Water Clarity Issue

[Dilan Patel]

My 180 gallon reef seems to have a lot of debris floating in the water column. Sand is not being stirred up and it is not airbubbles. I have tried skimming,filter socks, carbon,filter woold inside canister filters in the main display. Those are the methods I was told to try and have done and still cannot figure out what is floating around. Some are large pieces which should be taken out by the filter sock but aren't. Is there other methods I can try that are reef safe? What have you done in this predicament.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Make sure your flow is stirring up the dt and then make sure your filter socks are thick.
I could be stuff next to the return pump or stuck in the sump so you might want to vaccume it.

You can also use a filter sock or just the material on the return pump to polish the water.

 

[CindyKz]

just the material on the return pump to polish the water.

Don't mean to hijack....what material on the return pump ? My return pump doesn't have anything covering the inlets, I've thought about covering them with screen or something to keep tiny bits of cheato, debris, etc out.

In response to the OP I just vaccuumed my sump yesterday (1st time ever, scared me to death) for the same reason. It seems to have helped a little. I've also noticed more "floaties" since I added a daily nori sheet for my rabbitfish. I think that may contributing to the issue. Idk if you feed nori or similar...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Don't mean to hijack....what material on the return pump ? My return pump doesn't have anything covering the inlets, I've thought about covering them with screen or something to keep tiny bits of cheato, debris, etc out.

In response to the OP I just vaccuumed my sump yesterday (1st time ever, scared me to death) for the same reason. It seems to have helped a little. I've also noticed more "floaties" since I added a daily nori sheet for my rabbitfish. I think that may contributing to the issue. Idk if you feed nori or similar...

Some folks just use large aquarium sponge, some use egg crate. So basicly the filter holes get smaller and smaller depending on how fine you want to strain.
Keep in mind the fiest size will get clogged sooner.
Most polishing cloth you can buy is basicly the Same material as filter socks.

So depending on how your sump is configured you'll have to choose the material that best fists the need.

Some lfs actually sell sponges that a pump sets in for out door ponds

Andother though, if your return rate is too high you may not be allowing for enough time to let stuff settle.

 

[Cory]

Try a diatom filter just dont buy a vortec brand! Junk.

It will filter down to 1micron, even ich gets trapped

 

[Fishfinder]

I have the same problem. Started a thread last week. No solution for me yet

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Try a diatom filter just dont buy a vortec brand! Junk.

It will filter down to 1micron, even ich gets trapped

I have the same problem. Started a thread last week. No solution for me yet

I'm also a big fan of those. But just for price I end with a canister filter. I run floss only and can change the thickness even down to low micron numbers. Not a ditiom number but still.
When I deep clean or rescape I run it.