how to get a cleaner tank

sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
So I just did a water change. I turned off my pump and heater. When I finished I turned everything back on and a massive amount of junk came flying around my tank. It is still in there but not much anymore. What can I do to clean the inside of my tank? The top of my dt water has a ton of trash up there that I tried to scoop out with a net but nothing reality works. Anyone have any ideas on how I can make my tank look crystal clear?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
That's stuff that gets in the tubing....it will either settle, get eaten by something, or go back into the filter
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I would suggest either adjust or adding another powerhead to create more surface turbulance. Running carbon will give you crystal clear water. Your clean up crew and skimmer should pick up the rest of the junk flying around in the tank before long.
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/381707/how-to-get-a-cleaner-tank#post_3326433
I would suggest either adjust or adding another powerhead to create more surface turbulance. Running carbon will give you crystal clear water. Your clean up crew and skimmer should pick up the rest of the junk flying around in the tank before long.
Yep, the CUC and overflow and whatever else picked up the remaining junk in the tank. Running carbon? That's a new one to me... I'm going to do some research on that. I was just thinking this morning about getting more powerheads in the tank. I have zero movement on the base of my tank which is what I believe to be a main contributer to the exessive hair algae, and zero in the upper part of the tank which is why I have a circular movement up there and keeping the crap in the top of each side of the tank.
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
I love Fluval water polishing pads those things are awesome! They are intended for a canister filter but I put them in my hang on back filter. I use them with carbon and the water becomes crystal clear within the hour!
Another method is to disturb the stuff in your water before you do a water change with either a turkey baster on your rocks.
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
I have carbon media that came with my Fluval... should I just dump those in my sump? Like in between my baffles?
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Yep, in a pouch. Yeah, water flows through that area which is why I thought that would be the most effective area... would that be right?
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
yes with the most flow
If you have a fluval get some of those white polisher pads im telling you ..you will love them
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparty059 http:///forum/thread/381707/how-to-get-a-cleaner-tank#post_3326464
Yep, in a pouch. Yeah, water flows through that area which is why I thought that would be the most effective area... would that be right?
Yes that would probably be the best area for them. Just be careful not to stuff the buffles so full to the point that it reek havoc with the flow going through them. If you want some polishing pads then I'd get the ones that you can cut and fit to size. They're alot cheaper and do the excact same thing. Typically I'm not a fan of running that stuff on a reef tank but it's not a big problem as long as you replace them regularly.
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
No fluval in my DT. So I can't do that. I bought a Fluval for my QT and it came with carbon media that I don't use for my QT. So, I have three little pouches so I can just throw two of them in there and that'll be that?
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/381707/how-to-get-a-cleaner-tank#post_3326474
Yes that would probably be the best area for them. Just be careful not to stuff the buffles so full to the point that it reek havoc with the flow going through them. If you want some polishing pads then I'd get the ones that you can cut and fit to size. They're alot cheaper and do the excact same thing. Typically I'm not a fan of running that stuff on a reef tank but it's not a big problem as long as you replace them regularly.
I was reading information saying you should do this in tanks... do you?
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Whoops, didn't mean to say should do... meant to say, I've read you SHOULDN'T add carbon to your tank because it can take away some neutrients in the tank that are needed. I don't think I'm going to do add the carbon... I'm so unsure!!!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
lol...I guess everybody here should stop using it then. Carbon helps break down organic waste, neutralizes oder and makes the water clearer. The fact that it helps break down waste in a sense would aid in removing nutrients. Your tank is not going to be at a loss for nutrients which is evident with all of the hair algea that you have going on. But if it's nutrients that you are concerned about then you can always add more if that's your poisen. JMO...but by all means, do more research.
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Hmmmm, if many people do it, then I guess I see no reason why I can't. I guess I'll toss two of the pouches in tonight.
One more thing, I was going to start a new thread but want to just grab some more information here:
So, I took a look at my rocks and noticed all the live rock looks like it's in amazing shape. Some algae on it, but nothing considerable. However, ALL of the rock that was dead that I added to the tank is the rock that has the massive amount of hair algae on it. People have mentioned it's a process but when I spoke to my LFS guy he said you really shouldn't have a huge outbreak of algae... maybe a small amount but never a huge breakout. Is this something that is common in the process of bringing dead rock to life? I just find it odd that all of my dead rock that I put in the tank at the start is the only rock that has algae on it.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I've been running carbon on my fw tanks for years. I always have crystal clear water, no algae problems and all fish have been very healthy. I am currently running it on my saltwater tanks as well and untill the day where I see that it causes some kind of an issue or problem with my fish I will continue to run it. I like the way it makes my tank look and the tank doesn't smell foul.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/381707/how-to-get-a-cleaner-tank#post_3326574
I've been running carbon on my fw tanks for years. I always have crystal clear water, no algae problems and all fish have been very healthy. I am currently running it on my saltwater tanks as well and untill the day where I see that it causes some kind of an issue or problem with my fish I will continue to run it. I like the way it makes my tank look and the tank doesn't smell foul.
I also run it on all my FW tanks
I run 2 bags in my 29G SW tank
chemipure elite in the 54G and the 225G
 
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