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I've been using flourite as a substrate for quite a while now. In my tank that has been setup for a few years i don't have any problems with cloudiness but in my new tank(set up for about 2 weeks)my water seems to be quite cloudy, even after rinsing the flourite(no matter how much rinsing it's never enough. I have noticed that when I disturb the substrate to plant new plants I cause sediment to be dispersed into the water. This usually settles in a few hours but for the past 2 days my water seems overly murky. Is there any way to combat this in addition to my standard filtration? I'm worried that it will signifigantly reduce the amount of light reaching my plants and cause unnecessary and costly death.

Hi,
You are correct. One simply cannot wash Flourite enough to
remove the very, very, small clay particles that are in
suspension. Each time you wash it the particles grind
together and create more clay powder.

My tank is 100% Flourite, and at regular intervals, I have
to uproot all of my plants, thin them out, and then replant
them. After I remove all the plants, I then drain the tank
down to within one inch of the bottom and refil it twice.
After the third refil, the tank is clear enough for me to
see to replant the plants. After replanting, I then set
up and run my Diatom Filter.
I have the Vortex Diatom D-1 Filter, it's 3 decades old and
runs like a top.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/diatomfilter.html

After about an hour, sometimes two, the water is crystal,
and I do mean crystal, clear. The filter return is
powerful enough to "blow the dust off" the leaves as well
as other surfaces.

If you cannot purchase one of the filters, you may be able
to borrow one from a pet shop, or from another aquarist
in a nearby club.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Do you think placing cotton in a mesh filter media bag could remove the very fine suspended particulate if placed in my hob filter?

Hi,
The cloudy water is the bane of Flourite users.

Placing cotton "wool" will catch some of the larger
"dust" but the bulk of it can only be trapped by using
a diatom filter. They catch particles down into the
micron size.
There is, also, a chemical that many pet shops carry that
will clear up cloudy water. It causes the "dust" to
cling together and settle to the bottom where it can be
siphoned of. Instead of getting a filter, you might try
that.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Ive also had great results using my Hot Magnum, with the pleated filter, and then sucking DE powder in to coat the filter, after the water runs clear in my de mixing container, i hang it on the tank, and bingo. Clear tank water after just a short while, just a little spin off on what you do.