ENOUGH FILTRATION ?

[nagus]

I'm beginning to think that my filter is not big enough for my tank. The whole set up as brought as a kit at the end of January, its a 25 UK Gallon/125 Litre tank and come with a Fluval 2+ filter plus all the other bits & pieces.

Anyway, since the beginning i've had trouble with cloudy water (in desperation i even tried something called acu-clear which worked after 2 treatments, but the water just went cloudy again after a couple of days). The label said it clumps all the particles in the filter, but it just clumped together and sunk to the bottom the tank. Does anybody know if this filter is enough for my tank and if it isn't could this be the cause of the cloudy water.

I think water parameters are o.k.:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: (unknown)
Ph: 8.0 (A little high? but was advised not to meddle with). Stays constant
GH: 13

Can anybody rid me of this cloudy water !

 

[Fordaz]

Doing a quick search on your filter, it appears the filter you have is suitable for up to a 24 (US) Gallon tank. Your tank is about 30 (US) Gallons.

It may be the problem.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I'd have at least a fluval 3+ in that size of tank. In fact I run a fluval 4 in my 75 litre!

If you are thinking of buying a new filter anyway, I'd suggest going for higher as the price isn't that much different.

Your tank does not look to be overstocked, but depending on what you are looking to add in the futer (if anything) you may want to use a fluval 4+ just because it's not much more in price and the fluval 3+ will only just cover your volume (by 5 litres), and that's going on manufacturer's information!

LFSs are usually more expensive IMO, I find here cheap.

HTH

 

[nagus]

Thank you cheese specialist(!). It does look like the lfs has sold me a kit with a filter not up to the job! If i upgrade to a bigger filter might this help with cloudy water, and also how long should i run both filters together before removing the smaller one.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Thank you cheese specialist(!). It does look like the lfs has sold me a kit with a filter not up to the job! If i upgrade to a bigger filter might this help with cloudy water, and also how long should i run both filters together before removing the smaller one.

Hmmmm, I am not sure. I usually would just take the media from the smaller and put it in the larger (jam it in with the new, or half of the new) and basically use the new one straight away.

I'm not sure if this is how it should be done but it works ok for me and you're using the same media after all.

What filter are you going to go for?

 

[nagus]

I think i'll go straight for the 4 as you said there wasn't much difference in cost, and besides which everything i've read seems to suggest you can never have enough filtration ?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I think i'll go straight for the 4 as you said there wasn't much difference in cost, and besides which everything i've read seems to suggest you can never have enough filtration ?

I do think the 3+ would be ok, but only just. What's the point in getting something only just good enough, when for a few pounds more you could get something really good!!

Good luck with it