My quest to solve my "cloudy" water

[|squee|]

I just want to make a simple poll here among those who have ceramic diffusors, ADA Aquasoil Africana, and have fans blowing at their tanks.

Here's my problem. I use all the above three equipment.

1) My water looks clear from far, but when you take a close-up look, you see lots of particles in the tank. It's not a bacteria bloom, and not an algae bloom. I've seen both cases, and I'm sure of my deduction.

2) These particles somehow cannot be filtered off, and they float around in the tank and do not go away. I have bought and inserted additional filter sponge, to no avail. For the record, it's the sponge bought from NA that is packaged in a simple plastic cover and with "Atman 3335" written on top in marker ink. I've also used a water floccuent, no solution.

3) They look to me like very minute bubbles ( but bubbles all rise up don't they? Mine floats around ), or they are dust particles blown into the water from my fan. They certainly don't look like they come from the Aquasoil.

The thing is, this "cloudiness" appeared after I changed from a external reactor to a ceramic diffusor. But how the heck can a diffusor cause this? Too many bubbles, thus the water is full of bubbles to the extent that it clouds the water?

Anyone has the same experience?

[stormhawk]

If you have minute particles that are not air bubbles of some sort, get a diatom filter to polish the water. It removes super tiny particles to ensure that your water is crystal clear to a very big extent.

Its nothing to do with your ceramic diffuser. If it was air bubbles then it would certainly float to the top and disperse. If it hangs about in the water then its just tiny particles.

I can live with the presence of this particles but it all depends on personal preference. If it still bugs you, go get that diatom filter I mentioned, but do note that the use of diatom powder can cause respiratory problems if inhaled accidentally.

[|squee|]

I thought of that too, but in the long run it'll be tedious if I were to hook the filter up just to get this clarity of water which others that have the same conditions as me get to have easily without a diatom filter

I wanna solve the filtration problem first... see if the particles can't be filtered out somehow.

[loupgarou]

if you want to get this ultra fine particles removed.

try some clumping agents (ie: those clear water solutions).

how old is your filter wool? it must be sufficiently aged so that the filter wool is clogged with larger particles .

[ranmasatome]

tried..water purification filters?? they come in 0.5 microns and 1 micron.. or even smaller.. 0.2 or 0.1... but no need so small lah..the previous 2 would be good enough in my opinion..

[Justikanz]

I also have this problem with these fine particles in the water... Noticed they most likely come from the external filter...

Diatom filter? Hmm... expensive? Where can I buy it? But cannot use on a 24/7 basis, right?

[Goondoo]

I also have this problem with these fine particles in the water... Noticed they most likely come from the external filter...

Diatom filter? Hmm... expensive? Where can I buy it? But cannot use on a 24/7 basis, right?

could be your pump too powerful

[stormhawk]

Diatom filter? Hmm... expensive? Where can I buy it? But cannot use on a 24/7 basis, right?

Yes they're expensive. I don't think you can find them locally. You might have to order it from overseas and get it shipped here personally. A friend of mine has a Vortex Diatom Filter and I have seen its ability.

And yes, they're not meant to be run on a 24/7 basis.

Just charge the bag with diatom powder, bleed the filter to remove trapped air, plug in and turn on, instant polishing of the water within 15 or so minutes.

[Justikanz]

Dun think the filter too powerful... I bought an undersized Ehiem filter... Then I am running it at 3/4 power... See my post in http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...5&goto=newpost

Diatom filter... hmm... Need to check if any shops can order for me... Keke... So tempted to buy just to see crystal clear water...

[stormhawk]

Kanz, note however that the diatom powder comes with a risk. It is some sort of diatomaceous earth, plainly speaking, its very fine dust from some mineral of some sort. If you inhale it accidentally, it can cause respiratory problems.

The powder itself is almost like talcum powder, very very fine. Use it only if you're willing to undertake the risk, otherwise a 0.5 micron pre-filter like what ranmasatome mentioned will work very well instead.

[|squee|]

Pre-filtration? ranmasatome, do you mean that I could try using the wool material found in water-purification systems?

I've a sudden vision of putting a layer of it into my cannistor filter, but won't that slow down the rate drastically since it's 0.5 micron (as in difficult for the powerhead to "suck" the water through?)

It's been 3 hours into the floccuent treatment. No visible results yet.

I've also changed the output to a vertical spray bar underwater, to try and help circulation.

[greenie]

squee, I was in the same predicament as u. Same setup - ceramic diffusor (now using reactor but ceramic diffuser still in there), ADA Aquasoil Africana, and have fans blowing. Thought my canister filter under power (Diamond ??). My old tank is 4x1.5x1.5. New setup 4x2x2 and setup completed in Jan 2005.

For 6 months water cloudy. My old tank took a few days to clear up. I did massive water change weekly after 3rd month. But after 4 hours became cloudy. Bought floccuent treatment from Seachem. Became worst - like the haze of 1997. Read somewhere to dose LGA and Micros on different days. Result is no change.

Then read that not to change water, instead top-up water that is loss thru evaporation. Slowly in a month water became clearer. See pic I took yesterday. Still can see a bit of cloudiness in the background but it is an improvement

[rosha]

hello bro

u try to buy bacteria from Bioplast it at boon keng rd
a german product cost about $18
so far i use that for my 5x2x2 tank


thks
ahmad

[|squee|]

Well you guys seem to be thinking it's a bacterial bloom.

It's not!

It's some suspended dust/dirt particles in the water and I'm really really frustrated as to how to get it off.

I bought Seachem Renew, stuffed it into a internal filter and put it in. The water was only very slightly clearer.

I'll be trying carbon next.