"Dust" floating around the tank

[Floyd-]

Not sure what it is but I see a ton of "dust" or something floating around in the tank. Its been setup for nearly a year now.
Its a redsea max s-650 tank with the stock pumps (4x) on the rear and I have a reefwave45 on the side with random flow. I have tried putting a new 100 micron sock in to trap some stuff but it doesnt seem to drop the number of floaties.

 

[Miami Reef]

Not sure what it is but I see a ton of "dust" or something floating around in the tank. Its been setup for nearly a year now.
Its a redsea max s-650 tank with the stock pumps (4x) on the rear and I have a reefwave45 on the side with random flow. I have tried putting a new 100 micron sock in to trap some stuff but it doesnt seem to drop the number of floaties.

Could be micro bubbles or detritus getting kicked up from the sand bed.

 

[Dom]

Pictures?

How are you polishing your water?

 

[Floyd-]

Pictures?

How are you polishing your water?

Not sure what you mean my water polishing. I have a filter sock and skimmer. I also run a dual reactor with GFO and carbon. My water never looks clear and clean. Just looking for ways to clean it up.

That picture was right before I swapped in the new Reefwave45 on the left. Even before that change I had the particles.

 

[Woodyman]

Not sure what you mean my water polishing. I have a filter sock and skimmer. I also run a dual reactor with GFO and carbon. My water never looks clear and clean. Just looking for ways to clean it up.

That picture was right before I swapped in the new Reefwave45 on the left. Even before that change I had the particles.

A white light picture would be better to try and help you determine what the particulate is.

 

[Floyd-]

A white light picture would be better to try and help you determine what the particulate is.

I can take one tonight.

 

[Garf]

I can take one tonight.

Don’t suppose you’ve got a UV? I had summit that for all the world looked like dust, sand fines (could actually see particles, too big to be bacteria you would think). UV got rid pronto, so whatever it was, I disappeared it. Mine actually cleared at night and bloomed while the lights were on, so photosynthetic maybe. They also made my fish lethargic, acting drunk. This effect also disappeared with UV, within 24hrs.

 

[Floyd-]

No UV. For a tank this size it would have to be huge and VERY costly.

 

[Tonycass12]

Do you have any water splashing into your return chamber in the sump. This makes me think microbubbles.

 

[Floyd-]

Do you have any water splashing into your return chamber in the sump. This makes me think microbubbles.

Not at all, the sump is quiet and calm. In fact its so calm i'm getting a film on the surface of the chamber before the return pump. I put a random flow nozzle on the return pipe and it cut my turn over rate way down. I wonder if its too much of a restriction and its killing my return rate.

 

[Dom]

Not sure what you mean my water polishing. I have a filter sock and skimmer. I also run a dual reactor with GFO and carbon. My water never looks clear and clean. Just looking for ways to clean it up.

That picture was right before I swapped in the new Reefwave45 on the left. Even before that change I had the particles.

Water polishing are extremely fine filter media that get the really tiny particles.

Your tank looks healthy.

How often do you change out your filter sock?

The water looks cloudy to me; possibly a bacterial bloom. If so, this suggests that you aren't changing your filter media regularly enough.

 

[Floyd-]

How often do you change out your filter sock?

The water looks cloudy to me; possibly a bacterial bloom. If so, this suggests that you aren't changing your filter media regularly enough.

That might be it... I only have a single 7" diameter sock on this tank and I swap it out when its full. That normally takes about 4-5 days. Im really eyeing a redsea filter roller but they are not available yet. I really dont like swapping out socks every 2-3 days. Its a chore to take them out and spray them with the hose. I wont toss them in the laundry for fear of any lingering detergent getting into the tank.

 

[Floyd-]

For now ill buckle down and swap every two days and see if that clears things up in a week or two.

 

[Dburr1014]

This does not look like a reef ready tank with built in overflow. Or is it?
How do you get the water to the sump?

 

[Dburr1014]

Most people have an overflow. The function is to skim the surface of the water with the weir to get the "dust" particulate into the sump to be skimmed out.

 

[Floyd-]

This does not look like a reef ready tank with built in overflow. Or is it?
How do you get the water to the sump?

This is a Redsea Max S-650 tank. The overflow is as long as the tank.

 

[Dom]

For now ill buckle down and swap every two days and see if that clears things up in a week or two.

Filter sock/Roller Mat substitute...

I have a cost-saving suggestion that some may appreciate. It isn't "industry standard" but effective. Roller mat systems are nice as they add automation. But is that automation worth the price of a roller mat system? I recently suggested that white felt from a local craft store would do the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dburr1014]

This is a Redsea Max S-650 tank. The overflow is as long as the tank.

Gotcha, so, it should be skimming the water surface and catching all that floats.
Are you powerheads breaking the surface?

 

[Dom]

Gotcha, so, it should be skimming the water surface and catching all that floats.
Are you powerheads breaking the surface?

Respectfully disagree. The overflow will not catch the micro-particles that are responsible for the lack of clarity in the water.

That is the job of filter socks and other micro-filtering media.

 

[gbroadbridge]

That might be it... I only have a single 7" diameter sock on this tank and I swap it out when its full. That normally takes about 4-5 days. Im really eyeing a redsea filter roller but they are not available yet. I really dont like swapping out socks every 2-3 days. Its a chore to take them out and spray them with the hose. I wont toss them in the laundry for fear of any lingering detergent getting into the tank.

If you only have a single filter sock that you've bben cleaning it is probably worn out and shedding fibres..

You need to have at least four and swap twice a week. After 6 months 4 new ones.