Polishing your water

[KevPool]

Good morning folks.

just wondering if anyone can guide me into some tips on polishing my water. It isn't as clear as I would like it to be, but I have also been using polylabs one the past week or so, not sure if that is contributing to the water quality or not. I haven't quite decided which route I want to take either socks or floss just looking for some feedback on what you folks like to use for polishing your water.

Once again thank you kindly.

 

[Saltyreef]

A $60 brs carbon reactor works great for polishing my water.

 

[SPR1968]

There are many ways, activated carbon, purigen, filter socks, filter wool, roller matts or a combination of methods

I use, carbon, a 9 micron roller mat and filter floss and the water is crystal clear

 

[KevPool]

I have this badboy but I haven't set it up yet.

 

[KevPool]

I have to pick up some gfo and carbon and maybe some new inserts for the spectra pure media reactor this weekend. But I did have some filter floss handy so I filled my PhosBan reactor with filter floss for now lol.

 

[Montiman]

There are 3 things that can cause cloudy water.

1. Particles
2. Organics
3. Living organisms (Algae and Bacterial Blooms)

When I was doing commercial installs water clarity was extremely important. Some of the tanks in businesses were 4-6ft deep and any discoloration or cloudiness really stands out. Each of the 3 main causes can be addressed differently.

Particles need to be removed mechanically. Increasing the flow through your mechanical filtration and lowering the micron size of the mechanical filtration will help to remove particles. Nothing removes particles like a 25 micron pleated cartridge. 25 microns is approximately the size of a white blood cell. While there are finer mechanical filters the human eye can not see anything smaller than 25 microns so there isn't much point in going finer. Marineland, Lifegard, and NuClear make good 25 micron filters.

Organics can be removed by carbon or ozone. Carbon is easy but as a lover of ozone I truly believe more people should consider it. I never knew water could be so clear until I tried ozone.

Living organisms like free floating algae and waterborn bacteria are best removed with a UV sterilizer.

Because of the importance of clear water a lot of my commercial installs used a nuclear filter with 1.5lbs of carbon and a big UV. This is a water polishing machine.

If you know what is causing your cloudiness then add what you need to solve that issue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve had great success with chemipure blue and elite

 

[Lil' RegalReefster]

I recently had the same problem and found that using a small amount of carbon that runs for an hour or so, twice a day works best. I personally use a BRS co2 scrubber that I converted to a carbon reactor. I also have filter floss right before my return chamber and 15 gallon fuge which does help with particulates. Within 4-5 days my water was crystal clear with no visible particles as well. I highly recommend using some carbon and filter floss if you want a quick and simple solution and if you want a bit more advanced get a reactor and some proper 25 micron filter socks. Also making your skimmer skim a bit more it will help with particulates.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

What about old school DE?

 

[Macbalacano]

Personally, I got really tired of using socks. I went sockless for a while, then started using filter floss. I think its the best of both worlds. Its cheap, lasts quite a while, and is easy to just take out, throw out, and replace. The water isn't as clear if I used something like 25 micron filter, but its quite clear enough to me for the price/ease!

 

[Woodneers]

Good morning folks.

just wondering if anyone can guide me into some tips on polishing my water. It isn't as clear as I would like it to be, but I have also been using polylabs one the past week or so, not sure if that is contributing to the water quality or not. I haven't quite decided which route I want to take either socks or floss just looking for some feedback on what you folks like to use for polishing your water.

Once again thank you kindly.

What size tank? For anything smaller than 100 gallons a simple maxijet 1200 and a pop bottle with filter floss in it will clear your water off all particulate. If it is organic then carbon is cheap and easy.

 

[KevPool]

Personally, I got really tired of using socks. I went sockless for a while, then started using filter floss. I think its the best of both worlds. Its cheap, lasts quite a while, and is easy to just take out, throw out, and replace. The water isn't as clear if I used something like 25 micron filter, but its quite clear enough to me for the price/ease!

Thanks Mac I used the last of what I had it should tie me over till I head to CBC and see George, was thinking of grabbing a roll of it to use.

 

[KevPool]

What size tank? For anything smaller than 100 gallons a simple maxijet 1200 and a pop bottle with filter floss in it will clear your water off all particulate. If it is organic then carbon is cheap and easy.

total water volume is around 180-200 gal

 

[Woodneers]

total water volume is around 180-200 gal

A couple maxijets maybe? I use them after water changes, they work great and it’s cheap!

 

[Macbalacano]

Thanks Mac I used the last of what I had it should tie me over till I head to CBC and see George, was thinking of grabbing a roll of it to use.

Np! Ya, i'd say give it a try. If you still prefer clearer after you've tried that, then i'd go with something else. But carbon + filter floss are both cheap and easy and I like it that way!

 

[Greg P]

Good morning folks.

just wondering if anyone can guide me into some tips on polishing my water. It isn't as clear as I would like it to be, but I have also been using polylabs one the past week or so, not sure if that is contributing to the water quality or not. I haven't quite decided which route I want to take either socks or floss just looking for some feedback on what you folks like to use for polishing your water.

Once again thank you kindly.

Once my corals grew big enough, I stopped using GFO and Carbon - back in early 2016.
My weekly 7" filter sock change on 115g total system water was enough.
During a WC I would put some DT water in a white salt bucket. If it was clear, I never needed carbon. If it was a touch yellow (maybe twice/year if even that), I'd run carbon for a few days.

 

[beaslbob]

What about old school DE?

That's what I use with an old vortec diatom filter. But there're out of business now so I guess filter socks and canister filters are a substitute.

Plus macro algaes to keep algae and phyto down.

my .02

 

[Raven09]

There are 3 things that can cause cloudy water.

1. Particles
2. Organics
3. Living organisms (Algae and Bacterial Blooms)

When I was doing commercial installs water clarity was extremely important. Some of the tanks in businesses were 4-6ft deep and any discoloration or cloudiness really stands out. Each of the 3 main causes can be addressed differently.

Particles need to be removed mechanically. Increasing the flow through your mechanical filtration and lowering the micron size of the mechanical filtration will help to remove particles. Nothing removes particles like a 25 micron pleated cartridge. 25 microns is approximately the size of a white blood cell. While there are finer mechanical filters the human eye can not see anything smaller than 25 microns so there isn't much point in going finer. Marineland, Lifegard, and NuClear make good 25 micron filters.

Organics can be removed by carbon or ozone. Carbon is easy but as a lover of ozone I truly believe more people should consider it. I never knew water could be so clear until I tried ozone.

Living organisms like free floating algae and waterborn bacteria are best removed with a UV sterilizer.

Because of the importance of clear water a lot of my commercial installs used a nuclear filter with 1.5lbs of carbon and a big UV. This is a water polishing machine.

If you know what is causing your cloudiness then add what you need to solve that issue.

There are 3 things that can cause cloudy water.

1. Particles
2. Organics
3. Living organisms (Algae and Bacterial Blooms)

When I was doing commercial installs water clarity was extremely important. Some of the tanks in businesses were 4-6ft deep and any discoloration or cloudiness really stands out. Each of the 3 main causes can be addressed differently.

Particles need to be removed mechanically. Increasing the flow through your mechanical filtration and lowering the micron size of the mechanical filtration will help to remove particles. Nothing removes particles like a 25 micron pleated cartridge. 25 microns is approximately the size of a white blood cell. While there are finer mechanical filters the human eye can not see anything smaller than 25 microns so there isn't much point in going finer. Marineland, Lifegard, and NuClear make good 25 micron filters.

Organics can be removed by carbon or ozone. Carbon is easy but as a lover of ozone I truly believe more people should consider it. I never knew water could be so clear until I tried ozone.

Living organisms like free floating algae and waterborn bacteria are best removed with a UV sterilizer.

Because of the importance of clear water a lot of my commercial installs used a nuclear filter with 1.5lbs of carbon and a big UV. This is a water polishing machine.

If you know what is causing your cloudiness then add what you need to solve that issue.

You mentioned ozone and carbon. I have a 160 DT and would love to remove some algae( not much but still a problem). I’m new to saltwater mixed reef and need some educating on what kind of ozone and/ or carbon. Can you direct me to where to buy either one and which is better?

 

[Montiman]

You mentioned ozone and carbon. I have a 160 DT and would love to remove some algae( not much but still a problem). I’m new to saltwater mixed reef and need some educating on what kind of ozone and/ or carbon. Can you direct me to where to buy either one and which is better?

Firstly I would never use Carbon or Ozone to remove algae. Both are used for improving water clarity by removing or destroying discoloring compounds. If you have algae a different solution will likely be better. If you want water clarity so that you can see the algae on your rocks in HD then you can use carbon or ozone.

Activated carbon is sold everywhere and is very simple to use. Simply place the carbon in a media bag rinse with tap water to remove dust then place the bag in an area of high water flow, usually in a filter sump, AIO filter chamber, or dedicated media reactor. There are many carbons out there and they all work but generally higher priced ones like the ROX 0.8 and RedSea ReefSpec carbon will allow you to use less carbon and get the same effect.

Ozone is more complicated but it really clarifies your water. To use Ozone you will need an ozone generator, a skimmer, and an ORP controller. As You are new I will tell you to try carbon first and see if you are happy. Ozone is a great tool and I love having it on my tanks but it can be a lot for a new reefer, and it doesn't help with the most common struggles that new reefers have. BRS has some great videos on using both Carbon and Ozone.

 

[Raven09]

Firstly I would never use Carbon or Ozone to remove algae. Both are used for improving water clarity by removing or destroying discoloring compounds. If you have algae a different solution will likely be better. If you want water clarity so that you can see the algae on your rocks in HD then you can use carbon or ozone.

Activated carbon is sold everywhere and is very simple to use. Simply place the carbon in a media bag rinse with tap water to remove dust then place the bag in an area of high water flow, usually in a filter sump, AIO filter chamber, or dedicated media reactor. There are many carbons out there and they all work but generally higher priced ones like the ROX 0.8 and RedSea ReefSpec carbon will allow you to use less carbon and get the same effect.

Ozone is more complicated but it really clarifies your water. To use Ozone you will need an ozone generator, a skimmer, and an ORP controller. As You are new I will tell you to try carbon first and see if you are happy. Ozone is a great tool and I love having it on my tanks but it can be a lot for a new reefer, and it doesn't help with the most common struggles that new reefers have. BRS has some great videos on using both Carbon and Ozone.

Thank you for a quick reply. I didn’t mean to imply that I wanted carbon or ozone to remove my algae. I believe you stated that it can remove some organics like algae, I think. I just like the water clarity because I am currently using poly and polishing cloths and would like to still remove more of the small floating particles, which might be algae, not sure but guessing. Again thank you.