Particles in water

[89-lx]

Well I've been running my tank for over a month now, had 2-3 snails die, and my 2 blue-green chromies are doing very good. They are darting all over the aquarium with speed, they love the live rock setup that I made for them, and when I show them the food container, they come darting right up to the front top of the tank, waiting for me to drop the food in.
But with that aside, I am having an issue with a lot of particles, not too sure if its water bubbles or substrate, but they seem to always be floating around in the tank. I have a good powerhead along with the stock pump in the 29 gallon biocube, along with the oceanic protein skimmer. Ammonia is at 0, nitrite is at 0, nitrates are less than 20 ppm (hard to tell the color at that hue), ph is about 8.2 and salinity is at 1.024-1.026. Mine you, this is my first salt water aquarium, and everything seems to be doing great other than the particles. Here is a few pictures showing it:

 

[subielover]

Do you have any type of mechanical filtration? Like filter floss or anything?

 

[spanko]

There is a place in the compartment with the return pump where the hose comes from the pump up to an elbos where it enters back into the tank. The hose connects to a smaller pc. of pipe that may have slid one way or the other allowing a small amount of air to be sucked in. Check that out first. Which compartment do you have the skimmer in?

 

[89-lx]

Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2862963
Do you have any type of mechanical filtration? Like filter floss or anything?
I took the mechanical filter out of the first chamber and put the protein skimmer in, per the directions. First chamber is the protein skimmer, second is the biological filter with bioballs, 3rd chamber is the pump and sponge filter.
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2862971
There is a place in the compartment with the return pump where the hose comes from the pump up to an elbos where it enters back into the tank. The hose connects to a smaller pc. of pipe that may have slid one way or the other allowing a small amount of air to be sucked in. Check that out first. Which compartment do you have the skimmer in?
Check, its all on.

 

[spanko]

Is the Koralia up too high. I noticed that if mine is too high, not all the time, but once in a while a small vortex will form at the top of it and actually suck in some air and blow bubbles into the tank, the go away again.

 

[subielover]

Buy some filter floss, I use a product I got from a local craft store called Polyester Fiber-Fil, but your lfs should carry something similar as well. Simply place some on top of the drip tray, this will help to catch a lot of the particles that are floating around your tank. Be sure to change it out though often. I generally change mine about 3x week, usually when I top-off.

 

[89-lx]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2862980
Is the Koralia up too high. I noticed that if mine is too high, not all the time, but once in a while a small vortex will form at the top of it and actually suck in some air and blow bubbles into the tank, the go away again.
I have mine pointed downward, so I am starting to wonder if its hitting the substrate, and stirring that up, but most of the stuff is moving around in the middle of the tank, with some just spinning very slow on the top.
Originally Posted by subielover
http:///forum/post/2862987
Buy some filter floss, I use a product I got from a local craft store called Polyester Fiber-Fil, but your lfs should carry something similar as well. Simply place some on top of the drip tray, this will help to catch a lot of the particles that are floating around your tank. Be sure to change it out though often. I generally change mine about 3x week, usually when I top-off.
I'll try and grab some later today.

 

[subielover]

I was surprised how much junk that just some filter floss pulls out. I hope that helps.

 

[spanko]

Yup could be the power head stirring up some loose sand particles. Adjust it some and see what happens. Physically move it down the glass some and then point it upwards more. Worth a try at least.