http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#1 Dear members I am new in the forum but a mid level hobbist and have a well planted tank the stats of my tank and its inhabitats are as under. - Size 72*24*18 inches. - Fishes 2 albono cories,4 barbs,2 clown loaches,7 siamese algae eaters,2 red gouramies,3 albino sharks,1 red tail shark,7 danios and they all getting along quite well as far as I can judge. - Filters 1 cannister filter,two under gravel filter with power heads in such a way that the pumps output are connected with 5 micron cartridge filter with one addition filter foam filter with power head and its output is connected with 5 micron filter. All the power heads are 400 litre per hour capacity.I will try to send some photos of my tank soon. - The tank is about two years old and everything seems very fine the plants are thriving the fishes seems enjoying the tank. -Lighting is around 1.5 WPG all flourescents. - Plants around 60 -70 crptoes, 10 anubis nanas and 8 or 9 plant species I dont know the name but they love to sticks their roots on bogwoods or stones etc and propogates like java ferns but are very small comparing to java fern.All my plants are either attached to bogwoods(i.e anubias and other specie) while crpts are planted in clay pots.I also have a DIY yeast co2 generator which lasts for around 45 days and keeps the co2 at around 8ppm which seems reasonable for my setup. -Substrate 4-5 mm selica sand with around 5-6 inches depth on under gravel filter trays which are spread all around the tank floor. With all the above filters I dont get a very crystal clear water although clean.I would also like to mention here that I have managed to reduce the water turbulance in control. So if anybody have some idea about how to get a very crystal clear water (as I see some undessolved particles in the tank) with my setup without harming plants and fishes? Regards perfection 2008-12-29 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#2 hey dude well ur aquarium looks great........but dude i can only properly solve ur problem if u send me d images of ur aquarium........well see according to me you should prefer a glass filter wid a doudle and a long sponge and place a water pump in it so dat the water goes up and falls on d sponge and the water gets filterd this is the best way for crystal clear water.....well also send me the images of ur aquarium..... surya_kant13 2008-12-30 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#3 Dear Surya thanks for ur reply, I will soon send the pics , yesterday I have found out the answer to my problem there was nothing wrong with the filters they were adequate but you know the cause was left over feed, the fishes are not consuming the feed as they were earlier due to low temperature these days and I was feeding them as usual so now I have reduced their meal to half. regards perfection 2008-12-30 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#4 well thats gud............see dont reduce the feed to such a large extent......it will have a bad effect on the fishes.........feed them slowly and see how the fishes react to ur feeding........and do switch on d lites when u feed the fish......and adjust feed according to it ok...........and no probssss u can ask for help whenever u want......it will be my pleasure surya_kant13 2008-12-31 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#5 hey.....i have replied in my topic actually deres a prob wid site...it is not posting reply in ur topic.....so sorry for dat and u can check in my recent topic "happy new year to all" surya_kant13 2009-01-01 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#6 you mentioned a low temperature, surely your temperature should be constant all of the time with the heaters mickey 2009-01-03 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#7 Hi mickey I dont use heaters and the temperature fluctuates between 29 to 18 degree celcies in summer and winters respectively.And as the temperature changes gradually so I suppose it should not harm them and the same as I have experienced except in low temperature their metabolism reduces and so does the feed consumption.Those who keep their tanks temperature constant throughout the year does not do well as their tank inhabitants do not enjoy the seasons as the do in wild besides it also challenges their immune system.Change of temperature also encourage their breeding cycle.This is how it works for me and you may have different experience or opinion but thanks. regards perfection 2009-01-04 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#8 hey the temprature must be remained constant......... surya_kant13 2009-01-05 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#9 hey if it were so the nature would not have intended that way and there would not not be any summer or winter.Besides gradual temperature change does not harm the fishes. regards perfection 2009-01-05 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#10 I have to maintain the temp as my discus have to be in the higher temps all year round. The only time I let it drop by 2 degrees is when I do the water changes. If I didn't run heaters with our winters I would have no fish left by the spring mickey 2009-01-07 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#11 thats why i was saying maintaing of constant temprature is necessary..... surya_kant13 2009-01-07 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#12 Surya its ok I was just sharing my experience and limited knowledge. Still unable to post pics. regards perfection 2009-01-08 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#13 Surya can you post some picsof your tank? perfection 2009-01-08 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#14 yr i can post it on yahoo.... surya_kant13 2009-01-09 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#15 siamese algae eater can be very dirty and your diet also will make a difference. You did not mention your filter make or model or if you have more than one, so I will give you basic advice and point out that these points taken as a whole is great, however following as many as possible within your budget is fine. *Proper Water changes; change water using a gravel vacuum up to 50% per week. *Rinse filter media in used tank water, never tap and again as regularly as possible. *Make sure ammonia, nitrites are 0 *Make sure you have a KH and GH of at least 100 ppm for goldfish *A larger tank is better for goldfish; if possible a 40 or bigger would help *More than one filters for redundancy. *consider a good bio filter including the often misunderstood Sponge Filter (one of the best here according to side by side bio studies) *consider the Redox Potential, lesser known parameter that affects water quality and clarity *UV Sterilization, no cost effective for your size aquarium, however 90% effective for your problem in larger more cost effective aquariums. *Better feeding procedures; Use foods with quality ingredients such as Sanyu or Hikari and avoid cheap foods like TetraFin that mostly "pass right on thru" Also feed what the fish will consume in under three minutes twice per day. http://waterdocsonline.com irenewhite 2010-01-03 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=filter-to-get-crystal-clear-water#16 I have never found the need for UV sterilisation with any fish or tank size, even with my discus it just weakens their immune system and they rely on the UV to protect them mickey 2010-01-04