Keeping crystal clear water

Roast · 12/13/2009, 03:35 PM

Hey all!

I am moving from a 3g to a 55g the beginning of the year and looking to keep my water crystal clear. I've had pretty good luck with my 3g until I made it a little too crowded, but the best is yet to come. So far I plan on getting a 3 stage Marine Ocean filter, but that's just what I've been looking at. Anyone have suggestions and tips for keeping the water clear (aside from the cleaning crew).

Sisterlimonpot · 12/13/2009, 03:44 PM

Granulated activated carbon will polish the water, couple that with a good mechanical filter and the water will be really clear.

BANANAHANDS · 12/13/2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

Granulated activated carbon will polish the water, couple that with a good mechanical filter and the water will be really clear.

+1. Run carbon and a filter sock. But keep in mind the filter sock will have to be changed out every few days so have a few that you can rotate in.

spleify · 12/13/2009, 04:22 PM

I'm definitely an advocate of GAC.

discus510 · 12/13/2009, 04:30 PM

how about instead of carbon. run purigen. heard carbon mite leak stuff bak in water vs where purigen wouldnt. has anyone use purigen in SW tank. i use it in my planted discus and angel tank and its great. was onwderin if it will work for SW too
thanks

anticarp · 12/13/2009, 04:38 PM

I put a sock on my drain pipe for the first time a week ago and have great results. In about two days my water was crystal clear.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/13/2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discus510

how about instead of carbon. run purigen. heard carbon mite leak stuff bak in water vs where purigen wouldnt. has anyone use purigen in SW tank. i use it in my planted discus and angel tank and its great. was onwderin if it will work for SW too
thanks

If you leave GAC in past the recommended time then it will start leaching back into the tank. As to how long to leave it in differs from tank to tank. Changing it every 30 days will prevent that.

Fretfreak13 · 12/13/2009, 05:03 PM

Chemipure is better than Purigen, IMO. It comes in a bag like carbon and you can jut stick it in your HOB filter instead of the carbon. My water is BEAUTIFUL with it. =)

MaJaCa · 12/13/2009, 05:25 PM

GAC

Which is best, the regular, ammonia, or mixed?

Remn · 12/13/2009, 05:26 PM

I've had great success with Chemi-Pure Elite + Purigen, highly recommend it.

bianjd · 12/13/2009, 05:36 PM

filter socks and a poly filter worked great for me

Tropix · 12/13/2009, 05:44 PM

I used the CHEMICLEAN red slime remover even though I have no redslime I used it to clear the water even more.. Does say to perform a water change after 48hours. I had to switch my filter bag with my reef carbon in it and turn off the protein skimmer.

mudbone · 12/13/2009, 05:49 PM

Chemi-Pure and filter sock is what i use in my 90g

Eric Williams · 12/13/2009, 06:25 PM

I run Purigen in a phosphate reactor, works great. Nice thing about the Purigen is you know when it is expended becauses it changes from white to a dark brown. If you are going to run this in a reactor make sure you have a valve on the reactor to slow the flow down, it takes very little flow get the Purigen moving in the reactor.

bertoni · 12/13/2009, 07:47 PM

Purigen is a nice addition to GAC, but I wouldn't rely only on it. Carbon likely is more flexible. Chemi-Pure won't work any better than a good grade of GAC, and might be more expensive. The Elite product has some GFO in it. I'm not sure that it's a good buy, either.

timdam · 01/26/2010, 02:44 PM

So a skimmer has nothing to do with keeping the water clean and clear?

Sisterlimonpot · 01/26/2010, 05:39 PM

It does but not by itself, coupled with a mechanical filter and a GAC will keep the water pretty clear.

eric@tampa · 01/26/2010, 06:32 PM

My vote is GAC get it from bulkreefsupply and it won't hurt your wallet as much

Sk8r · 01/26/2010, 06:38 PM

Personally, I avoid filter socks and such, because I have mandys and lps, which like copepods, and those cycle through the system multiple times, and would be stopped by filtration. My water's clear enough to drink, if it weren't saltwater. What I swear by is a good strong fuge, which is nature's way of doing it.

10001110101 · 02/16/2010, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Personally, I avoid filter socks and such, because I have mandys and lps, which like copepods, and those cycle through the system multiple times, and would be stopped by filtration. My water's clear enough to drink, if it weren't saltwater. What I swear by is a good strong fuge, which is nature's way of doing it.

+1

i dont know why anyone WOULDN'T have a fuge, it keeps my water crystal clear... as long as you have good baffling between your fuge and your return... but really it's easy to keep pods in main tank if you have lots of LR and keep your plankton population up.

refugiums also help keep nutrients down, without letting them get TOO low as GAC and GFO and others can.

I'm very anti-GAC, it strips too many nutrients, skimmers and fuges will only take out so much... GAC can strip your tank bare, make it sterile. I use it every now and then to clean up coloration, actually a few days 2x a month I use chemi-pure elite and it will sparkle all month.

i have DSB with live sand (you can always just seed aragonite), chaeto, halimeda, and mangroves.

(as well as various other macros from the DT i threw down there, some GHA, bubble algae)

just keep a CUC in your fuge, it needs to be maintained as well... Chaeto is great for steady nitrate/phosphate removal... better for nitrate than phosphate... GHA still grew in my tank with a fuge...

brascal1 · 02/16/2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10001110101

+1
just keep a CUC in your fuge, it needs to be maintained as well... Chaeto is great for steady nitrate/phosphate removal... better for nitrate than phosphate... GHA still grew in my tank with a fuge...

What is a CUC?

wdt2000 · 02/16/2010, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brascal1

What is a CUC?

Clean Up Crew

Ozone gets my vote

travis32 · 02/16/2010, 04:32 PM

Does the refuge / sump need to be lighted as well? I'm running a 14 gallon sump with live sand and a couple pieces of live rock. A couple snails have made it in there as well. I don't have it heated or lighted at this point. I wasn't planning on lighting it.

Anyways, my tank is crystal clear. I'm running a bakpak 2 skimmer, mechanical filter (with carbon filter pad) and 14 gallon sump with the live rock and live sand. I removed all the bioballs I had and biowheel to prevent nitrate buildup due to the natural filteration.

So far everything has remained crystal clear.

Mathews Z7 · 02/16/2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdt2000

Ozone gets my vote

+1,

O3 will make you think your fish are swimming in air.

bertoni · 02/16/2010, 06:01 PM

GAC can bind organic compounds, but it's unlikely to strip a tank of nutrients because its capacity is very small. It will help with yellow water and allelopathic compounds.

12/13/2009, 03:35 PM	#1
Roast Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 23	Keeping crystal clear water Hey all! I am moving from a 3g to a 55g the beginning of the year and looking to keep my water crystal clear. I've had pretty good luck with my 3g until I made it a little too crowded, but the best is yet to come. So far I plan on getting a 3 stage Marine Ocean filter, but that's just what I've been looking at. Anyone have suggestions and tips for keeping the water clear (aside from the cleaning crew).

12/13/2009, 03:44 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Granulated activated carbon will polish the water, couple that with a good mechanical filter and the water will be really clear. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/13/2009, 04:22 PM	#4
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	I'm definitely an advocate of GAC. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

12/13/2009, 04:38 PM	#6
anticarp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 79	I put a sock on my drain pipe for the first time a week ago and have great results. In about two days my water was crystal clear. __________________ Life is about the journey...

12/13/2009, 05:25 PM	#9
MaJaCa Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 95	GAC Which is best, the regular, ammonia, or mixed? __________________ Oceanic 115g DT, 20g prop tank, 33g sump/fuge, 500w MH, 240w T12, RKE, Octopus Skimmer

12/13/2009, 04:30 PM	#5
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	how about instead of carbon. run purigen. heard carbon mite leak stuff bak in water vs where purigen wouldnt. has anyone use purigen in SW tank. i use it in my planted discus and angel tank and its great. was onwderin if it will work for SW too thanks

12/13/2009, 05:03 PM	#8
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	Chemipure is better than Purigen, IMO. It comes in a bag like carbon and you can jut stick it in your HOB filter instead of the carbon. My water is BEAUTIFUL with it. =)

12/13/2009, 05:26 PM	#10
Remn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 115	I've had great success with Chemi-Pure Elite + Purigen, highly recommend it.

12/13/2009, 05:36 PM	#11
bianjd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWI Posts: 133	filter socks and a poly filter worked great for me __________________ EVERY SONG HAS AN END IS THAT ANY REASON NOT TO ENJOY THE MUSIC?!!! Current Tank Info: 120 gal. in-wall reef tank with fish

12/13/2009, 05:44 PM	#12
Tropix Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pismo Beach, cA Posts: 156	I used the CHEMICLEAN red slime remover even though I have no redslime I used it to clear the water even more.. Does say to perform a water change after 48hours. I had to switch my filter bag with my reef carbon in it and turn off the protein skimmer.

12/13/2009, 05:49 PM	#13
mudbone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 62	Chemi-Pure and filter sock is what i use in my 90g

12/13/2009, 06:25 PM	#14
Eric Williams Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 46	I run Purigen in a phosphate reactor, works great. Nice thing about the Purigen is you know when it is expended becauses it changes from white to a dark brown. If you are going to run this in a reactor make sure you have a valve on the reactor to slow the flow down, it takes very little flow get the Purigen moving in the reactor. __________________ Sign Guy Current Tank Info: 210 Gal DT, 65 gal acrylic sump outer orbit hood with 3 150 14K MH, 8 96W Dual Actinic 8 moon lights Reeflow 3600 GPH return pump 2 Vortech MP40 Reef Octopus 150 protein skimmer

12/13/2009, 07:47 PM	#15
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Purigen is a nice addition to GAC, but I wouldn't rely only on it. Carbon likely is more flexible. Chemi-Pure won't work any better than a good grade of GAC, and might be more expensive. The Elite product has some GFO in it. I'm not sure that it's a good buy, either. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/26/2010, 02:44 PM	#16
timdam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 815	So a skimmer has nothing to do with keeping the water clean and clear?

01/26/2010, 05:39 PM	#17
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	It does but not by itself, coupled with a mechanical filter and a GAC will keep the water pretty clear. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/26/2010, 06:32 PM	#18
eric@tampa Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tampa,Fla Posts: 322	My vote is GAC get it from bulkreefsupply and it won't hurt your wallet as much

01/26/2010, 06:38 PM	#19
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Personally, I avoid filter socks and such, because I have mandys and lps, which like copepods, and those cycle through the system multiple times, and would be stopped by filtration. My water's clear enough to drink, if it weren't saltwater. What I swear by is a good strong fuge, which is nature's way of doing it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/16/2010, 04:32 PM	#23
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	Does the refuge / sump need to be lighted as well? I'm running a 14 gallon sump with live sand and a couple pieces of live rock. A couple snails have made it in there as well. I don't have it heated or lighted at this point. I wasn't planning on lighting it. Anyways, my tank is crystal clear. I'm running a bakpak 2 skimmer, mechanical filter (with carbon filter pad) and 14 gallon sump with the live rock and live sand. I removed all the bioballs I had and biowheel to prevent nitrate buildup due to the natural filteration. So far everything has remained crystal clear.

02/16/2010, 06:01 PM	#25
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	GAC can bind organic compounds, but it's unlikely to strip a tank of nutrients because its capacity is very small. It will help with yellow water and allelopathic compounds. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni