29 bio cube

[ronaldo34]

I have a couple questions about how I can make my filtration better for my aquarium, I currently have a protein skimmer & a wave maker in the tank , in the back of it i just have regular sponge filter I picked up from Petco and a bag of carbon for the ammonia , I was wondering if anyone can give me tips on how to better my system for a better and clear tank , I cleaned out the filter sponge and it made me my tank get cloudy witch is normal , but I don’t like the wave maker because i think it’s useless it doesn’t help cycle the tank can any one help

 

[Pod_01]

On my tanks I only use skimmer and GAC (granular activated carbon) in a bag and water is clear (not crystal clear).
Part of filtering equation are corals, they help a lot with water clarity, they filter lot of things out of water. If you filter your water too much your corals may starve.

As for wave maker, they are not for filtering water. Their only purpose is to mimic constant ocean flow so corals and other reef occupants feel at home.
You want to see corals flow:

GAC or carbon does not remove ammonia. Carbon removes DOC (dissolved organics) that leads to yellow water it also removes coral toxins etc… It helps with water clarity…

Good luck,

 

[zwalter38]

I have a couple questions about how I can make my filtration better for my aquarium, I currently have a protein skimmer & a wave maker in the tank , in the back of it i just have regular sponge filter I picked up from Petco and a bag of carbon for the ammonia , I was wondering if anyone can give me tips on how to better my system for a better and clear tank , I cleaned out the filter sponge and it made me my tank get cloudy witch is normal , but I don’t like the wave maker because i think it’s useless it doesn’t help cycle the tank can any one help

Ok so a few comments on your system. The use of carbon is to remove dissolved organically to help clarify the water, it dose not remove things like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, or phosphates. Also wave makers are very vital to our systems. They keep water flowing and things like detritus in the water column so the filter can remove it. There are some other reasons to have one but that’s an important reason in terms of filtration. When you say you have a sponge filter, are you referring to a sponge in the back chamber or an actual sponge filter run by a bubbler?

 

[ronaldo34]

On my tanks I only use skimmer and GAC (granular activated carbon) in a bag and water is clear (not crystal clear).
Part of filtering equation are corals, they help a lot with water clarity, they filter lot of things out of water. If you filter your water too much your corals may starve.

As for wave maker, they are not for filtering water. Their only purpose is to mimic constant ocean flow so corals and other reef occupants feel at home.
You want to see corals flow:

GAC or carbon does not remove ammonia. Carbon removes DOC (dissolved organics) that leads to yellow water it also removes coral toxins etc… It helps with water clarity…

Good luck,

This is what I use do you recommend me use the one you do

 

[ronaldo34]

Ok so a few comments on your system. The use of carbon is to remove dissolved organically to help clarify the water, it dose not remove things like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, or phosphates. Also wave makers are very vital to our systems. They keep water flowing and things like detritus in the water column so the filter can remove it. There are some other reasons to have one but that’s an important reason in terms of filtration. When you say you have a sponge filter, are you referring to a sponge in the back chamber or an actual sponge filter run by a bubbler?

Sorry yes a sponge on my back chamber I cleaned it out today and put in a new bag of carbon and it made the water cloudy

 

[ronaldo34]

Ok so a few comments on your system. The use of carbon is to remove dissolved organically to help clarify the water, it dose not remove things like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, or phosphates. Also wave makers are very vital to our systems. They keep water flowing and things like detritus in the water column so the filter can remove it. There are some other reasons to have one but that’s an important reason in terms of filtration. When you say you have a sponge filter, are you referring to a sponge in the back chamber or an actual sponge filter run by a bubbler?

This is what I have

 

[hatteras hank]

Sometimes carbon has a lot of dust. Rinse it with water first till it runs clear. How much rock do you have? Might consider adding a some ceramic biomedia to the rear chamber as well. Gives a lot of surface area for bacteria in a small space and can help boost biological filtration in small systems. If tank isn’t still cyclin in ammonia may want to wait on running in the skimmer but lots of differed if opinions on all that it seems so not sure it matters. Good time to break it in and get it tuned if nothing else.

 

[zwalter38]

Sorry yes a sponge on my back chamber I cleaned it out today and put in a new bag of carbon and it made the water cloudy

Did you rinse the carbon before adding it to your tank? Adding carbon and cleaning the sponge should not make the water cloudy.

 

[ronaldo34]

Sometimes carbon has a lot of dust. Rinse it with water first till it runs clear. How much rock do you have? Might consider adding a some ceramic biomedia to the rear chamber as well. Gives a lot of surface area for bacteria in a small space and can help boost biological filtration in small systems. If tank isn’t still cyclin in ammonia may want to wait on running in the skimmer but lots of differed if opinions on all that it seems so not sure it matters. Good time to break it in and get it tuned if nothing else.

It’s a old tank not new one but thanks for that I didn’t know thdt

 

[ronaldo34]

Did you rinse the carbon before adding it to your tank? Adding carbon and cleaning the sponge should not make the water cloudy.

I didn’t not rinse it through smh

 

[ronaldo34]

Did you rinse the carbon before adding it to your tank? Adding carbon and cleaning the sponge should not make the water cloudy.

Did I just kill my fish

 

[zwalter38]

Did I just kill my fish

You should be fine, but I would definitely do a water change.

 

[ronaldo34]

You should be fine, but I would definitely do a water change.

5 gallons you think would be fine ? Or less and what if that causes more cloudyness after

 

[zwalter38]

5 gallons you think would be fine ? Or less and what if that causes more cloudyness after

I don’t see any reason it would be more cloudy after you change the water. If you could remove the carbon and rinse it now then do the water change. That’s the route I would go. 5 gallons should be okay. Then you could change more tomorrow if it’s still cloudy.

 

[ronaldo34]

It’s currently nigh time in California would it harm the fish in any way or should I just wait till tomorrow after noon

 

[Pod_01]

This is what I use do you recommend me use the one you do

That is zeolite blended with carbon… I don’t believe it will reduce ammonia. Actually corals like ammonia as a food source and many reefers dose ammonia.

Zeolite can clear up water but can also remove useful elements and release other not useful elements, I would not recommend using it. Water change of 5-10% by weekly is recommended. I found Zeolite aggressive in my tank…

The carbon I use is ROX 0.8 carbon, I use tablespoons per 25gal into mesh bag and I replace half of it every 2weeks.

Good luck,