Lots of tiny particles in suspension

[Areseebee]

I have had this problem for a while and I think it's getting worse. My tank has been running for 3 months now, it's a 180 with a ~40g sump. Generically speaking, it's been crazy healthy everything growing and happy. My one complaint is that there's a pretty significant amount of tiny particles in suspension. I know that some or most of it is copepods as I can often see them on the glass, also if I focus on the bigger particles I can see structure in them. Is there a clever way to tell how much of this is microfauna and how much if any is from my powerheads or return pump? Is it possible that the flow through my sump is just insufficient to get junk out of solution?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Is there a clever way to tell how much of this is microfauna and how much if any is from my powerheads or return pump?

I dunno. How fast is your return rate? Have you put floss over the return pump?

 

[Areseebee]

I haven't tried floss on the return pump. How exactly do I arrange that? I have the typical bag of pillow floss is there a way to avoid the pump sucking up small pieces?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I haven't tried floss on the return pump. How exactly do I arrange that? I have the typical bag of pillow floss is there a way to avoid the pump sucking up small pieces?

Id use filter floss. Its cheap and common. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=filter+floss&tbm=shop
Id also check the sump and make sure nothing is getting sucked in.
One of two things IMO. Stuff in the DT is not getting pulled out because thee return rate is too low. Mine clears really fast even though I dont run filter socks.
there's something in the sump feeding detritus back into the DT.

Its also possible its just blowing through the entire system and not being stopped, but that seems too weird unless you are running a sump with no baffles or socks.

 

[Areseebee]

Id use filter floss. Its cheap and common. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=filter+floss&tbm=shop
Id also check the sump and make sure nothing is getting sucked in.
One of two things IMO. Stuff in the DT is not getting pulled out because thee return rate is too low. Mine clears really fast even though I dont run filter socks.
there's something in the sump feeding detritus back into the DT.

Its also possible its just blowing through the entire system and not being stopped, but that seems too weird unless you are running a sump with no baffles or socks.

I've been using this stuff (http://www.michaels.com/polyester-classic-fiber-fill-by-loops-and-threads/10323436.html#start=2) in a filter sock when I want mechanical filtration, but I haven't been running any socks or mechanical filtration recently. The sump I'm using is a little unsatisfactory to me and it might be the first thing I change once I get the luxury of free money... there's only two baffles (over then under) and I actually feel I'm limited in how high the return can be because of this. If I go any faster I get lots of microbubbles. The return definitely isn't "slow" I don't think, it should be roughly 600 g/h (jebao 1200 @ 3/4 power and ~5 foot of head loss). It is true that the sump has collected a lot of detritus, I haven't gotten a hang of getting it all out during water changes. I threw some filter floss infront of the baffle overflow, we'll see if that helps.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I've been using this stuff (http://www.michaels.com/polyester-classic-fiber-fill-by-loops-and-threads/10323436.html#start=2) in a filter sock when I want mechanical filtration, but I haven't been running any socks or mechanical filtration recently. The sump I'm using is a little unsatisfactory to me and it might be the first thing I change once I get the luxury of free money... there's only two baffles (over then under) and I actually feel I'm limited in how high the return can be because of this. If I go any faster I get lots of microbubbles. The return definitely isn't "slow" I don't think, it should be roughly 600 g/h (jebao 1200 @ 3/4 power and ~5 foot of head loss). It is true that the sump has collected a lot of detritus, I haven't gotten a hang of getting it all out during water changes. I threw some filter floss infront of the baffle overflow, we'll see if that helps.

whats the total water vol? Tank+sump+T Vol x return rate +gph of the pump you want.

there's only two baffles (over then under)

So a two chamber and the skimmer shares the pump chamber?

I threw some filter floss infront of the baffle overflow, we'll see if that helps.

with the floss sheets you can actually make a "sock" for the pump. not a permanent fix and you have to check it..

Ive had to do water changes just from the sump or the back of a bio cube just because of build up. Theres also socks you can get cheap that kinda clip to the return hose if you dont have a hard mount for one in the sump.

once I get the luxury of free money...

Let me know I need some too.

 

[Areseebee]

whats the total water vol? Tank+sump+T Vol x return rate +gph of the pump you want.

It's about 210-220g

So a two chamber and the skimmer shares the pump chamber?

It's two chamber, the return chamber is shared with heaters, ATS uptake/return and skimmer, the return pump sits alone. Detritus is building up there very quickly, maybe that's a big clue to my answer.

with the floss sheets you can actually make a "sock" for the pump. not a permanent fix and you have to check it..

Ive had to do water changes just from the sump or the back of a bio cube just because of build up. Theres also socks you can get cheap that kinda clip to the return hose if you dont have a hard mount for one in the sump.


Let me know I need some too.

Yeah I could alter the drain pipes to fit filter socks... right now the three return pipes are hard plumbed through the top of the sump (I really don't like this sump)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's about 210-220g

Ahh got it, you sid 1200, I have that in my 14g cube, You mean 12000 DOH!

ATS uptake/return and skimmer, the return pump sits alone.

yea dang. The water doesn't have enough time to settle for the skimmer to get it.
You need one of these with thick floss. If the sump is deep enough you could set the pump into a shallow "bowl" half baffle thing and put the skimmer in with the pump. Id bet the skimmer is getting battered by the overflow and bubbling too.

Yea when the free money hits its sump time. Is it big enough to modify? or your not a diy?

 

[Bdog4u2]

Probably bacteria. the last tank i set up did it for a few months then it went away

 

[Areseebee]

Ahh got it, you sid 1200, I have that in my 14g cube, You mean 12000 DOH!

yea dang. The water doesn't have enough time to settle for the skimmer to get it.
You need one of these with thick floss. If the sump is deep enough you could set the pump into a shallow "bowl" half baffle thing and put the skimmer in with the pump. Id bet the skimmer is getting battered by the overflow and bubbling too.

Yea when the free money hits its sump time. Is it big enough to modify? or your not a diy?

I'll post a diagram/picture of it tomorrow, would more baffles be the solution? I'm not good at DIY but I am willing! Alternatively I could tune down the return flow too, I've got two RW15s that provide pretty good flow for everything without the returns.

Probably bacteria. the last tank i set up did it for a few months then it went away

The thing is, it's not cloudy at all, it's clear water but there's macroscopic junk in it. Strangely my job is actually growing bacteria for a living so I'm quite practiced at that! I will say some of it is definitely pods, I can see them crawling around on the glass. But I don't think it's all pods.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

would more baffles be the solution?

yea it would save you bacon. If the sump is long enough.instant 3 chamber.

A simple bubble wall. three squares the same size. lift the middle one up one inch. glue with one inch between. two inches if the sump is big enough.
I suppose could just use a single wall overflow too. Look at sumps on google images and melev.

you'd have to turn off the sump totally for a week probably. Let the glue cure.

 

[Areseebee]

Here's my lame diagram and a picture. I'd be really interested in any ideas that could help out. The tank is really doing amazing but the stuff hanging in solution is driving me crazy.

I just noticed in that photo there's filter floss in the last set of baffles, that's usually not there.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

actually a simple but effective pic.
You possibly could use a piece of acrylic to raise the water level before the pump chamber. The low wall is old school I believe. Is there a similar stub wall (short wall) on the left side near the marine pure?
Can I see that chamber?(#1)
If its deeper the particles should drop and settle better.
bummer you cant get a sock in there too. Youd have to cut it. Is that an old wet dry sump?

 

[Areseebee]

I'm actually not sure the origin of the sump, I bought the tank/stand/sump used together. The original owner had an external return pump and used the middle chamber as a refugium. The hard top on the drains is pretty frustrating, I've definitely thought about cutting it even though it probably helps with both noise and evaporation.

You can see in the picture that a lot of detritus does indeed settle. I'm not sure if it just isn't quite good enough or what. Here's a picture of the first chamber. The water height is 9 inches and the clearance is basically exactly the height of the block (think that's 4 inches).

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea, I THINK (guess ) You may be able to attach a simple wall there too. But you may be able to just add the one on the right so the first chamber/ skimmer chamber holds the funk. Right now its a strait shot to the pump.
Itll raise the level in the sump though.
Also if you but some floss and the bag of carbon over the pump itll cut a lot out of the DT (pump sock)

 

[Areseebee]

Oh yeah, I've got some bags of floss/carbon floating around in the second chamber atm. I never put them in with the pump simply because I'm scared the draw string will get sucked up.... but I'll tie it up and try that.