LYNDYLOO Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 Hi Guys and Girls, I have a small problem, I have 2 Tanks, 1 x AquaOne AR 980 (230 Ltrs) Discus Tank and 1 x Aquaone AR 620T (125Ltrs) Community Tank. I'm running an Aquaone CF1200 Filter on both Tanks, ther Filter Media I am using is, Bio Balls, Ceramic Noodles and Filter Wool, the Community Tank is Crystal Clear, but the Disucs Tank is kind of hazy, I'm finding this very frustrating :roll: I do water changes of about 70% on the Discus Tank every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, I do the same with the Community Tank but only take out about 40%. Do I need to run a second Filter on my Discus Tank ?? Any ideas would be great :bounce: Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 Try using activated carbon for two days in that filter on the discus tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 Yea, I did think about that Not sure if it's going to be a sort term fix it though, I dont usually run Carbon unless I'm trying to get rid of Meds in the Tanks :roll: Could give it a go and See I guess. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I would get another filter, to turn over the volume of water in both tanks 5 times an hour you would be looking at 1800 L/H. But then again with the amounts of water changing you are doing I don't know if it would make a lot of difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 The Discus Tank is being turned over 5 times already with the CF1200 Thought that would have been more than enough to be honest, as you say, with the Water Changes I'm doing weekly the filter shouldn't be having to do too much work :roll: The only thing I can think of is the Water is being turned over more in the Smaller Tank and maybe thats why it's clearer :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 You would need to look it up as I can't remember the exact amount but a cf1200 with media in it is only turning over around 1000LPH (think it was like 950) I guess that would depend on the media how clogged it is, type of hosing if it had any kinks etc.. If you want your tank is be clear try running some very fine media (filter wool) I think you can get "polishing pads" from your petshop, it will pick up the finer stuff but will also clog alot faster meaning you need to clean out your filter more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Maybe I will try adding some Filter Wool to where the exsisting Filter was running through, still have the inlet and outlet set up the same way as it was, running through the top of the Tank, I have taken all the media out of the top and placed it into the CF1200. Will try the Filter Wool in the top of where the Filter Media was, for the inbuilt Filter, before I venture into trying anything else. Thanks everyone :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 That many water changes could be causing a wee bit of disturbance with the substrate and stuff? Or maybe its how its setup - may not be pulling as much from the discus tank as the other? Get a small hang-on filter like an aqua clear for the discus tank IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 5 times per hour isn't very much unless the tank is lightly stocked, how many fish are in the tank and how big are they? The water change regime seems overkill to me, but I'm sure some discus nuts would disagree, perhaps you caused a mini-cycle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Yea, I have been thinking of the Mini Cycle thing David R :roll: The Tank did go through a Cycle of some sort when I put the new CF1200 on the Tank, same thing happened with my Smaller Community Tank, the smaller Tank cleared nicely, but the Discus Tank never did, even though I used the media that had previously been running on the inbuilt Tank Filters :oops: Really not sure whats the best option to get this sorted :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I'd suggest testing the water, that should give you an indication of if its a mini cycle or just murky water. Either way I'd suggest increasing the filtration to around 8-10 times turn over if you need to do such large frequent water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 how many fish are in the tank and how big are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 why bother with activated Carbon? - you only use that to draw out the leftover medication otherwise carbon is pretty much useless. I take out the carbon and add more bio noodles in its place. biff it..and fill its space with more useful stuff like bio noods. I have a 2000L/H filter as well as a Fluval 303 on my 450L Discus tank with daily w/cs and I have crystal clear water I'm thinking about getting rid of the fluval and getting another 2000L/H filter since the fluval looks to be at the end of its natural life lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 blasphemy! :lol: carbon is the best thing ever! keeps the water crystal clear. most people WILL have problems cause they dont replace it on time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 HOW does the carbon keep the water clear? how does it chemically change dirty water when it's a relatively inert substance? it's only purpose is to clean up excess meds..waterchanges keep water clear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 ok. so read this thoroughly. note the .edu site so i cant be bashed for references. :lol: http://www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/wtprimer/carbon/sketcarb.html also I have noticed a relatively fair correlation between the people that complain about murky unclear water (at work) and those that do not have carbon in the filter (also people who i talk to at work). also there are a lot more sites out there that show the chem reactions that occur with that carbon. very interesting stuff if you like and can understand the whole reaction equation and see how it applies to a tank. :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 they're talking about removing solutes (right?) small enough to fit in those tiny lil holes etc? the articles talk about removing harmful chems from water so it's safe for public consumption, but it's talking about water already chemically treated and tricked through a water processing plant not organic breakdown and poo. Funny that people from a petshops would encourage activated carbon use? The removal of organic matter is via the first part to water processing but huge layers of pebbles to the same effect as bio noodles which I've learnt from Microbiology and had to do a seminar for so I'd rather stick to my textbooks than websites for info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Funny that people from a petshops would encourage activated carbon use? *ouch. never mind then :oops: i like carbon- being using it for about 10-11 years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave+Amy Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 if it makes you feel better having it in there then keep it for comfort, but water cleaning-wise it doesn't have much to do with water quality that you can see (like dirty water etc) it only goes to the level of removing things like chlorine etc that water treatment plants have to add to make water safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Well seeing as carbon bonds with most things, it attaches to all the dissolved solids and thus polishes the water. But will start breaking down and releasing the stuff again ~48hours. It is clearly not just for meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 OK, so here's what I have in the 3 trays in my CF1200 Filter Tray 1 = Bio Balls Tray 2 = Ceramic Noodles Tray 3 = Filter Wool What are these Bio Balls meant to do?? Would it be better for me to Take out the Bio Balls and replace them with Carbon?? Or more Ceramic Noodles?? I'm finding this rather interesting, so keep the comments coming, everyone has different idea's and theories which is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Bioballs increase the surface area for more colonization of nitrifying bacteria. I wouldn't replace them. I wouldn't replace them with carbon. I have found the best way to use carbon is to rinse it, then put it in the end of pantyhose and place it under the filter wool. This way the filter floss absorbs any loose carbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Hmmm :roll: Ok maybe I will try that then, will place some under the Filter Wool and see what that does, not sure I'm going to be able to put much in the Tray, as there's not a lot of room in there really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 You only need a cup, maybe 2. I only use 2 c for 325L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Ok here what I've done Before I went to bed last night, I placed Filter Wool in the Top of the Tank where the exsisting Tank Filter would have run through, I'm not using the inbuilt Filter on this Tank, I added a CF1200 instead, so filled the top up with Filter Wool, looks alot clearer this morning :bounce: So much nicer looking into a clear tank I did think maybe I could run the Inbuilt Tank Filter along with the CF1200 if I really needed too, but seems to me that the Filter Wool is taking care of the little bits that were obviously floating around the Tank. Thanks for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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