White Particles Circulating In Tank

[WarwickL]

Hi everyone
 
Used to run FW tanks many years ago and decided to get back into the hobby gradually with a small 60L tank.
 
Water parameters
 
pH 6.8
Ammonia and nitrite zero
Nitrate 10 ppm
Soft water
Iron tests perfect
 
Tank has been running 6 months now.
 
6 corys, 8 cardinals, 1 platy and a bristlenose.
 
Fed daily with one day off. Hikari micro pellets and Hikari sinking wafers and one day with frozen tropical mix. Bristlenose gets a slice of zucchini most nights.
 
Planted with a number of anubias, java ferns, broadleaf chain swords and banana lillies - all growing well.
 
Weekly water changes of 20-30%.
 
I was dosing with Flourish comprehensive and Excel but stopped to see if that would resolve the issue - no luck. I also use root tabs (Seachem).
 
Running an AQ 30 with AQ foam block, purigen and biomedia. Circulation is good.
 
For the first 4 months, the water had high clarity but in the last few months I am seeing fine white particles circulate in the top of thank, only visible under the LED lights at night. During the day water looks crystal clear and I am sure the white particles become more obvious as the night progresses (under lights),
 
I've tried polishing pads, running an extra filter with fine media, stopped feeding for a few days etc. Water changes make no difference.
 
No luck.
 
The particles just seem to keep circulating.
 
I can only think it is a bacterial bloom but parameters are fine and purigen should take care of DOCs.
 
Any ideas ?

 

[Blough]

Can you post some pictures?

 

[WarwickL]

Hi there
 
Photos just don't show the particles, I've tried. They are distinct small white particles in suspension. Finer than sand particles.
 
Don't see how they can be bubbles as there is no source for them other than the AqauClear filter. Too many to be outgassing from plants.
 
If the water parameters were off or I was overfeeding/overdosing something I could understand but I'm stumped.
 
Tank looks incredibly clear until you get up close when the LED lights are on. Fish are all fine and none are breathing rapidly or gasping at the surface.

 

[WarwickL]

Managed to get a photo using three light sources

Looks bad in the photo but only visible up close under strong light.

 

[WarwickL]

I'd run a canister filter full time if I could but the only location for the tank means there is no way to run an external canister filter long term - no where to keep the canister lower than the tank (I'd love to put a Fluval 105 on it). As the tank is only 60L I want to avoid an internal filter so a HOB is my only option.

Edit - would upgrading to an Aquaclear 50 make a difference ?

 

[WarwickL]

Resolved the issue using four days of treatment with Seachem Stability.