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Hi all!

After the initial cycle period, the tanks water is usually clear. I have had barely any luck in keeping the water clear in my 20 gallon. I was just wondering if it was the bacteria in the filter, the filter cartridges, or just natural clearness that made the tanks water so clear. I checked up on some water polishing filter pads, but i dont know what to think of them. THen, my dad suggested a plausible idea of bacteria in the filter that breaks down the food and detritus. Im just curious, as i want to have a Lace Plant, but it needs supreme water conditions!

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Hi,
There are a series of things you can do to ensure that
the water in your tank is clear. Good filtration, good
maintenance, and regular water changes.

Good filtration.
Use a quality filter, with properly fitting media. Any
gaps around the corners or edges will allow detritus to
bypass the media and return to the tank. A properly sized
filter will help as well. For instance, if you have a
30G tank and your filter is rated from 15 to 30, then you
are running the filter at the extreme of its range. If you
couple that with a moderate to heavy stocking of fish, then
you are asking for a problem.

How well the filter cleans the suspended debris from the
water also depends upon the media and how porous it is.
If you want truly crystal clear water, then you would need
to invest in a filter that uses diatomaceous earth as the
media. A diatom filter traps detritus, floating algae, and
even some bacteria down to the micron size. However, a
filter that removes that much debris, will also clog easily
and is not designed for 24/7 operation. You set up the
filter, run it for a few hours, and then turn it off,
remove it, clean it, and store it, for another month or so.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754573&utm_medium=nextag&mr:referralID=b04cd5d8-1b83-4653-a068-dd86405ecd3a&utm_source=cse

Good maintenance & water changes.
In all but a few tanks, water should be changed weekly.
Around 10%-20% should be changed out. At that same time
you should use a gravel vacuum of some sort to not only
remove any debris sitting on the top of the gravel, but
also dig the siphon down into the gravel, right down to
the glass bottom or the top of the UGF plate. Turning
the gravel over like that cleans it and loosens it thus
aerating it.

As you have learned, an outbreak of bacteria can turn
the water cloudy, sometimes to almost opaque. Water
changes and correct feeding (SMALL amounts) a couple of
times/day will clear that up. Remember, a fish's
stomach is only roughly the size of its eyes. So don't
over feed.

Lastly, along with the regular maintenance, don't forget
to clean the inside glass of the tank. A film of bacteria
an algae will grow on the surface of every object in the
tank, including the glass itself. Keeping it clear will
allow you to see the clear water inside and not taint
your opinion of the water.

Your dad is correct in that the bacteria in the filter
will break down the solids, and the bacteria involved with
the Nitrogen Cycle will break down the ammonia and nitrite,
but you have to still clean to get rid of the byproducts
of the bacterial action. No filter today will
completely eliminate the byproducts, the filters
too need to be cleaned on a regular basis. How often
depends upon the bio-load of the tank, how much you feed
(any excess), and any dead or dying plant material that
is sucked into the intakes.


Frank


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

Oh thanks Frank! That relieves a lot of questions i had.....Now, i can attempt to have a betta tank with a Lace Plant. I hope this will go well!

I have a less than moderately stocked tank in my 20g high. I am hoping thar i can get crystal clear water after the mini-cycle has ended. What exactly are the biproducts of the bacteria breaking down the foods? How can i remove them? By water changes?

Thanks, Goby

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Goby......I've been trying to understand exactly what it is YOU are trying to understand, from these posts.

I know you are wanting clear water & you had a question about the bacteria in your filter. You don't want to over clean your gravel or your filter or your filter media, cause they contain the bacteria that turns your ammonia into nitrites & then nitrates.

Awhile back I over cleaned my gravel & cleaned my filter pad off at the same time, thereby destroying a lot of good bacteria all at once. The result was my tank clouding up. I cut down on feeding the fish, so as not to contribute to the problem. After about a week, it started clearing up when my good bacteria started multiplying again.

And yes, in order to remove the end result of the nitrogen cycle, nitrates, you do regular water changes. I assume you know to only vac 1/4 of the gravel at each water change, vacuuming a different section at each water change. Only swish your filter in the used water when it really needs it. Following this method insures that you do not destroy too much good bacteria at one time. You don't want a super clean tank, but then you don't want a nasty tank either. Moderation in cleaning will keep the water clear, and regular water changes will keep the nitrates down. Once you have accomplished this, then you can work on "supreme water conditions" for the plant you want.

At the top of the pages on this site, you will see a horizontal list of words, one of which is FAQ. When your mouse is over that a list will drop down displaying topics on a lot of subjects, one being the nitrogen cycle. You might want to read that one for more detail or clarity on what I've said.

I know you're experienced in many areas of fish keeping, so I hope I didn't insult you by explaining too much in this post. I may have misunderstood your questions, but I was just trying to address what I thought you wanted to know about. I also, am rather new to the nitrogen cycle, so if anyone needs to correct anything I've said, please do.
I don't want to be giving out any incorrect info. here.

No need to be soryy patty! I dont mind if anybody goes into detail. I get a bit more aggrivated when somebody posts something too short, and doesent help at all! Like for example, when somebody tries to get some kudos, they put like, " Oh yeah, what he said." I just needed a bit of clarity and i just got curious about this. I wanted to keep an Apongeton madagascarensis in a 5 or 10 gallon hex, being that they grow tall enough to outgrow a regular tank. I was going to put my betta in there, with a few striped kuhlis, or just the chocolate ones.....The plant needs pristine and debris free water to survive, so i started planning and it brought me here.

The bacteria-in-the-filter part- I was not reffering to the nitrifying bacteria, but rather the bacteria that breaks down mulm and detritus. I wanted to see what exactly it does to break down the wastes, and to see if they contribute to clarity and debris free water. Then, i can make my descision on what i should do to get pristine for the A. madagas-something something something.

In my 20, i am having a slight cycle because i replaced the cartridges, and then three days later i added gravel over the gravel!

Thanks for you replies!

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In my 20, i am having a slight cycle because i replaced the cartridges, and then three days later i added gravel over the gravel!

Here is possibly the main cause of your problems.

If you replaced the cartridges (being more than one) and not knowing your filtration system it will go into a cycle every time you do a filtration change. Don't change them all at once adding substrate would not make much of a difference to your cycling process and a good filtration system should clean it up with an hr or so.

When I did the recent big pull down and aquascape on the 5ft it was crystal clear next morning.

To help remove all the fine particles which help to make the tank look dirty can only be done with good filtration and plenty of water movement to and from the intake and outlet.

I also use GEO liquid this makes the tank look murky for a short time then it is crystal clear. It does this by collecting all the fine dirt particles and taking them to your filter and leaving them at the bottom of your filter.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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