XP3s causing small particles in water?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Yup leave your cleaning of the XP3's at 6 or 4 month intervals. like a force of entropy proteins will start adhering to your media and foam. Thing is these proteins starts attracting more particulates which then adhere to the brown gunk coating. This takes time, every time you overly clean your media it releases the proteins from being binded to surfaces and means that particulates will slide past and back into the tank.

eheim webpage explains it thus:
On the surface of the filter medium protein particles (size 0.001 - 0.00001 mm) change their electro-chemical properties. They lose their solubility and settle on the surface of the filter medium. Further protein particles follow, covering the filter medium with a protein layer.
This protein coating is highly adhesive and retains even fine particles. This explains why the filtration performance of new or freshly cleaned filters is not satisfactory. The adhesion does not become effective until after a few days, when sufficient protein has settled. If attempts at combating turbidity by cleaning the filter are made too soon the adhesive coating is destroyed and the aquarium remains turbid

Turbid means visible particulates in the water.
 
Cohazard;1535525; said:
How often do you rinse out your renas?

I used to clean them every week but noticed that my water always had a haze to it from fine particles, yet the water always tested perfect.

Then on a whim, I decided to cut back on the maintenance and now I only do it once a month and my water is crystal clear.

By increasing the ammount of time between cleanings, you will allow more gunk to get trapped in the filters which will further buffer the water. My water is at it's clearest when the filters are dirty.

HTH
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Bastables;1535689; said:
Yup leave your cleaning of the XP3's at 6 or 4 month intervals. like a force of entropy proteins will start adhering to your media and foam. Thing is these proteins starts attracting more particulates which then adhere to the brown gunk coating. This takes time, every time you overly clean your media it releases the proteins from being binded to surfaces and means that particulates will slide past and back into the tank.

eheim webpage explains it thus:
On the surface of the filter medium protein particles (size 0.001 - 0.00001 mm) change their electro-chemical properties. They lose their solubility and settle on the surface of the filter medium. Further protein particles follow, covering the filter medium with a protein layer.
This protein coating is highly adhesive and retains even fine particles. This explains why the filtration performance of new or freshly cleaned filters is not satisfactory. The adhesion does not become effective until after a few days, when sufficient protein has settled. If attempts at combating turbidity by cleaning the filter are made too soon the adhesive coating is destroyed and the aquarium remains turbid

Turbid means visible particulates in the water.
Click to expand...

Awsome, thanks for this new info guys! I normally break down my XP3s and rinse out everything but the Matrix every two weeks.

My parameters are always healthy, but these particles bother me SO much! This new info gives me hope that one day my water will be crystal:D
 
The carbon needs to be changed sooner than 6 months. If you go that long without changing the carbon the fish tank will start to smell bad. Whenever I go 2 months without cleaning my xp3 i smell the fish tank as soon as i walk in the door.
 
I agree with drewmprs, I use the biochem zorb and have to change it out every 4-6 weeks. I also change the micro pad at the top when I do this. I always seem to have particals because my fish are constantly digging in the gravel. I took a bunch of gravel out of the tank and started vacuuming more to help it out.
 
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