Options to making water clearer for AIO tank?

[jayteerq]

Does anyone have any advice for getting my water more clearer with an AIO system? Tons of free floating particles all the time. Even with skimmer and filter socks. I do run a 10 watt UV as well as dose coral snow. I also do have some bags of carbon pellets. But for some reason I still have a lot of particles throughout my water column.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Are you running carbon?

 

[BriDroid]

I cut some Pinky filter pads to size and double stack them in the bottom of one of the chambers. I made a little stand to hold them off the bottom of the chamber with some egg crate and zip ties. A single pad didn't seem to do the trick, but two work great. And they are cheap.

 

[jayteerq]

Are you running carbon?

I just purchased some Bulk Reef Supply ROX 0.8 Carbon from BRS. I plan on putting it in a media bag and dropping it in a chamber. Do you think that would be sufficient?

 

[jayteerq]

I cut some Pinky filter pads to size and double stack them in the bottom of one of the chambers. I made a little stand to hold them off the bottom of the chamber with some egg crate and zip ties. A single pad didn't seem to do the trick, but two work great. And they are cheap.

Hmm nice, how often do you change that out?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I just purchased some Bulk Reef Supply ROX 0.8 Carbon from BRS. I plan on putting it in a media bag and dropping it in a chamber. Do you think that would be sufficient?

Yep thats exactly what I do and it has kept my water clear!

 

[jayteerq]

Yep thats exactly what I do and it has kept my water clear!

Omg thats great news. Im hopeful this will work for me as well. May i ask, what chamber do you put it in? I have 2 chambers that hold filter socks, then I have 1 skimmer chamber, 1 uv sterilizer + bio pellets chamber, 1 refugium chamber & then the return chamber. Which would you reccomend?

 

[jayteerq]

Yep thats exactly what I do and it has kept my water clear!

Do you put it in a media bag as well? Does a carbon reactor make life easier? Im wondering if its possible to run one without a sump

 

[BriDroid]

Hmm nice, how often do you change that out?

I change the top one out every couple of days. The bottom one I change out weekly after the water change. It stays a lot cleaner than the top one. I also change out my Rox 0.8 carbon weekly after the water change as well. They are all in the same chamber.

 

[jayteerq]

I change the top one out every couple of days. The bottom one I change out weekly after the water change. It stays a lot cleaner than the top one. I also change out my Rox 0.8 carbon weekly after the water change as well. They are all in the same chamber.

Do you have a sump or AIO? If AIO, what chamber do you keep the carbon in? I was thinking of putting it directly over the return pump so that it has good through flow but still unsure. I think all my other chambers dont flow as much as near the return pump obv.

 

[BriDroid]

Do you have a sump or AIO? If AIO, what chamber do you keep the carbon in? I was thinking of putting it directly over the return pump so that it has good through flow but still unsure. I think all my other chambers dont flow as much as near the return pump obv.

I have an AIO. My first chamber is my protein skimmer and a Little Rock rubble at the bottom for the pods to hang on to, second is a bag of Rox 0.8 carbon just "floating" there and the two Pinky pads at the bottom. Third chamber is my heater, ATO sensor, and return pump.

 

[jayteerq]

I have an AIO. My first chamber is my protein skimmer and a Little Rock rubble at the bottom for the pods to hang on to, second is a bag of Rox 0.8 carbon just "floating" there and the two Pinky pads at the bottom. Third chamber is my heater, ATO sensor, and return pump.

Wow! I was under the impression there needs to be flow through the carbon. Thats nice, your water is crystal clear? Lol Do you use filter socks? Or just pads

 

[BriDroid]

Wow! I was under the impression there needs to be flow through the carbon. Thats nice, your water is crystal clear? Lol Do you use filter socks? Or just pads

Nope, just the pads. Yep, clear as can be. I was amazed at how well the Rox 0.8 worked. I have a little 10 cube, about 8 gallons water total volume after rocks and sand. I put 1 tablespoon of Rox 0.8 carbon in a filter bag and just drop it in. It makes a HUGE difference. I've thought about one of those mini IM reactors in the second chamber for the carbon to make it a little more effective, but it really seems to work well just floating in the bag?

 

[jayteerq]

Nope, just the pads. Yep, clear as can be. I was amazed at how well the Rox 0.8 worked. I have a little 10 cube, about 8 gallons water total volume after rocks and sand. I put 1 tablespoon of Rox 0.8 carbon in a filter bag and just drop it in. It makes a HUGE difference. I've thought about one of those mini IM reactors in the second chamber for the carbon to make it a little more effective, but it really seems to work well just floating in the bag?

Wow thats awesome news im excited to get home from work and put carbon in a bag now hahaha thank you for your advice!

 

[BriDroid]

Here is a shot though the tank as I sit right now. Super clear

 

[jayteerq]

Here is a shot though the tank as I sit right now. Super clear

OOOOOOF SUPER CLEAR. LET ME SHOW YOU MINES. ITS LIKE CONSTANT SNOWING INSIDE THE TANK LOL

 

[jayteerq]

I guess from a picture its hard to tell. Videos you can see so much particles flying all over the place. But definitely cant see through to the other side like your tank can

 

[jayteerq]

You can watch this video I made and you can see how it looks like a constant sand storm lol

 

[SliceGolfer]

Carbon will remove discoloration from the water, not particles. Watching your video, I see fine particle sand, at least one wrasse, and large flow pumps. I suspect sand and detritus is suspended in the water column.

 

[Ziggy17]

prior to getting my reefmat, I used to put a fist full of filter floss in each sock. Kept it free from free floaters. I also started using purigen pouches and that really sparkled up the water. All the benefits that carbon does, but you don’t have to worry about carbon causing HLLE, which it can.