Tips to Crystal Clear Water?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Remove that carbon, you really don't need it unless you're trying to remove meds or something. Gravel is a really messy substrate. I gravel vac my substrate every time I do a water change and even if it's only been a few days since the last one I am always pulling a LOT of crap and leftovers out of it (and my tank is about the same size with 1/3 the bioload.) I would reccomend you get a gravel vac and keep the hidden mess in the substrate under control. When was the last time your filters were cleaned? That may help a little if it has been a while.

EDIT: I just noticed your stock list, and IMO a tank that size with that many fish (especially of the CA/SA cichlid variety, most of which tend to get some size on them,) is quite overstocked. I realize that most of your fish are juveniles right now, but fully grown a similarly sized tank would only be suitable for 1-2 jack dempsey/green terror sized cichlids if you want to keep everyone as happy as possible while keeping everything nice and clean. And I mean no offense by this, but why are you considering adding a dovii? Minumum tank size for a grown dovii is over twice the size of that one, not to mention it will already be really overstocked as your other stock grows. This is probably why your water isn't as clear as you want it to be.
 
I would only be getting the fish as juveniles. I'm getting a much bigger tank a year from now and I figured it would be okay for that long. Thanks for the tips!

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In a tank that long HOB filters leave way to many dead spots for crap to build up and stir up later, some powerheads and some trial and error with direction and i think you could see improvements. I like to use sponge filters on my powerheads as added mechanical filtration while directing other waste to my canisters inlet. A syphon for the gravel is a must and in my opinion with your stock a 40-50% water change is more realistic.


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my ripsaw makes my water foggy with looking for food every ninght digging through the sand. so I started using a airpump spoungefilter. It helps alot. Even the tanks that seem clear Im always washing them every week beacuse they always end up getting dirty. They also hepled when my girlfriend didnt wash out black sand and just poored it in. the filter cleaned it up fast.
 
Definitely time for a better filter system and a bigger tank.
If u can't get the tank now, get a big enough filter that would filter a larger tank. That way u won't have to buy another one later
My choice would b a Fx5 . I've had good luck with these.
UV could also help.

It's also possible your cloudy tank is due to an algae bloom. A Diatom filter would clear that up. Just use diatom powder in a canister filter. It'll b crystal in a day

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