tropical1

where would i get one at and how much are they? and getting that diatone filter, will that clear the water up

cassb

Here's one, but I didn't shop around for the best price:

http://www.amazon.com/D-1-Diatom-Fil...3459012&sr=8-5

trojannemo

well since i cant get the diatom filter i tried something. got a fiber filter pad thing (basically thick cotton) that was recommended for adding to the filters. double my filter cartridges in the back, and in the front right before the water flows into the tank i packed both filters with the cotton thing in the front. that's at least got to add more filtration for the water no? it cant hurt, right?

tropical1

so you basically put double the sponge filter in there? kinda confused on what you did. i am trying to think of something i can do. i have the whisper30 filter. what filter do you have? wondering if a biowheel would work better since it has 3 different stges of filtration.

trojannemo

here you go. this is my biowheel 200 filter, in the back there's the two filter pads with activated carbon (the blue ones) and in the front that white is the fiber thing i bought at the LFS. packed all the way down. water is still flowing freely


this is the millenium 2000 wet/dry filter. the white in the back is one of two filter pads with activated carbon that i've pushed in there to fit. then you have the center plastic that's for bacteria to grow, and in the front the fiber.

tropical1

so you have 2 seperate filters on a 38 gallon tank and you still have this problem? thats wierd, i figured that would be plenty of enough filtration to catch the particles. so i guess i need to get more filtration myself. all i have is a whisper30. thinking of getting a bio wheel for a 50 gallon and taking the 30 off. then packing the biowheel like yours if that works for you. hopefully we can figure this eyesore out. but if not, i guess the cloudiness will eventually go away.

Tommy Gun

Hey trojannemo!

Is your water really as green as it looks in your pictures or are those plants?

trojannemo

water is crystal clear...well, except for the floating particles. that is not only the plants that i have, but i also have a planted background for the tank!
i did a 40% water change today btw, and this many hours after having added the fiber filter thing still no change...
i'm even running still without air bubbles to see if maybe things will settle or something...i dont know, this is frustrating!

Tommy Gun

Well that is good then. I thought you were trying to keep fish in kool-aid or something

Have you ever stopped all water movement in your tank at the same time to make sure it isn't your filters making bubbles or something?

If that doesn't work, I might take Jay's suggestion a little further and stop feeding your fish for a couple days. Perhaps it is the food you are using or you are over feeding. If you are using a flake food, I would try to avoid feeding your fish the little crumbs and you might also see some improvement if you were to take your time by adding three or four small amounts of food at each feeding versus throwing a pinch in and walking away. Hopefully that would help ensure that a lesser amount of food escapes your fishes' attention and goes uneaten.

I can't believe I am going to say this because I really hate them, but if all else fails, you could pick up a Magnum filter because you would have the option of using the micron filter media - which is somewhat similar to a diatom filter and perhaps slightly cheaper. At least one of those Magnum filters also comes with a biowheel HOB filter that acts as the return for the filtered water. I will be fair and say that my Magnum worked well on my FW tank for a long time, but on SW, the thing was only a source of heartburn for me. I would probably turn to that as a last resort though....obviously something is not normal seeing as how many people don't have the same problem, nor a diatom or magnum filter.

Can you get a picture of the water maybe?

trojannemo

i'll get the pics up soon. i'm feeding color enhancing granules for the most part (sometimes with algae wafers and flakes). i have stopped the water movement completely, but even if it were to be the bubbles, they wouldnt make the actual water look hazy i think. anyways, i don't throw a pinch and leave, i hand feed them! most of them anyways, the rest i throw very little and watch them eat. the tank is in my room, and i dont see it as a chore, it's my hobby...so everything i do i sit by it and watch it
i've had perfect clear water before, so i'm sure i can have it again. i just dont know what i'm doing wrong/missing

EDIT: can't take a picture of the water. at least not with this camera. without flash it's useless, and with flash it makes the water look perfect. i mean, you look at the water without light or from above the tank, and it looks crystal clear. when you look at the water inside the tank with the light reflecting on it, then you see the haze...