Suspended detritus is driving me crazy!

[cshouston]

I have a Marineland 90 gallon with one corner overflow.

The return pump sends water along the back wall towards the right side panel. I have a ton of flow in the tank and it keeps detritus suspended, but I can watch it float towards the overflow weir and then flow down just before it gets sucked in. Unfortunately, the Marineland tanks don’t have a grille at the bottom to pull water in from the water column. It’s infuriating! I just have a bunch of suspended particles blowing in a gyre motion around the tank, and they never end up in my overflow/filter socks.

There has to be a better way! Has anyone with a similar setup found a way to assist with getting junk into the overflow box? I’ve tried moving pumps, changing flow patterns, shutting one or all of them off, etc., but it’s just a never ending struggle. I don’t need sterile, crystal clear water, but I’d prefer not to watch a string of poop swimming around in circles for hours.

 

[Idoc]

Have you tried moving your powerheads around and pointing in different directions?

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

I have a Marineland 90 gallon with one corner overflow.

If that's s photo of the tank you have, it has a grill near the bottom. Having said that, My tank, a custom acrylic, does not have a grill at the bottom and the only time I get suspended destrus is when I stir the substrate.
So here are some ideas:

1: Are you sure it's suspended substrate and not micro bubbles.
2: Filter sock for the return on the sump or floss of some sort in front of the pump taking water from the sump to the tank.
3: Destris, in my experience, is too heavy to float for long. If the water is just "cloudy" it could be ammonia. If you see actual particulates (I'm assuming yes from what you described) then look at your sump and see if you have an abnormal amount of dust down there and that might be a starting point.
4: And as someone else already suggested, move your power heads into positions that will move the destris towards the over flow. Even put your power head high enough to churn the top of the water.

 

[cshouston]

Thanks. It isn’t cloudiness. The water is very clear, and I’m sure it’s not all bubbles. I’ve seen some, but the rest is actual particulate matter that’s being kicked up by my CUC or fish. I’ve tried every position imaginable for my MP40s, and added a Nero 5 to try and push the surface towards the overflow, but it’s matter of the suspended particles flowing downwards just before hitting the overflow. There is definitely no grille at the bottom; the image looks like they photoshopped one OUT of the image. In my experience, only Aqueon have the openings on the bottom of the overflow wall.

I have filter socks in the sump, and I have vacuumed out the return pump section before. There is slight accumulation in the compartment, but I can watch it and nothing ever makes it’s way into the return pump. Sadly, until I upgrade my return to the Varios, I have no good way to stuff floss in there. It’s a cheap aquatop pump for now.

I think it’s just a matter of the tank inhabitants stirring up the sand too much and putting crap into the water column, combined with my high flow environment (just not high enough to blow my sand bed into the water column), and the lack of a mid-column intake for the overflow. I think my new tank is going to have to have a better overflow design. and bare bottomed, so I can more easily manage particulate detritus.

 

[Darren in Tacoma]

HOB filter would probably work to clean things up, but then your stuck looking at a HOB filter.

 

[cshouston]

HOB filter would probably work to clean things up, but then your stuck looking at a HOB filter.

You know, that’s actually a brilliantly simple solution. Thank you! I might try hanging one off the front for an afternoon or overnight, just to see how much difference it makes. Throwing one on there for a day every couple of weeks may be just the ticket.

 

[BackToTheReef]

Not a permanent solution but we used to recommend either Magnum or HOT Magnum canisters to "polish" off tank water periodically. They worked a treat.

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[Fourstars]

If you have corals in the tank this is exactly what they like. Saying that, I do polish my water from time to time, just don’t go crazy.

 

[Anihiel1]

I have the same issue and I do have a HOB canister filter. Yes, there are some microbubbles from the skimmer but there is also fine particulate matter that I've never been able to get rid of. Over time I've tried different media/sponges and vacuuming and water changes and 4 different kinds of clarifier. Even switched to a larger grain sand.
I also have a largish horsehoe crab who stirs my sand daily.
I've just given up on it at this point. The water *looks* clear if you don't look too closely.

 

[Anihiel1]

If you have corals in the tank this is exactly what they like. Saying that, I do polish my water from time to time, just don’t go crazy.

Soooooo, the solution seems to be buying more corals. To consume the extra detritus of course.

 

[cshouston]

Soooooo, the solution seems to be buying more corals. To consume the extra detritus of course.

That’s a good solution

 

[Anihiel1]

That’s a good solution

Love me some live sales! It is a valid point though- didn't occur to me but the tank has been a bit better since adding a few large (8-12") gorgonians.
I believe that what we consider a 'dirty' tank is actually closer to their natural environment. The ocean is never crystal clear, even if it appears to be. It is teeming with life and particulates.
We are constantly fighting the battle of appearance/proper feeding/proper parameters/dosing this/dosing that/ trying to force everything to balance. Perhaps we should rethink that and just let nature come to a proper balance. Whatever makes the tank happy. And if there's a bit of detritus floating so be it.