POLISHING WATER

[Ryan8696]

Hi everyone,

I recently swapped from 200 micron filter pads to 50 micron filter pads and my tank looked INCREDIBLE! It was so clear you couldn't even see the water.

Anyways - that also led to me having to change the pads every day - which was a pain.

I then got a Clarisea - which was great - but the problem is is that it the water has gone back to looking "average".

Is there anything I can buy to polish the water but doesn't require me changing the pad/sock every day?

And before anyone asks my tank parameters are all good!

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

My water is incredibly clear and I don't use socks or other artificial mechanical filtration. Instead I have a 55 gallon sump (under my 125) whose second compartment is completely full of chaeto and ulva. These macro-algae are not only great nutrient exporters, but also provide mechanical filtration, since the water needs to pass through their thick bed. The downside is that I do have to harvest the chaeto/ulva combo bi-weekly

 

[theMeat]

My tank water is pretty invisible too. I also don’t run socks or carbon. My sump has cheato and other macros but think because sump is pretty low flow, and all the flow directed at water surface in sump, debris settles in sump. That and an undersized uv does the trick

 

[D4jack]

Run carbon in a reactor. Change it out monthly. Don't let the carbon tumble though. I use a 10" filter housing from Amazon.

 

[piranhaman00]

I cant see my water with no socks.

 

[mightynova63]

what do you mean "undersized uv does the trick" how and why

My tank water is pretty invisible too. I also don’t run socks or carbon. My sump has cheato and other macros but think because sump is pretty low flow, and all the flow directed at water surface in sump, debris settles in sump. That and an undersized uv does the trick

what do you mean "undersized uv does the trick" how and why

 

[theMeat]

what do you mean "undersized uv does the trick" how and why

what do you mean "undersized uv does the trick" how and why

A uv helps keep water clear. Every tank is dif. On my tank I know it does something for clarity because when I change the bulb behind schedule I see it’s results. I go slightly undersized because that’s my preference.
For catching debris my low flow fuge does enough that when I do run a sock of any micron I don’t see much of a difference.
Would much rather clean my sump a couple of times a year, instead of clean socks a couple times a week.
Ymmv