Water Not Clearing Very Well

[fI$H_FaCe]

well my tanks still seems to have a lot of debris floating around in it..... it has been set up for about 6 months i guess and i am not noticing any big difference in the clarity of the water yet... ok maybe it is me just being very picky, but i want the crystal clear water i see when i go to other places and that i see on here in pics.... my fish seem to be doing good, THEY'RE getting real big....

i am using a Fluval 404 and a Aquaclear 70 (biggest HOB i could fit between the braces on my custom 90 Gal tank)

i started using filter floss about 2 months ago and it seemed to take some debris fomr the water for a couple days and then it seemed to back to the reg haze...

i have a full sand bottom, a few live plants (not many, maybe 4), i have been feeding them shrimp pellets, blood worms, and tropical flake, id this OK or is there less "messy foods" to use???

i guess my qiestion is more looking for advise on my system, becaus ei hate to turn my light on because of the slight cloudiness in there...

how often should my filters be changed/cleaned thoroughly??

how big of a deal is regualr water changes play in clarity of your tank??

any advise for me would be great!!!!!


thanks a bunch

-Brad

 

[FBF]

i have filters that are 8 yrs old. i have filter media thats over 5 yrs old.

i would think your problem is without a doubt filtration.

i bet if you added a decent filter lake an eheim you'd quickly see results.

also theres a possibilty that you hve dead water in the tank. water that isnt moving so isnt being filtered and that would stay grotty.

also gravel siphoning will lower the amount of crap your fish can stir up too..

just a few ideas for you.

 

[annka5]

I'd suggest giving your sand a really good siphon; if you didn't rinse it before use you might even want to consider taking it our, rinsing it (it takes ages) and adding it.
You could try addingvery fine filter floss but am not sure it would pick up that much.

 

[big mick]

Try Interpets 'filter aid', it works wonders. Ive not used it for ages coz i dont have a problem with my water but a 50% water change and adding filter aid should sort it out.

 

[fI$H_FaCe]

thanks guys...

i did rinse my sand when i added it to the tank...but i have never syphoned it since it has been in the tank....

would a power head or 2 in the ends of the tank help this do you think?

i don't want to have to change filters, i figured these 2 would be plenty for my fish, but i have a fully stocked ( about 10 african cichlids (from about 3-4 inches), 2 catfish, 4 clown loaches, red tailed shark and 2 small balas

would more regualer water changes and reg sand syphoning fix this too do you think?

heres a pic of the tank....the AC 70 is betweent he middle brackets, and the Fluval 404 exits far left (inside the brace) and suction is far right but close to bottom of course (still inside the brace) could this area under the braces maybe be a dead spot and causing stagnent (sp?) water spots to stay dirty and not get filtered?

 

[big mick]

Regualar water changes will never do any harm, when cleaning sand just wave the syphon juast above the sand but for clearing the water then water changes will be your best bet. Mind you after if its this cloudy after 6 months Id look to upgrading your filter, normally the cloudy effects of sand goes after a week tops.