i wont get a conflict?

What you describe sounds to me as if it is one of 2 possibilities (there are more however these 2 are most likely)

Firstly it could be a bacterial bloom. This can be caused by the filter. Cleaning it too heavily sometimes can cause this. Not working very well or a general case of it not polishing. However if the same filter cleans the same water on one tank but not another then I would rule the filter out.

It could be that the substrate has a problem (not my specialist subject) and that is causing a bacterial bloom.

Secondly it could be that iron is conflicting with phosphate. Common problem with some setups in that when too much iron and or too much phosphate is causing the problem. The 2 react and can cause a very slight fog where the water appears clear at the front but gradually toward the rear as you are looking through more and more 'particles'it is similar to looking for miles on a misty/foggy day.

If you are only adding 1 fertiliser then it can still happen. Virtually all ferts will have iron in them. Even if they don't contain phosphate then it will be introduced via tap water and/or fish foods etc.

The likelihood of it being the fish food is pretty close to zero unless you're way over feeding. However if you live in some areas with high phosphates in the tap water (like I do in Lincolnshire) then it could be a problem but again we are talking about over fertilising because Iron only lasts in the water for a very short time before it reacts/is consumed. It becomes 'locked' very quickly and therefore the plants tend to soak it up ASAP like free beer at a wedding.

And thanks for the compliment

AC

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Substrate i using is sand could you explain what you mean more there please ? And also fertiliser conflict i only use one so does that mean i wont get a conflict?

What you describe sounds to me as if it is one of 2 possibilities (there are more however these 2 are most likely)

Firstly it could be a bacterial bloom. This can be caused by the filter. Cleaning it too heavily sometimes can cause this. Not working very well or a general case of it not polishing. However if the same filter cleans the same water on one tank but not another then I would rule the filter out.

It could be that the substrate has a problem (not my specialist subject) and that is causing a bacterial bloom.

Secondly it could be that iron is conflicting with phosphate. Common problem with some setups in that when too much iron and or too much phosphate is causing the problem. The 2 react and can cause a very slight fog where the water appears clear at the front but gradually toward the rear as you are looking through more and more 'particles'it is similar to looking for miles on a misty/foggy day.

If you are only adding 1 fertiliser then it can still happen. Virtually all ferts will have iron in them. Even if they don't contain phosphate then it will be introduced via tap water and/or fish foods etc.

The likelihood of it being the fish food is pretty close to zero unless you're way over feeding. However if you live in some areas with high phosphates in the tap water (like I do in Lincolnshire) then it could be a problem but again we are talking about over fertilising because Iron only lasts in the water for a very short time before it reacts/is consumed. It becomes 'locked' very quickly and therefore the plants tend to soak it up ASAP like free beer at a wedding.

And thanks for the compliment

AC

what you said about the fertiliser iron and phosphate sound like the problem i have spot on and i mean spot on. But you also go onto say that it only last in water for a short time and my tank have been like this for a good couple months i recon so a little confussed there. So if i stop given my plants ferts am i right in thinking it should clear pritty soon ? You do say about overfeeding. I dont overfeed but i am very generous with the food so i thinking this could be the problem would this be a accurate assumption I live in great yarmouth and the water quality well i can not put what it is on here but you get the jist

 

[SuperColey1]

what you said about the fertiliser iron and phosphate sound like the problem i have spot on and i mean spot on. But you also go onto say that it only last in water for a short time and my tank have been like this for a good couple months i recon so a little confussed there. So if i stop given my plants ferts am i right in thinking it should clear pritty soon ? You do say about overfeeding. I dont overfeed but i am very generous with the food so i thinking this could be the problem would this be a accurate assumption I live in great yarmouth and the water quality well i can not put what it is on here but you get the jist

While it lasts in it's usable form for a short period once it reacts that is what the cloud is. Unusable particles which used to be iron and phosphate but are now locked.

So it all depends on how heavily planted the tank is, how much you are fertilising, the light, the CO2 etc. Everything equates to uptake. this isn't a case of the 'phosphate causes algae' myth. It is a simple case of too much trace plus phosphate can cause milky water. How much of each it takes to cause it is totally dependent on the tank parameters.

So I may be clear yet someone else in my house using the same water to water change and the same fert at the same level may be milky purely due to the differences within the tank. Quantity of plants, plant types, substrate etc.

I would do a 50% water change each day for 3 days. The water will be clear and then see what happens after that starting the fertilisation at 20% of what you were.

Sounds to me like your tap water is giving the N and P a boost. The fert you are using is most likely a trace one. So for a week do 20%. If the water stays clear go to 40%. Each week up it until you see milky and then back off to the previous week's level

AC

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

what you said about the fertiliser iron and phosphate sound like the problem i have spot on and i mean spot on. But you also go onto say that it only last in water for a short time and my tank have been like this for a good couple months i recon so a little confussed there. So if i stop given my plants ferts am i right in thinking it should clear pritty soon ? You do say about overfeeding. I dont overfeed but i am very generous with the food so i thinking this could be the problem would this be a accurate assumption I live in great yarmouth and the water quality well i can not put what it is on here but you get the jist

While it lasts in it's usable form for a short period once it reacts that is what the cloud is. Unusable particles which used to be iron and phosphate but are now locked.

So it all depends on how heavily planted the tank is, how much you are fertilising, the light, the CO2 etc. Everything equates to uptake. this isn't a case of the 'phosphate causes algae' myth. It is a simple case of too much trace plus phosphate can cause milky water. How much of each it takes to cause it is totally dependent on the tank parameters.

So I may be clear yet someone else in my house using the same water to water change and the same fert at the same level may be milky purely due to the differences within the tank. Quantity of plants, plant types, substrate etc.

I would do a 50% water change each day for 3 days. The water will be clear and then see what happens after that starting the fertilisation at 20% of what you were.

Sounds to me like your tap water is giving the N and P a boost. The fert you are using is most likely a trace one. So for a week do 20%. If the water stays clear go to 40%. Each week up it until you see milky and then back off to the previous week's level

AC

Cheers all make perfect sence now.

Will give that a go and see what happen thanks ever so much

 

[wrighty.uk.gorl]

Just thought i would let you know that my problem was is now solved. I not sure weather the water changes did it or the problem i found with my filter cleared it but it crystal clear again. SO thanks for all the advice

Do feel rather dumb though turned out my fluval 205 was only moving 300 LPH after some new piping it moving ahell off alot more. Just prove how much rubbbish can really build up in just a few months

But thanks again