Hey all! This will be my first post here, but I'm desperate for answers. Hopefully someone here can shed some light on a very frustrating issue I've been battling with my aquarium. 
I know you all love lots of "background info" to properly assess and diagnose, so I apologize in advance for the long post (but I don't want to leave anything out that could help get to the bottom of this!).
So, where to begin? I started my love for aquariums a year ago with the purchase of a 20 gallon tank back in March 2011. I tried my best to follow all of the "rules", but still ended up with an over-stocked, under filtered tank and got bitten by the upgrade-bug.
At the time, though, I had a school of 6 platies and, eventually, 3 red-tailed loaches (aka. blue botia). As soon as I bought, and fell in love with, the loaches.. I knew I was going to need a bigger tank ASAP! The platies all came and went, but the loaches remained healthy and grew steadily. The water, however, was never crystal clear. Ever. It wasn't unbearably cloudy, but it wasn't clear either (a hazy white-ish color, I'd say, Worsened as time went on). I attributed it to the useless Whisper filter, the cheap black gravel substrate, the small piece of driftwood and the big(ish) fish making a mess of the tank. I didn't have a test kit at the time, but I was super-religious about my partial water changes (15-25% every 5 days) and, being that the fish survived in the tank for 8 months, I assume that it was properly cycled? Though I have no actual proof of this..
Here is the 20 gallon aquarium as it sat after 8 months (the night before I tore it down to upgrade). As is apparent, the water wasn't very clear:
Fast forward to November 2011: I finally purchased a used 33 gallon and accessories and performed the much needed upgrade.
The new tank came with substrate, driftwood, filter (AC 300 HOB), air pump, heater, etc. However, the filter was missing the little leveling piece and, not being able to find one immediately, I resorted to buying a new (slightly smaller) filter (AC50). I used the water, substrate, plants (fake plastic), decorations and drift wood all from my established 20 gallon to start up the new 33. I added another bag of new gravel (that I washed, but not as well as I probably should have... I'll come back to this) and a few new plastic plants. Also, I ran it with a new AC50 filter (with all new media - sponge, activated carbon and bio balls) so I expected at least a mini-cycle, but I assumed the use of the old water and contents of the tank would help this process (still no test kit, at this point).
The tank was super cloudy, at first, as would be expected. Within a few days, though, it became what I have since come to know as "clear". From the front view, you'd have trouble saying it's not perfectly clear, until you look down the tank length-wise. You can barely see the other side for all the "haze".
Here is the tank after it cleared all settled. This is about as good as got. Clear, but still not crystal (Also, this is with a different colored bulb. I since upgraded to the 6700k aqua glo, to explain different look from the rest of the pictures below!)
So this was where the "issue" began - back at the end of November... despite everything I do, I simply cannot make the tank crystal clear! I have literally tried everything... I now ask for help from the pros!
So, to reiterate, my tank was now up and running with decent filtration and more adequate space for the inhabitants. I added a 4th blue botia (and a 5th, but one sadly jumped out a while later... through a space you wouldn't believe if you saw it. Crafty bugger!) and a school of 6 rosy tetras, 3 boesmans rainbowfish (one died a week or so later, leaving 2), and I added an albino bristlenose pleco a month or so later. A total of 13 fish. 4 loaches, 6 tetra, 2 rainbows and a small pleco.
I also picked up a master test kit and test the water frequently. All tests confirm that the tank is cycled and stable. Ammonia is always 0.0, as are nitrites. Nitrates flucuate from 5 to 20ppm and PH is steady at 6.5. Temp is a constant 80 and consistant from one side of the tank to the other. Lighting is on a timer: LED moonlight from 9am to 12pm. 30watt 6700k aqua glo tube light (30") from 12pm to 10pm, then back to LED moonlight from 10pm to 12am. Full darkness from midnight to 9am. Tank gets no direct sunlight, but is in a room lit by ambient light from a nearby window (15 feet away). PWC of 15-25% done at least every 5 days. Each month or so I rinse the filter sponge in used tank water and I replace the carbon every few weeks.
About a month ago, I finally got the leveller for the AC300 (equal to newer AC70) and got that up and running. I run that with 1 sponge, activated carbon and the bioballs. I have also run it with polyester filter floss that I replaced weekly for a few weeks with no noticeable improvement. New filter is up and running (300 GPH) and established now (all tests read the same, it has been going over a month since the change and all seems well!). That was the last big change to the tank until just recently. More on that shortly...
Thus begins my on-going quest (obsession?) to get crystal clear water in my aquarium. This is what I've tried thus far:
1) The first thing I tried was cutting back on feeding from once per day, to once every other day (small amounts, no way I'm over-feeding. Each portion measured out and put into weekly pill containers to make sure of this). No noticeable improvement.
2) Next, assuming I might be battling a bacteria or algae bloom (though it doesn't look like it from the pictures I've seen of either), I decided to do a tank blackout. I covered the whole tank with garbage bags, turned out the lights and left it for 4 days, expecting to unveil a crystal clear tank at the end... but no, it didn't change it a bit.
3) I attempted filter floss, as I mentioned, for a few weeks. Constantly replacing it, but still seeing no difference.
4) I tried bigger water changes, smaller water changes, more frequent water changes, less frequent... you get the picture. None of it seemed to have any effect on the issue.
5) I even tried those water clarifying chemicals (out of desperation) that are supposed to clump small debris together to aid the filter. No such luck.
6) I figured that maybe it could be due to the black gravel (as it was the only thing not consistent between my two tanks). I have the 20 gallon running now with the AC50 and substrate from the used 33 gallon, setup identical to the other tank (just different substrate) and it is absolutely sparking clear. Which is what I'm aiming for with the 33. So, I decided to swap substrates in the 33. I chose pool filter sand and spent a couple hours cleaning it before I put it in (as improperly washed substrate was on my list of "possible causes" originally). The swap went flawlessly and, a few days later now, everything is settled back to normal... and back to the normal clear (but hazy) water.
Before the swap to sand:
After the swap:
6) Swapping the substrate also allowed me to confirm that nothing was rotting anywhere in the tank out of sight. I removed all the old gravel, siphoned the bottom completely clean and then slowly added the new sand. All the fake plants, decorations and driftwood went back in. Driftwood has been in the tank the whole time and doesn't seem to be leaching anything, either, if that's what you're thinking.
7) Last, but certainly not least, I got desperate and bought the supposed "cure-all" for aquarium cloudiness: a Vortex D-1 Diatom Filter. Thinking this was finally my answer, I bit the bullet and picked one up. I setup and charged the filter and let it do it's work, highly anticipating the results! It has been running for 2 days now (all literature indicates sparkling water within a few hours, at most) and it's still not where I'd expect. From the front, the water is beautiful. You can tell the background isn't quite as bright looking as it should be, though, yet it's hard to say it's not crystal clear. It's closer, anyways. However, when viewed length-wise, it is most definitely still hazy. I am unable to even see the other side of the tank still. I am at a complete loss.
I know that tanks can be crystal clear (as I have a 20 gallon that is perrrfect), but this one is seemingly impossible achieve. The only common variable between my 20 gallon (when it was cloudy) and the 33 gallon now, which is unique between the two currently, is the loaches. That's it. I have nothing left to try and nothing left I can change aside from doing more (or less) water changes, which I have already exhausted IMO.
As a reference, here's a quick picture of my 20 gallon. Notice the difference in the clarity of the background (same depth as the 33 gallon, same background, etc.):
What's next? I'm starting to believe that I'm just going to have to live with it, but I would greatly enjoy being able to finally figure this out...
Any thoughts from you experienced vets??
Thanks in advance and please let me know if I (somehow) left anything out lol
PS - Here is a picture of the tank length-wise. Taken just seconds ago (so you can see exactly what I'm on about):
I may be crazy for expecting better, but I would just love to see what this tank for look like with pristine, crystal clear water. I hope you all can help. Thanks again!
Dan
I know you all love lots of "background info" to properly assess and diagnose, so I apologize in advance for the long post (but I don't want to leave anything out that could help get to the bottom of this!).
So, where to begin? I started my love for aquariums a year ago with the purchase of a 20 gallon tank back in March 2011. I tried my best to follow all of the "rules", but still ended up with an over-stocked, under filtered tank and got bitten by the upgrade-bug.
At the time, though, I had a school of 6 platies and, eventually, 3 red-tailed loaches (aka. blue botia). As soon as I bought, and fell in love with, the loaches.. I knew I was going to need a bigger tank ASAP! The platies all came and went, but the loaches remained healthy and grew steadily. The water, however, was never crystal clear. Ever. It wasn't unbearably cloudy, but it wasn't clear either (a hazy white-ish color, I'd say, Worsened as time went on). I attributed it to the useless Whisper filter, the cheap black gravel substrate, the small piece of driftwood and the big(ish) fish making a mess of the tank. I didn't have a test kit at the time, but I was super-religious about my partial water changes (15-25% every 5 days) and, being that the fish survived in the tank for 8 months, I assume that it was properly cycled? Though I have no actual proof of this..
Here is the 20 gallon aquarium as it sat after 8 months (the night before I tore it down to upgrade). As is apparent, the water wasn't very clear:
Fast forward to November 2011: I finally purchased a used 33 gallon and accessories and performed the much needed upgrade.
The new tank came with substrate, driftwood, filter (AC 300 HOB), air pump, heater, etc. However, the filter was missing the little leveling piece and, not being able to find one immediately, I resorted to buying a new (slightly smaller) filter (AC50). I used the water, substrate, plants (fake plastic), decorations and drift wood all from my established 20 gallon to start up the new 33. I added another bag of new gravel (that I washed, but not as well as I probably should have... I'll come back to this) and a few new plastic plants. Also, I ran it with a new AC50 filter (with all new media - sponge, activated carbon and bio balls) so I expected at least a mini-cycle, but I assumed the use of the old water and contents of the tank would help this process (still no test kit, at this point).
The tank was super cloudy, at first, as would be expected. Within a few days, though, it became what I have since come to know as "clear". From the front view, you'd have trouble saying it's not perfectly clear, until you look down the tank length-wise. You can barely see the other side for all the "haze".
Here is the tank after it cleared all settled. This is about as good as got. Clear, but still not crystal (Also, this is with a different colored bulb. I since upgraded to the 6700k aqua glo, to explain different look from the rest of the pictures below!)
So this was where the "issue" began - back at the end of November... despite everything I do, I simply cannot make the tank crystal clear! I have literally tried everything... I now ask for help from the pros!
So, to reiterate, my tank was now up and running with decent filtration and more adequate space for the inhabitants. I added a 4th blue botia (and a 5th, but one sadly jumped out a while later... through a space you wouldn't believe if you saw it. Crafty bugger!) and a school of 6 rosy tetras, 3 boesmans rainbowfish (one died a week or so later, leaving 2), and I added an albino bristlenose pleco a month or so later. A total of 13 fish. 4 loaches, 6 tetra, 2 rainbows and a small pleco.
I also picked up a master test kit and test the water frequently. All tests confirm that the tank is cycled and stable. Ammonia is always 0.0, as are nitrites. Nitrates flucuate from 5 to 20ppm and PH is steady at 6.5. Temp is a constant 80 and consistant from one side of the tank to the other. Lighting is on a timer: LED moonlight from 9am to 12pm. 30watt 6700k aqua glo tube light (30") from 12pm to 10pm, then back to LED moonlight from 10pm to 12am. Full darkness from midnight to 9am. Tank gets no direct sunlight, but is in a room lit by ambient light from a nearby window (15 feet away). PWC of 15-25% done at least every 5 days. Each month or so I rinse the filter sponge in used tank water and I replace the carbon every few weeks.
About a month ago, I finally got the leveller for the AC300 (equal to newer AC70) and got that up and running. I run that with 1 sponge, activated carbon and the bioballs. I have also run it with polyester filter floss that I replaced weekly for a few weeks with no noticeable improvement. New filter is up and running (300 GPH) and established now (all tests read the same, it has been going over a month since the change and all seems well!). That was the last big change to the tank until just recently. More on that shortly...
Thus begins my on-going quest (obsession?) to get crystal clear water in my aquarium. This is what I've tried thus far:
1) The first thing I tried was cutting back on feeding from once per day, to once every other day (small amounts, no way I'm over-feeding. Each portion measured out and put into weekly pill containers to make sure of this). No noticeable improvement.
2) Next, assuming I might be battling a bacteria or algae bloom (though it doesn't look like it from the pictures I've seen of either), I decided to do a tank blackout. I covered the whole tank with garbage bags, turned out the lights and left it for 4 days, expecting to unveil a crystal clear tank at the end... but no, it didn't change it a bit.
3) I attempted filter floss, as I mentioned, for a few weeks. Constantly replacing it, but still seeing no difference.
4) I tried bigger water changes, smaller water changes, more frequent water changes, less frequent... you get the picture. None of it seemed to have any effect on the issue.
5) I even tried those water clarifying chemicals (out of desperation) that are supposed to clump small debris together to aid the filter. No such luck.
6) I figured that maybe it could be due to the black gravel (as it was the only thing not consistent between my two tanks). I have the 20 gallon running now with the AC50 and substrate from the used 33 gallon, setup identical to the other tank (just different substrate) and it is absolutely sparking clear. Which is what I'm aiming for with the 33. So, I decided to swap substrates in the 33. I chose pool filter sand and spent a couple hours cleaning it before I put it in (as improperly washed substrate was on my list of "possible causes" originally). The swap went flawlessly and, a few days later now, everything is settled back to normal... and back to the normal clear (but hazy) water.
Before the swap to sand:
After the swap:
6) Swapping the substrate also allowed me to confirm that nothing was rotting anywhere in the tank out of sight. I removed all the old gravel, siphoned the bottom completely clean and then slowly added the new sand. All the fake plants, decorations and driftwood went back in. Driftwood has been in the tank the whole time and doesn't seem to be leaching anything, either, if that's what you're thinking.
7) Last, but certainly not least, I got desperate and bought the supposed "cure-all" for aquarium cloudiness: a Vortex D-1 Diatom Filter. Thinking this was finally my answer, I bit the bullet and picked one up. I setup and charged the filter and let it do it's work, highly anticipating the results! It has been running for 2 days now (all literature indicates sparkling water within a few hours, at most) and it's still not where I'd expect. From the front, the water is beautiful. You can tell the background isn't quite as bright looking as it should be, though, yet it's hard to say it's not crystal clear. It's closer, anyways. However, when viewed length-wise, it is most definitely still hazy. I am unable to even see the other side of the tank still. I am at a complete loss.
I know that tanks can be crystal clear (as I have a 20 gallon that is perrrfect), but this one is seemingly impossible achieve. The only common variable between my 20 gallon (when it was cloudy) and the 33 gallon now, which is unique between the two currently, is the loaches. That's it. I have nothing left to try and nothing left I can change aside from doing more (or less) water changes, which I have already exhausted IMO.
As a reference, here's a quick picture of my 20 gallon. Notice the difference in the clarity of the background (same depth as the 33 gallon, same background, etc.):
What's next? I'm starting to believe that I'm just going to have to live with it, but I would greatly enjoy being able to finally figure this out...
Any thoughts from you experienced vets??
Thanks in advance and please let me know if I (somehow) left anything out
lolPS - Here is a picture of the tank length-wise. Taken just seconds ago (so you can see exactly what I'm on about):
I may be crazy for expecting better, but I would just love to see what this tank for look like with pristine, crystal clear water. I hope you all can help. Thanks again!
Dan
