Aquarium Has a lot of particles floating

[faolteam]

Aquarium Has a lot of particles floating, i do weekly 50% water changes , im using a double sponge filter (1), 30 litre tank i do feed frozen food most days with some dried flake food in a container with water and syphon it in tank , i do have Indian Almond leaves in tank which shed thee leaves etc and plants also,
is this sponge filter strong enough im using a Tetra Tec 300 thanks

 

[Colin_T]

Probably too much food, particularly dry food.
Why are you soaking dry flake food before adding it to the tank?

Maybe clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last few weeks,but don't clean it if the filter is less than 6 weeks old.

 

[faolteam]

Hi Colin i was just puttingg the frozen cube Blood worms shrimp etc in the container with water and adding flake food so i could use a pipette to drop it in , is this not a good idea ?

 

[Colin_T]

Either feed the fish flake or frozen but not both at the same time. The fish will always go after the frozen foods before flake and the flake will sink and rot.

 

[faolteam]

i appreciate that thank you,
i didnt know

 

[xxBarneyxx]

A small internal or HOB filter with just filter floss in can help remove particles from the water column as well. Just switch it out when it gets too dirty.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Sponge filters are amazing for biological filtration, but not so much for mechanical filtration. However, as @Colin_T pointed out, floating or suspended debris are likely the result of excess food...so stop it! <grins>

A HOB or canister filter (large tanks) can aid with water quality as particles are better trapped. I use sponge material exclusively in all my external filters which kinda makes them power sponge filters. I have found that sponge material in external filters is great for both mechanical and biological filtration. I also let these filters just run along until I see that flow is significantly reduced which allows the bacteria and microbes do their work without disruption.

But a 'rule' you should maintain is to feed only what the fish will consume fairly quickly. Many hobbyists, with the best of intentions, will overfeed their fish leading to poorer health and lower water quality. (see Are You Overfeeding Your Fish)

 

[faolteam]

A small internal or HOB filter with just filter floss in can help remove particles from the water column as well. Just switch it out when it gets too dirty.

Can you recommend one please ?
Is it that Sponge filters can only do so much

 

[faolteam]

So What your saying is a sponge filter alone is not strong enough for complete filtration ?
Is it ok to not feed you fish say one day a week?

 

[Colin_T]

Fish should be fed regularly. Once a day is normally fine for healthy adult fish. A lot of people will feed their fish 6 days a week and leave one day without food.
If the adult fish have worms, gill flukes, or are run down, then feeding more often (3-5 times a day) can help them build up some energy to help fight off any health issues or recover from an injury. Once the fish have recovered, you reduce the feeding to once or twice a day.

Baby fish should be fed 3-5 times a day so they have plenty of nutrients to grow.

Fish that are being prepared for breeding, should also be fed 3-5 times a day for a few weeks before breeding so they can develop good quality gametes (eggs & sperm).

If you feed the fish 3-5 times a day, do lots of water changes and gravel cleaning to keep the tank clean.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

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I used to feed my fish flake food in the morning before heading off to work. And flake then frozen foods in the evening when i had more time to spend with them. Feed a little bit of flake and let theme at it all, then offer a bit of frozen food. Remove uneaten food after 5 minutes.

 

[FishHobby99]

Aquarium Has a lot of particles floating, i do weekly 50% water changes , im using a double sponge filter (1), 30 litre tank i do feed frozen food most days with some dried flake food in a container with water and syphon it in tank , i do have Indian Almond leaves in tank which shed thee leaves etc and plants also,
is this sponge filter strong enough im using a Tetra Tec 300 thanks

I use flakes too (& other foods) & sprinkle on the top.

Are you rinsing the sponge filter in used tank or conditioned water? They can clog up fast.

 

[faolteam]

I rinse in tank water ,

 

[FishHobby99]

I rinse in tank water ,

I used to & then decided conditioned water is easier. The idea is to prevent chlorinated water from depleting BB, so either way is equally effective from what I’m reading.

 

[faolteam]

What about doing something like this to my Sponge filter i have ?

 

[faolteam]

Would the Above be a Good Idea

Just an update i these particles may also be my indian captcha leaf sediment