Clear water questions

[mytank]

I have an 80 gallon fish only tank and currently have a fluval 404 and a red sea skimmer. The question that I have is that my water is cloudy and I want crystal clear water. Any ideas on how to clear this up, did a 20% water change and still cloudy. What exactly does a sump do and is this needed????? What exactly does a powerhead do, just add air to the tank??? How does a sump work?????? Please explain, thanks.

 

[nas19320]

1. A sump basically adds to your water volume and gives you a place to hide equipment such as heaters and a protein skimmer. Do a search for more info.
2. A Powerhead can add air but you do not want that in a SW tank. It provides circulation in a tank. I reccomend Maxi-Jet PHs.

 

[daniel411]

A bag of activate carbon in a high flow area might help clear the water up.

 

[mytank]

Daniel411........please explain more where would the bag of carbon go???? sorry if this sounds stupid. Would I need to buy more equipment to hold this carbon bag and what is needed?????

 

[wmschenck]

Your fluval should have a place to add carbon. The carbon acts like a chemical filter and will pull any "liquified junk" out of the water. It does a great job of making wate crystal clear. Also, check your chemistry. You might have some ammonia in the tank causing it to get cloudy. Anything die in the tank recently?

 

[nacl-man]

How is the protein skimmer working? Is it pulling a lot of gunk out? I'd try carbon in your Fluval. I use Kent Reef Carbon and have been very pleased with its performance.
Is the fluval and the Skimmer the only water movement you have? If so I would add some powerheads ASAP. The 404 is not nearly enough turn-over IMO.
You need high water turnover to keep waste suspended in your water so it may be removed via your Fluval filter.
HTH.

 

[mytank]

there is never anything in the skimmer and for the fluval I am following the directions with the carbon and ceramic tube things. How often would you change the carbon on this???? I need also to get a Maxi jet PHS to get the water moving to produce water movement.

 

[mytank]

also, 2 margurita snails died in the tank, the amonia level suprisingly was zero,