clear water...

[juke]

I have a jbj 24 DX nanocube that I have had up and running for 3 months now.

My problem is that the water is always full of particles! It is never really clear. Each day I have to scrape the sides because there is what I call yellow/brown reef dust covering all of the glass. I went through the initial red/brown algae after the cycle.

I designed a DIY wood hood to have my 250W SE and lighting in it.
I have a Seio 620 pump running on the left side in front of the cassette overflow. I have a hydor flow connected to standard pump return adn the stock pump driving it. I have a bakpak skimmer in the back chambers. I just added the small bag of chemipure to the middle chamber.

I have a 1 inch sand bed that I have been syphoning during the waterchanges.

The water params appear to be good:

PH - 8.0 Steady
KH - 8.4
CA - 550
SA - 1.026
temp - 78-79
no3 - 0
nh3/4 - 0
I haven't tested phosphates yet

the calcium is a little high still from using oceanic salt. I started using IO salt a month ago and do weekly 5gal waterchanges.

I am still frustrated when I see the water being filled with paricles all of the time!!!

Is the flow too high? Is this normal for a new tank? Any thoughts wouold be appreciated:eek2:

Josh

 

[Krish]

Hmmm...I wouldn't think flow would be an issue unless you have so much flow in there that it is creating a sand storm. Anyway you can get your hands on something like a H.O.T magnum cannister filter for a few hours? If you use the polishing cartridge in it, it will strip that water free of all particles. I use to use one all the time when doing a water change or blowing off my rocks, but there are no more replacement cartridges on the island. Or you could maybe try running a filter sock for a few hours to see what it catches. Just a thought...I figured I'd add my 2 cents and bump the thread for you

 

[joshinjosh]

i think ime it's pretty normal for that to happen. i'm guessing it's a combination beteewn your lights, sand bed, and flow. i used to have a similar setup w/ a 250w light over a 20l w/sand and things just grew like crazy in the sand and detritus and particles were all over the tank. after that tank i learned to just go bear bottom because the sand gives too much surface area for things to grow on and bb is much cleaner.