kiwis Posted December 30, 2016 Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 I have a planted aquarium and I want to improve the quality of water in my tank. I do water changes weekly (about 30-40%). I clean my filter wool regularly. Maybe not enough but I do it often. I cover the glass during day light hours. There are 2 issues I want to solve. 1. How can I reduce algae in my tank. I get a lot. 2. How can I improve the water. Event after a clean it's still only 80-90% clean and after a couple of days it's not that great again. By the following weekend it's almost overdue for a clean. What can I do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 30, 2016 Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 More filtration may help and/or you may be over-feeding giving the algae lots of nutrients in which to flourish. They would be the first things I would look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwis Posted December 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 So before more filtration is purchased. I could look to do water changes twice a week. if that improves quality then that would be my main issue, Correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 30, 2016 Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 Do you know anyone you could borrow a filter from to see if it makes a difference? What sort of filtration do you have and what size is the tank? What sort of algae are you having trouble with? Sounds like you mean the water does not stay clear. Twice weekly water changes may help but better to address the cause, not the result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwis Posted December 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 386L of water and a aqua one Aquis 1200 filter. Sadly I don't know anyone with a larger filter, let alone one I could borrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 30, 2016 Report Share Posted December 30, 2016 Specs say that filter is suitable up to 250L. You don't need to borrow/buy a larger filter as you just need one to run along with the one you already have big enough so the combined flow rate is enough for your tank. It pays to get a size larger than recommended too as the specs on the boxes are for a filter running empty and does not allow for the eventual drop in water flow as the media catches the debris. Increase your water changes until you can afford to buy another filter. I would get another 1200 and have one at each end of the tank. You can never have too much filtration - unless the fish are swimming backwards in the current Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 1, 2017 Report Share Posted January 1, 2017 Yeah, I'd go with another 1200 too. You're definitely under filtered. I've got an FX5 and an AC1200 like you've got on my 440L tank and it still has a lot of little particles floating around in the water. Occasionally along with bunches of detritus worms, yuck. Even wrapping my powerhead with filter wool turning it into an 8000 LPH filter that completely clogs up the filter wool in an hour or two doesn't get all the particles out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russelletino Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Maybe live plants would help? I really don't know and I'm no expert but my guess is that live plants would help clean the water and if you do decide to get them, still another filter haha, best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Live plants certainly help but not for clearing water in this case. More filtration is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Yeah, they'll absorb some ammonia, nitrates etc but as far as mechanical? No way, if anything they'll make it worse. All the little bits of rotten leaves and plant debris will make it worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agua Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 A small internal UV filter will get rid of algal blooms pretty quick i got one on trademe for $30 dollars and only need to use it on occasion. For water clarity i use a product called Purigen by seachem, some activated carbon would work too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shilo Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 UV etc will work in clearing the algae in the water and specialised media will improve clarity but it is better to solve the cause then the symptom. Algae needs food and light to grow so better filtration will defiantly help in reducing its food (ammonia, nitrites) as will reducing the amount the fish are feed and upping water changes to get rid of nitrates, phosphates etc. This will also improve clarity. If there is still a problem then reduce the amount of light or / and light period to slow down the algae. Finding what works just takes trial and error until the combination is right for your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwis Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Does the UV help cichlid tanks? I'm considering switching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Only if you have a problem with free floating algae, otherwise it's a waste of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnadian Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 How long is your lighting period? If you're getting algae blooms I'd reduce it to <8. If you're unwilling/unable to buy a bigger filter, in my experience using an algaecide will help clear up the water along with more frequent water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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