Less than clear water.......need help

[LawDog101]

My 125g is as follows:

Ehiem canister (forget the #, but for a 125g aquarium)
UG filter w/3 402 powerheads
Two Pacu (each about 8-9" long)
Two Jack Dempsey Cichlids (about 5" long)
Two 4-line Pictus cats (6" long)

This tank was started about 3 months ago and since starting it, I have added two pieces of large driftwood. It leeched and dyed the water brown, like tea. NO problems with that, I knew it would happen.

What I am concerned about is the fact that the water remains fairly murky. I can see through it fine, but it not clear like my 30g on the other side of the office. The 30g just has a hang on filter.

All of my levels are fine and I keep a fresh carbon filter in the Ehiem, but I cannot figure out the clarity problem.

Any thoughts?

James

[CrazieEddie]

Hi. Since the water is brown from the wood, what kind of murky are you talking about? I know if wood contains lots of tannic acid, it would turn the water murky brown. Continious water changes and change the carbon in the filter will eventually clear the water up. Since it's stained with the tannic acid, I'm assuming you don't mean murky white or green. Becuase white murky water normally is due to bacterial bloom, which normally occurs after a large water change or new tank conditions. Greenish murky water would mean an algae bloom. Excessive feeding or excessive lights (close to a window) could be the problem.

[LawDog101]

Thanks Eddie.

The water is brown, like tea. Not a problem there, the wood is still leeching. I guess what I am saying is that the brown water is not clear. There appears to be material in the water that is not being grabbed by the UG and the Ehiem.

To be honest, I would like it to be clear tea colored water if possible. I know that sounds funny, but the tank is in my law office and I don't mind the tea color, but the murk has to go.

Any more thoughts?

James

[waruss]

How thick is the substrate. An UGF needs at least 1 1/2" of gravel to be usefull. Even with a thick gravel bed, after a while, the detrius and food will be broken down small eanough to pass through the gravel and UGF plate. Then you would see fine particulate matter suspended in the water column.

[LawDog101]

The sustrate is at least 1.5" with variations of slightly greater or lesser depending on how much my Pacu move things around.

I guess that I do have some old food and other waste in the water to make it a bit murky. I am just wondering why my Ehiem isn't picking it up and getting rid of it. That it why I have it in the first place.

Location of intake on Ehiem? I thought that maybe the intake needed to be in the middle of the tank and not on the left hand end of the tank. Maybe?

What about water changes and vacumming? Worth it to vacuum the gravel and change the water say every two weeks?

I changed the direction of the powerheads as it appeared that sending them straight out caused a bit of a static area where matieral simply swirled around.

Still wondering?

James

[waruss]

What about water changes and vacumming? Worth it to vacuum the gravel and change the water say every two weeks?

Absolutly. I vacuum the gravel until 15% of the water is removed and replace it with aged water (24hr).

[CrazieEddie]

I agree with Ward, even on a weekly basis, which I do. On the smaller tanks (2.5 and 5.5 gallon), I normally perform a water change every 3 days or so. Just make sure you monitor your ammonia & nitrITE levels so you know if you have to increase the frequency of the water changes.