Particles in water, how do I get rid of them?

[bct15]

The water in my tank is super clear, as in it has no color to it, but for years I've always had these dust like particles blowing all over the place suspended in the water column. It literally looks like a bunch of different sized pieces of dust. How do I get rid of them, and what are they? I run a filter sock I change every three days, and it doesn't even make a dent. I'm open to all suggestions. I don't think it hurts anything, I just don't like to look at it.

 

[JMSKI333]

Are you sure they're not micro bubbles from your skimmer?

If it is detritus, then it's something a good CUC, filter sock and occasionally blowing the rock scape with a turkey Baster should handle.

 

[bct15]

I am positive it is not micro bubbles from my skimmer...it isn't coming out of my return line it is just all over in my water. I have a pretty decent clean up crew and turkey baste my rocks every weekend when I do my water changes and like I said I change my filter sock every three days. My skimmer is rated for over 300 gallons heavily stocked and my nitrates are zero and phosphates are less then 0.03 so I don't think it is detritus. Maybe it is sand? But it doesn't look like it.

 

[JMSKI333]

I wouldn't rule out detritus just yet. I doubt it's the sand because that would eventually work itself out. What kind of filter sock are you running? I know the felt ones grab a lot more debris than the mesh do.

 

[bct15]

I wouldn't rule out detritus just yet. I doubt it's the sand because that would eventually work itself out. What kind of filter sock are you running? I know the felt ones grab a lot more debris than the mesh do.

I have five of the big felt ones, I think seven inches. It really doesn't look like detritus at all, it looks like dust.

 

[bct15]

Not sure how well you can see it

 

[KoleTang]

Just speculating here, but if you think about it, the filter sock would be catching the particles when they go through it, correct? So that must mean that the particles are forming faster than the filter sock can polish the water.

How many GPH goes through your filter sock/sump? (Also how big is your system)

 

[mike007]

What type substrate are you using? Could it be that if you have lots of flow it could be kicking up the dust.

 

[a49panhead]

could it be fabric from the filter sock?

 

[bct15]

Flow rate from the return I believe is around 1200 gph, maybe more like 1600. I think I figured it out, my over flow is not centered but close to the corner. I believe my monti near my mp40 is directing most of its flow up and pushing the particles away from the overflow. I'm going to run the mp40 nearest the overflow at a lower flow rate for a while and see what happens. Might need to severely trim the monti. For whoever asked, I use fine sand and crushed coral mixed together.

 

[Grissino]

Something coming out of solution? Maybe Magnesium?