How Do You Keep A Crystal Clear Tank?

[Andreeuh]

I'm clueless... I have a power whisper filter and a 10g tank with four girls in it. What else can I do to keep it clean & clear? I have a siphon tube but that is alotta work with all the plants (fake) and caves in there. I would do more 20%+ water changes but I have to use gallon jugs of spring water cause my water isn't safe.

How come the pet store tanks are always so clear??

 

[wendywc]

Pet store tanks look clean because their wall systems do daily automatic water changes. So don't feel bad.

 

[Andreeuh]

I could use one of those

 

[Taridan]

I have some of that 'clear water' stuff that is a redish tint, and you use one drop per gallon and its supposed to 'cling' to the metals in the water and condense/drag them down where the filter can get them... that and the filter itself...

my 5.5 gallon has been cloudy since i got it (Friday) even with me changing the water 75% on saturday and sunday... it was testing okay so monday I put my males in, then yesterday my fiance bought me one of those In-Tank Whisper Filters (The one for 2-10 gallons) and OMG i love that thing! it cleared up my cloudy water in under an hour, without making a strong current. *Drool* is your filter the one for the 2-10 gallons or the one for 10-20 gallons? If its the first one you might want to think about upgrading to the next size up.

 

[jarmado]

have you looked at uv filters?

 

[walker001]

In my 30 gal for example I have all live plants. (If I can grow them, anyone can.) At least 25% water changes weekly. After water is changed, I run my UV Steralizer for 24 hours then turn it back off. I have a Fluval cannister filter on the right side of the tank, and a Penguin Bio-Wheel filter on the left side.

Maybe a little overboard, but I can honestly say the water is clear enough, I would drink it without worrying much.

Oh, I also have a crew of 5 Cory cats that snuffle back and forth across the bottom cleaning and having fun. It all depends on what your main problem is with it being clean. Just take it one step at a time and you would be suprised how little it really takes to clean up a tank and get it balanced.

Once its balanced. Its all just water changes. The tank turns into its own little eco-system and needs very little maintenace.

Good luck,
Walker

P.S. if you get a UV Steralizer only add plant ferts after you run it. I have a unconfirmed, sneaky suspicion it does something to nuke the ferts and the plants end up looking iron deprived and yellowy. Fertilize after UV treatment and things are green and lush. Go figure.

 

[jarmado]

In my 30 gal for example I have all live plants. (If I can grow them, anyone can.) At least 25% water changes weekly. After water is changed, I run my UV Steralizer for 24 hours then turn it back off. I have a Fluval cannister filter on the right side of the tank, and a Penguin Bio-Wheel filter on the left side.

Maybe a little overboard, but I can honestly say the water is clear enough, I would drink it without worrying much.

Oh, I also have a crew of 5 Cory cats that snuffle back and forth across the bottom cleaning and having fun. It all depends on what your main problem is with it being clean. Just take it one step at a time and you would be suprised how little it really takes to clean up a tank and get it balanced.

Once its balanced. Its all just water changes. The tank turns into its own little eco-system and needs very little maintenace.

Good luck,
Walker

P.S. if you get a UV Steralizer only add plant ferts after you run it. I have a unconfirmed, sneaky suspicion it does something to nuke the ferts and the plants end up looking iron deprived and yellowy. Fertilize after UV treatment and things are green and lush. Go figure.

great info on UV stuff!

 

[Andreeuh]

Thanks a lot guys! I guess I should look into some new equipment for my 10g. I dunno about plants though... I have a cactus and that's even dying.

 

[Andreeuh]

Oh yea,

How much is the In Tank Whisper Filter and the UV sterilizer? I think I'll get those two things.

 

[liz2]

cacti dont die! do they? mine just thrive on neglect

 

[Taridan]

My Whisper In Tank Filter 10i cost 10 US dollars, but it was on sale since one of the LPS has just moved locations so everything in the store is on sale... I also bought a 5.5 gallon for 9.98 and a CT male for $1.50 which cost 12$ total. All fish were half priced... it was only through shere lack of space that i didn't come home with 10 of em. so my total was 32$ for the filter, tank and fish. XD but the Filter might not have been on sale... we got it 3 days after I had gotten the tank and I think pricing might have gone back to normal.

 

[Andreeuh]

Yeah, I think they're online for $10.99.. That's not bad at all. Now I just need to know about the UV sterilizer.. I think those are a bit more expensive...

I think my cactus has been neglected a little toooo much.. the fish are getting all the attention!

 

[jarmado]

Yeah, I think they're online for $10.99.. That's not bad at all. Now I just need to know about the UV sterilizer.. I think those are a bit more expensive...

I think my cactus has been neglected a little toooo much.. the fish are getting all the attention!

i got my 9W UV for £25.

 

[Andreeuh]

yikes, that's a lot! Would mine need to be a 9W? Maybe I'll just try the filter out first

 

[ILM]

A filter will filter out some of the particles (dead plant matter, grunge) but you still need to do tank cleanings adn water changes or the bacteria in the tank will increase and become lethal. If you only have the one fish in a 10 gal. tank, you probably don't have to do a big water change every week but the longer you go without doing a gravel vaccuming, the more algae will grow and the more gunk will get stuck in the gravel. Tank cleanings is what you signed up for when you decided to keep fish.