Sercets to crystal clear water?

Scubajoe1 · 02/05/2017, 03:07 PM

So are there any secrets to crystal clear water? I know it looks great when the water is really clear with no particulates floating around. My LRS has a tank that is pristine. When I go diving the water is not always pristine. So what do folks use? I have a filter sock and that's really my only means to catch the particulates. Suggestions?

Thanks

heathlindner25 · 02/05/2017, 03:10 PM

Vodka

timnem70 · 02/05/2017, 03:26 PM

Vodka. High quality Carbon. Same thing. That and good husbandry.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

ca1ore · 02/05/2017, 03:30 PM

Lots of reasons for cloudy water, with suspended particulates being just one. Run socks if you wish, personally I think they're pointless and certainly not the 'key' to crystal clear water. I'd suggest that balanced biological processes, high in-tank circulation, a good skimmer and carbon (or even UV) are more important.

billygoat2000 · 02/05/2017, 04:51 PM

"I want to say one word to you." grabs Scubajoe1 joe by the arm. walks him outside. "just one word."

"ozone."

walks away.

JammyBirch · 02/05/2017, 05:10 PM

Activated carbon and a bubble trap in the sump

Scorpius · 02/05/2017, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billygoat2000

"I want to say one word to you." grabs Scubajoe1 joe by the arm. walks him outside. "just one word."

"ozone."

walks away.

Not many people go this route though.

Dxpert · 02/05/2017, 05:44 PM

I'd like to try ozone, good tip.

Fissues · 02/05/2017, 05:50 PM

Vodka, Carbon, Ozone, Sugar etc.

nereefpat · 02/05/2017, 06:18 PM

Eliminating micro bubbles from skimmers, improperly installed baffles, sump not filled correctly, powerheads, overflow systems

kuzko · 02/05/2017, 06:33 PM

Frequent filter replacements and make sure you have no sandsifters or anything near the sandbed. If you have Tobias don't ever expect crystal clear water.

kuzko · 02/05/2017, 06:34 PM

If you have gobies* I hate my phone

hogfanreefer · 02/05/2017, 06:48 PM

Carbon has worked for me but I've also noted a significant improvement in water clarity when dosing Microbacter7 as well.

Twoface14 · 02/05/2017, 06:54 PM

UV sterilizer did the trick for me. But I never tried vodka... in my tank

earwicker7 · 02/05/2017, 07:55 PM

UV, carbon, and a lot of water changes.

Scurvy Dawg · 02/07/2017, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubajoe1

So are there any secrets to crystal clear water? I know it looks great when the water is really clear with no particulates floating around. My LRS has a tank that is pristine. When I go diving the water is not always pristine. So what do folks use? I have a filter sock and that's really my only means to catch the particulates. Suggestions?

Thanks

I use Vibrant Liquid Aquarium Cleaner. I dose my tank once every two weeks with it and at times it's hard to tell if there is water in the tank.

Ou8me2 · 02/07/2017, 04:26 PM

I use cheap ole Poly-Fil from Walmart or the craft store. I used to use filter socks but they became a pain to keep clean. I like the Poly-Fil as I can just throw it out.

jda · 02/07/2017, 06:02 PM

Solid, high quality activated carbon will polish it right up. Diatomaceous earth will polish it even more, but there are some safety issues that make it not really worth using all that much. Ozone and UV can help too.

Colors in pelleted or flake food will discolor the water a bit. If you want to see, fill a 5G bucket with tank water next to a 5G bucket with tap water and see the difference in color.

Scubajoe1 · 02/11/2017, 10:17 AM

So i have the UV sterilizer. Dosing NOPOX so similar to vodka dosing, no bubbles will enter from the sump. I put on carbon for a week and that seemed to do a killer job but seems a little cloudy today. How often should I replace my carbon? Also do most people here run carbon 24/7/365?

Scubajoe1 · 02/11/2017, 10:18 AM

I also use filter socks and there are no Tobias in my tank. err…Gobies.

ericarenee · 02/11/2017, 10:27 AM

I do not strive for super clear water.. My Water is clear as to the point its not cloudy.But i do not run mechanical filtration. There is always small particles moving around inside my tank .I have looked at a bowl full of water in a very powerful magnifying glass and often its nano pods swimming around. The fish seem to love it.. I feed much less then i used to as a result..
I run a Large Amount of Carbon thru a up flow carbon reactor in my sump. Protein , Deep Sand beds in 1.5 gallon buckets in the sump , and i have a 75 gallon Refugium that has blade calurpa and who knows what else growing in its sea forest...

Filter socks are just to much hassle.. I Do run them when i am scraping the coraline off the glass...

Scubajoe1 · 02/14/2017, 09:47 PM

thanks. I should look at mine. May be pods and other life.

02/05/2017, 03:07 PM	#1
Scubajoe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 409	Sercets to crystal clear water? So are there any secrets to crystal clear water? I know it looks great when the water is really clear with no particulates floating around. My LRS has a tank that is pristine. When I go diving the water is not always pristine. So what do folks use? I have a filter sock and that's really my only means to catch the particulates. Suggestions? Thanks __________________ Scubajoe 180 Gallon reef tank with coast to coast Herbie overflow. 60 Gallon sump with 9" filter sock. 36" lifereef skimmer, activated carbon filter. Emperor Aquatics 40W UV Sterilizer Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reed tank, coast to coast overflow, herbie overflow. Life reef sump and 36" life reef skimmer, GHL Doser 2, Neptune Apex reef controller, Auto topoff, Spectrapure RO system with a Tunze RO controller. activated carbon and no more GFO.

02/05/2017, 03:30 PM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Lots of reasons for cloudy water, with suspended particulates being just one. Run socks if you wish, personally I think they're pointless and certainly not the 'key' to crystal clear water. I'd suggest that balanced biological processes, high in-tank circulation, a good skimmer and carbon (or even UV) are more important. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/05/2017, 05:10 PM	#6
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Activated carbon and a bubble trap in the sump __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/05/2017, 05:50 PM	#9
Fissues Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Northeastern MA Posts: 88	Vodka, Carbon, Ozone, Sugar etc. __________________ I glue animals to rocks Current Tank Info: 2nd 10 Gallon in the works

02/05/2017, 06:18 PM	#10
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Eliminating micro bubbles from skimmers, improperly installed baffles, sump not filled correctly, powerheads, overflow systems __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

02/05/2017, 03:10 PM	#2
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Vodka

02/05/2017, 03:26 PM	#3
timnem70 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 462	Vodka. High quality Carbon. Same thing. That and good husbandry. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

02/05/2017, 04:51 PM	#5
billygoat2000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: farmington hills, mi Posts: 56	"I want to say one word to you." grabs Scubajoe1 joe by the arm. walks him outside. "just one word." "ozone." walks away.

02/05/2017, 05:44 PM	#8
Dxpert Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 52	I'd like to try ozone, good tip.

02/05/2017, 06:33 PM	#11
kuzko Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 147	Frequent filter replacements and make sure you have no sandsifters or anything near the sandbed. If you have Tobias don't ever expect crystal clear water. __________________ "Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah" - Charlie Browns teacher I've lost count of how many tanks I have so I guess just Insert generic tank specs here

02/05/2017, 06:34 PM	#12
kuzko Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 147	If you have gobies* I hate my phone __________________ "Wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah" - Charlie Browns teacher I've lost count of how many tanks I have so I guess just Insert generic tank specs here

02/05/2017, 06:48 PM	#13
hogfanreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 2,117	Carbon has worked for me but I've also noted a significant improvement in water clarity when dosing Microbacter7 as well. __________________ DSA 155,Custom Trigger 42" sump/refugium, MP40 X2, MP 10 X 2, AI Hydra 52 X3, Apex controller, Tunze ATO Current Tank Info: DSA 155 gallon, mixed reef, SPS and wrasse dominant

02/05/2017, 06:54 PM	#14
Twoface14 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Eastern ky Posts: 119	UV sterilizer did the trick for me. But I never tried vodka... in my tank

02/05/2017, 07:55 PM	#15
earwicker7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 150	UV, carbon, and a lot of water changes.

02/07/2017, 04:26 PM	#17
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	I use cheap ole Poly-Fil from Walmart or the craft store. I used to use filter socks but they became a pain to keep clean. I like the Poly-Fil as I can just throw it out.

02/07/2017, 06:02 PM	#18
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	Solid, high quality activated carbon will polish it right up. Diatomaceous earth will polish it even more, but there are some safety issues that make it not really worth using all that much. Ozone and UV can help too. Colors in pelleted or flake food will discolor the water a bit. If you want to see, fill a 5G bucket with tank water next to a 5G bucket with tap water and see the difference in color.

02/11/2017, 10:17 AM	#19
Scubajoe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 409	So i have the UV sterilizer. Dosing NOPOX so similar to vodka dosing, no bubbles will enter from the sump. I put on carbon for a week and that seemed to do a killer job but seems a little cloudy today. How often should I replace my carbon? Also do most people here run carbon 24/7/365? __________________ Scubajoe 180 Gallon reef tank with coast to coast Herbie overflow. 60 Gallon sump with 9" filter sock. 36" lifereef skimmer, activated carbon filter. Emperor Aquatics 40W UV Sterilizer Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reed tank, coast to coast overflow, herbie overflow. Life reef sump and 36" life reef skimmer, GHL Doser 2, Neptune Apex reef controller, Auto topoff, Spectrapure RO system with a Tunze RO controller. activated carbon and no more GFO.

02/11/2017, 10:18 AM	#20
Scubajoe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 409	I also use filter socks and there are no Tobias in my tank. err…Gobies. __________________ Scubajoe 180 Gallon reef tank with coast to coast Herbie overflow. 60 Gallon sump with 9" filter sock. 36" lifereef skimmer, activated carbon filter. Emperor Aquatics 40W UV Sterilizer Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reed tank, coast to coast overflow, herbie overflow. Life reef sump and 36" life reef skimmer, GHL Doser 2, Neptune Apex reef controller, Auto topoff, Spectrapure RO system with a Tunze RO controller. activated carbon and no more GFO.

02/11/2017, 10:27 AM	#21
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I do not strive for super clear water.. My Water is clear as to the point its not cloudy.But i do not run mechanical filtration. There is always small particles moving around inside my tank .I have looked at a bowl full of water in a very powerful magnifying glass and often its nano pods swimming around. The fish seem to love it.. I feed much less then i used to as a result.. I run a Large Amount of Carbon thru a up flow carbon reactor in my sump. Protein , Deep Sand beds in 1.5 gallon buckets in the sump , and i have a 75 gallon Refugium that has blade calurpa and who knows what else growing in its sea forest... Filter socks are just to much hassle.. I Do run them when i am scraping the coraline off the glass... __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

02/14/2017, 09:47 PM	#22
Scubajoe1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 409	thanks. I should look at mine. May be pods and other life. __________________ Scubajoe 180 Gallon reef tank with coast to coast Herbie overflow. 60 Gallon sump with 9" filter sock. 36" lifereef skimmer, activated carbon filter. Emperor Aquatics 40W UV Sterilizer Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reed tank, coast to coast overflow, herbie overflow. Life reef sump and 36" life reef skimmer, GHL Doser 2, Neptune Apex reef controller, Auto topoff, Spectrapure RO system with a Tunze RO controller. activated carbon and no more GFO.