Ready to give up.

aceroc

aceroc

Member
I'm almost ready to give up the hobby. I have this dust looking stuff all inside my tank that i can not get rid of. I added a overflow system but it is still there. I hate spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars just to look in my tank and see all these micro specs floating everywhere. If i turn everything off they float to the surface but when i turn everything back on it looks like a storm in my tank. I checked my return and i see nothing comming out ( ie. micro bubbles ). Anyone have any suggestions on this cause it is making me want to give it up.
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
do you have any mechanical filtration?
if the float to the top, tryy syphoning them out during a water change
do you have any idea what they are?
 
aceroc

aceroc

Member
Yes i have 2 HOb filters but i turned these off to see if it helps and it doesn't. I talked to my LFS and they said it may be some kind of algae wich i disagree with cause they float to the surface like bubbles but do not pop. I was thinking maybe micro bubbles but they are so small that looks like dust and when they float to the surface they do not pop. Like i said i have spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars ( wich i understand it's what it takes ) but to look in my tank and not even enjoy the look gives me a headache and makes me want to give up.
Thanks
 
susieq

susieq

Member
Did you recently add sand to the tank? I have sand soaking in a bucket and some of it looks like styrofome that's floated to the top. I'm thinking about throwing it out. I'm afraid to put it in.
 
aceroc

aceroc

Member
I want to figure out the problem but at the moment i am thinking screw it. A fine mesh net wont work cause they are so tiny. Any one got any other ideas i can try before i just give up?
 
aceroc

aceroc

Member
I was using IO then i switched to IO Reef crystals. I don't use any additives as my levels have been pretty stable with water changes. My calcium is 360, this is where it has been holding even after the reef crystals.
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
hmmm definatly not Ca precipitation then......

does it seem like it is a mineral or some type of plant or animal?
 
aceroc

aceroc

Member
not really. Looks like a snow storm but really tiny specs. Like i said if i turn everything off they flaot to the surface but when i turn everything back on they get stirred back up and the storm is back. I took a glass and took some water out and there in the glass too and float to the surface but do not break like a bubble.
Thanks
 
oozy

oozy

Member
hello,
just a few questions for you,
1, how long has your tank been running,
2,has it cycled,
3,do you have anything alive in it, and what.
4,what are your water paremeters.
this is what i would do...if you have no live stock.
turn off your equipment, and drain it out with a syphon, carefully. up to 50% refill with new water, and your problem should be solved.
please awnser these questions, and im sure we can all get to the bottom of this,
it may help if you post a pic of your problem.
dont give up just yet, there IS an awnser, I belive you just need a large water change.
goodluck, please reply, and hang in there,
-oozy-
 
finn-a-gin

finn-a-gin

Member
Hang in there. We have all felt an extreme level of frustration at one time or another. Can you post a photo?
This may help everyone ID your prob.
Finns
 
aceroc

aceroc

Member
Tank has been setup and running for about 5 months, i waited 6 weeks and checked perameters to make sure the cycle was going and done before i added anything (besides the LR). I have 70 to 80 pounds of LR and 60lbs of CC ( I know this is my next project to switch to sand ) 2 perc clowns, a blue/green chromis and a lawnmower blenny. I have been doing weekly somtimes bi weekly water changes,depending on what i have going on.
I just did a 10% today and my reading are:
temp 80.deg
Sal. 1.024
PH 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - 10
Calcium - 360
dkh - 10
Phosphates - 0
I don't really want to give up but i am sure everyone here understands that when you spend all this kind of money and your tank looks horrible and yo ucan't figure out why it makes you want to give it up.
Thanks again.
 
finn-a-gin

finn-a-gin

Member
With such a small bio load, why the nitrates? Anyway, do you have the opportuinity for a photo?
Have you tried filter wool to filter out particulates?
Finns
 
aceroc

aceroc

Member
I am guessing from reading it is my CC substrate for the nitrates. I plan on changing this soon. I have some filter floss that is in my sump/refuge but doesn't seen to help any.I have a pic but don't know how to shrink it down to fit on here, the pic is too big.
 
finn-a-gin

finn-a-gin

Member
Not to sound like a dumbass... but maybe try to remove HOB, submerse intake in makeup water and catch returns to see if the impellor of your filter is causing this. ( grabbing at straws without a photo to research)
Try photobucket.com for hosting and resizing.
Feel the frustration for ya,
Finns
 
watertight

watertight

Member
Originally Posted by finn-a-gin
Not to sound like a dumbass... but maybe try to remove HOB, submerse intake in makeup water and catch returns to see if the impellor of your filter is causing this. ( grabbing at straws without a photo to research)
Try photobucket.com for hosting and resizing.
Feel the frustration for ya,
Finns
Sounds like a good idea - maybe it's a mechanical fault with one of the filters - plastic being ground off an impellor by sand or something?? Just a thought....
 
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