How to obtain clear water

[ScubaFish802]

+1

In a 13.5 UV IMO is overkill. You can general control such a small water volume much easier than a larger one. UV on a large tank would be much better seeing as doing a 100% WC on 13.5G vs 100% on 200G is like trying to move a car with your hands and rope vs driving.

Worse comes to worse OP is out like $5.00 in carbon and goes the UV route if still unhappy. I'd bet money that a small bag of carbon like chemipure would be enough for a tank like this

 

[Labora]

Something like this should work.

Auqa Shield UV Sterilizer Desktop

Compatible With all Nuvo Fusion Desktop, and also Innovative Marine Concept AIO Aquariums UV sterilization has been used for quite a long time in the medical and other industries for destroying micro-organisms. Innovative Marine's Aqua Shield UV Sterilizer will help reduce free-floating...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Would that be worth replacing the filter sock then since it's using it's compartment?

 

[ScubaFish802]

Would that be worth replacing the filter sock then since it's using it's compartment?

In my opinion getting rid of your filter floss/sock is going to escalate the problem

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Anyone have a suggestion for a good UV system for a Fluval 13.5 gallon tank?

Fluval just released a uvc for their canisters, not sure if it's able to hook up to your system though.

 

[terraincognita]

Would that be worth replacing the filter sock then since it's using it's compartment?

Fluval 13.5 has no filter sock.

Best compartment it would fit into would be probably the middle, but then he's not running carbon and any other biomedia in the middle compartment.....???


idk where he would stick it honestly... Fluval 13.5 is tiny.

Maybe a tiny one would fit in the 3rd chamber with the pump and heater...lol... too tight IMO.... and IDK why he needs UV on a 13.5. I think cheaper and easier options are available for clearing up your water in a 13.5 If he was specifically fighting bacteria I get it. But

Idk. just my 2C seems like a super lazy mans out for this hobby without a deeper understanding of reef chemistry

 

[ScubaFish802]

Should purchase this for the Fluval tank - https://intankaquatics.com/intank-chamber-one-media-basket-for-fluval-evo-13-5-52l-2020-version/
and run filter floss in top compartment, carbon in middle, and media in third(lowest) chamber. I have same set up with either marine pure or chunks of live rock in the third compartment.

This is water quality with two of the same baskets as above + one small bag of carbon

 

[terraincognita]

Should purchase this for the Fluval tank - https://intankaquatics.com/intank-chamber-one-media-basket-for-fluval-evo-13-5-52l-2020-version/
and run filter floss in top compartment, carbon in middle, and media in third(lowest) chamber. I have same set up with either marine pure or chunks of live rock in the third compartment.

I had their useless protein skimmer in my first, that's why I didn't have room. so yeah. Could work maybe with that.

Also still missing how old this tank is exactly.... and if he's running any carbon....

 

[ScubaFish802]

I had their useless protein skimmer in my first, that's why I didn't have room. so yeah. Could work maybe with that.

Also still missing how old this tank is exactly.... and if he's running any carbon....

Sorry, link was to their media baskets. I run no UV, and no Skimmer on my tank still.

Heard the PS1 skimmer is a let down as well. Eventually thinking of going with Icecap Nano k1

 

[TheDuude]

Does the Fluval have low iron ( Starfire ) Glass? I was always chasing the invisible water look in my old tanks and realized after getting my new tank that the low iron glass makes a huge difference!

 

[terraincognita]

Does the Fluval have low iron ( Starfire ) Glass? I was always chasing the invisible water look in my old tanks and realized after getting my new tank that the low iron glass makes a huge difference!

Not sure exactly what Glass they use.

But many a 13.5 Fluval has pristine water.

Even in new tanks

from google:

 

[ScubaFish802]

Does the Fluval have low iron ( Starfire ) Glass? I was always chasing the invisible water look in my old tanks and realized after getting my new tank that the low iron glass makes a huge difference!

I also have no idea. I've looked around but have found no specs on Fluval/Hagen's glass

 

[CoolLibs]

+1

In a 13.5 UV IMO is overkill. You can generally control such a small water volume much easier than a larger one. UV on a large tank would be much better seeing as doing a 100% WC on 13.5G vs 100% on 200G is like trying to move a car with your hands and rope vs driving.

While additives and dosing makes a bigger impact. Just getting the water clean and stable with a lower volume is like 200x easier.

You haven't mentioned if you're running any type of Carbon Filtration media, or doing Carbon dosing at all.

Are you doing that? I know the FIRST response you got and most of them were "UV, UV UV UV UV " but what else have you tried my friend?

I have carbon in the filter rn as well as the 100-micron filter sheets

 

[CoolLibs]

Something like this should work.

Auqa Shield UV Sterilizer Desktop

Compatible With all Nuvo Fusion Desktop, and also Innovative Marine Concept AIO Aquariums UV sterilization has been used for quite a long time in the medical and other industries for destroying micro-organisms. Innovative Marine's Aqua Shield UV Sterilizer will help reduce free-floating...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

where would i put my protein skimmer if i was to get that?

 

[terraincognita]

I have carbon in the filter rn as well as the 100-micron filter sheets

What filter set up do you have? Do you have a Media Rack?

The Fluval Filter is a sponge block with 2 holes for media. Are you using that still?

If you got Fluval the protein skimmer it will fit only in the first return chamber where the overflow is. It was made for that tank, but I think it's an unnecessary item. Good Media Basket with Filter floss on top, if you change it once a week you will be fine.

their protein skimmer Takes up too much space, too hard to adjust and too finicky IME.

It removed tons of particles over the time it was there, but I would've removed the same thing with filter floss and just dumping the floss,

Also their protein skimmer is annoying to clean since it's so small you need pipe cleaners.

The middle compartment breaks open, but it's still annoying.

 

[CoolLibs]

What filter set up do you have? Do you have a Media Rack?

The Fluval Filter is a sponge block with 2 holes for media. Are you using that still?

If you got Fluval the protein skimmer it will fit only in the first return chamber where the overflow is. It was made for that tank, but I think it's an unnecessary item. Good Media Basket with Filter floss on top, if you change it once a week you will be fine.

their protein skimmer Takes up too much space, too hard to adjust and too finicky IME.

It removed tons of particles over the time it was there, but I would've removed the same thing with filter floss and just dumping the floss,

Also their protein skimmer is annoying to clean since it's so small you need pipe cleaners.

The middle compartment breaks open, but it's still annoying.

I have protein skimmer in the first chamber, the Fluval block in the second with carbon and media, and pump and heater in the third

 

[terraincognita]

I have protein skimmer in the first chamber, the Fluval block in the second with carbon and media, and pump and heater in the third

How old's the tank?

Did you use any Bacteria Boost to start the colony?

 

[Pistondog]

Many tanks also have yellow tinged water, due to dissolved organics. One test is to fill a white bucket and compare side by side to freshly made saltwater. Blue lights tend to obscure this effect, look at your tank in daylight.
Carbon can help, but using ozone and carbon is more efficient.
Coollibs, your tank might be too small for ozone, but i thought it deserved a mention in a clear water thread.

 

[FangsAndGames]

Obey the Pepe

 

[terraincognita]

Obey the Pepe

Lol took me a minute until I remembered OP's photo

 

[CoolLibs]

Yeah, I've used a bacteria starter kit. I've had the tank running for almost a month.