Fluval 4 Plus - Questions

[pilot56]

I recently purchased a filter for a new tank I am setting up. It is the Fluval 4 Plus Underwater filter and it is for my new 55 gal tank. I am very familiar with fish tanks I have grown up my entire life with fish tanks in my house and it was always my job to maintain it. But I am wondering about this new filter. I have always used various filters that mount to the top of the tank and have a filter that the water flows through but with this new tank I need the top few inches to be not be filled with water (Decorative purpose). So my question is was my choice to get this filter a good one. When I was filling my tank up with water, it was about half way full I noticed that the water had a brownish tint to it. I washed everything that I put in it prior to so I thought this was weird but that is beside the point. So I stopped filling the tank and then it hit me. When I was messing around with the filter and washing it and such I noticed how porus (large holed) the filter material was abut I didn't think about it much till my water turned murky and I was wondering if the material will be able to remove this cast to the water. I know you can buy fine filter material, I am familiar with that because I have an outdoor pond but I hate messing with cutting it up and all that jazz. So I am wondering if this filter will clear the water or just filter out the large debris in the water.

 

[The-Wolf]

I found your post very hard to read without some gaps in it.

before answering your question on the filter i have one for you.
do you have bogwood/mopani wood in the tank?

 

[chishnfips]

I doubt very much that the filter has coloured your water, I use a fluval 4 and I have never experienced this, as wolf asked if you have mopani or bog wood, I would assume that it is this that is colouring the water due to the tannins.

The only thing I found with fluval internal filters is you need to keep them clean, they can clog up easily. But aside from that I cant put them wrong at all. I have mine for two years and never had a fault with it and my water is always very clear.