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dedicated water polishing filter experiment

6K views 21 replies 5 participants last post by  willieturnip 
#1 ·
i took an old rena xp4 nd filled the baskets with descending thickness filter pads. im hoping this acts a s a giant water polisher by trapping large amounts of debris.. Does this sound like a good idea or am i just wasting time? any opinions would help....
 
#4 ·
Would be difficult I would think to determine whether it was the eheims or the step down in density of pads that provided the benefit. Unless ,eheims were only used for circulation and contained no media.
 
#5 ·
the eheims are both running with media including chemi pure.. even wit the xp4 full of filterpads it is still not as crystal clear as i hoped....i guess i have to give it tim e due to the water movement stirring up debris... the eheims are more powerful then i anticipated.
 
#6 ·
That's interesting. What kinda tank do you have (plants / fish)?

I been running the Eheim 2213's in all my 55g for years with the Eheim Mech layer on the bottom, then course filter pad, then layer of Eheim Substrat pro, then fine filter pad...and I've always had super nice clear water with this combo.
 
#7 ·
its a 90 gal with 2 oscars and abot 6 silver dollars. i am running the eheims with the same media setup as you..i just installed then a few days ago so im guessing it will take a few days.. im still wondering if the xp4 is gonna hava any benefit with just the filter pads and floss in it.
 
#8 ·
It usually should clear up within just a few HOURS not days!

I've really never experienced anything similar in any of my tanks (and they all got eheims).

The newer one/ certain models have the built in valve system - Do you have it? Is it all the way open for 100% capacity flow?
I mean its defiantly not a overstocked tank you're dealing with there...is the output pushing properly when you put your hand infront of it?
(Just trying to think here what may cause this)
 
#10 ·
How's it looking today???

What 'special' food are you having in this tank that you think may cause this? (Feed less maybe?)
 
#11 ·
i was feeding flakes and pellets but now im feedin frozen blood worms and only enough pellets for the oscars to finish( i feed them by hand) i just cant seem to get that crystal blue water like the smaller tank has...i recently added chemipure to the xp4..I still use carbon despite the ongoing debate lol well if it was easy everyone would do it! lol
 
#12 ·
Blood worms are awesome foods for them!

I still don't get that with your water, specially cause its not your tap water being naturally cloudy (otherwise your other tanks would look crappy too).

Do you have the same gravel in that tank then the small crystal clear one? Maybe the gravel is giving off something to make it cloudy (like adding limestone in your tank you'd have the same issue).

It ain't your fish nor the food nor the source water, so its GOT TO be something decor wise or gravel that differs from the other tank.
 
#13 ·
i was thinking that it may be all the water movement is stirring up debris..i do have alot of movement due to the 3 large filters...i have 2 spraybars ( eheims)... and a regular nozzle (on the xp 4).. the reg nozzle is set up to flow through the bubbles so it dispurses them... her e is a longshot, could it be the lighting? i just have standard fluerescent that came w the tank...
 
#14 ·
Well I'd defiantly try remove 2 of these 3 filters and see what happens cause that's filtration overkill.

If the lights were involved that would mean its some kinda bacteria, that I honestly don't think, BUT yu never know and the only way to figure that part out if take a water sample under a microscope and I donno bout you but I don't have one at hand at home :)
 
#15 ·
i really don think im overstocked but on another forum i was told that my setup is cruel and the minimum i should have for two oscars is 200 plus. they have plenty of room and are behaving perfectly... i still have no idea why its cloudy..its 90 percent clear but thats not enough lol
 
#16 ·
For the long run, I'd have to agree with this other forum. The reason they've told you 75g is not enough for 2 oscars is because they'll grow to be some 16" and then once mature they WILL be too big for your tank.

But that still doesn't justify 3 filters, that's overkill. And to hook up more filters to make up for non existing tank tanks for your species does not work like that :)

Can you PLEASE take a picture for me of this tank/ its cloudiness, its driving me bananas. It has to be something that's stirred up with your gravel & all these filters running.
 
#17 ·
today i cleaned the gravel and did a good size weekly water change. if you think its driving you crazy...try being me! akk my tanks are crystal blue except the main tank. im gonna try to upload a picture or two tonight. i jut dont get how the filters can be causing problems... and right now my two oscars are in a 90 gallon..
 
#18 ·
Was there a TON of debris etc coming out while vacuuming? I mean something far more then any other tank to explain your cloudiness?
And I know we talked about this before but are you 150% sure no one messed with you and dumped lord knows what into the tank?
 
#21 ·
OK, any chance to break down the 75g and only use the 90g....in hopes of clear water here, cause if we can't figure this cloudiness out, i'll go nuts here!
 
#22 ·
How longs the tank been set up?

Did you say the filtration (especially regarding the media) is new?

If this is the case, your tank is probably experiencing a bacterial/algal/other bloom. What colour is the cloudiness in the water?

White bacterial. Greens algal. I can't remember the other common one.

The water should stabilize and clear after anywhere from a day to a month depending on the condition.


If the tank hasn't been cycled (the filter media, as this is what cycles. The good bacteria builds up in the media over time) then your probably experiencing an ammonia spike? (someone confirm that..). 30-40% water changes should be made daily, ensuring the temperature is the same as the tank water and you have treated it correctly beforehand.
 
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