How to keep a clear tank

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kdeyarmin

New member
Are there any special tricks to keeping your saltwater aquarium clear. I have a 210 gallon marine tank and it never seems to be clear. I have live rock, 2 canister filters, an AC 110, and a protein skimmer running. Any thoughts on buying the live bacteria to help?? It has been up and running for about 4 months now.
Thanks,
 
No tank is clear when it is four months old. It will clean up with time. The canister filter can be a nitrate trap. The number one "trick" to clear tank is maintenance.
 
disc1 said:
No tank is clear when it is four months old. It will clean up with time. The canister filter can be a nitrate trap. The number one "trick" to clear tank is maintenance.
Click to expand...

Can you explain why "No tank is clear when it is four months old"?
 
A 4 month old tank can be clear, mine was. To solve the problem we need to know what's causing it, so we need some info. What are your test results, what kind of cloudiness is it (is it milky, does it look like little particles, is the water tinted a color, etc...) what is your live stock and any other helpful information you can think of.

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water changes, clean filter socks, substrate vacuum, clean glass..

Those things will help you clear it up. Is there a miracle cure? no
If you want less maintenance, then have less fish, and feed less
 
liverocks plus good skimming should be enough. why r u using a canisters in a 210? u can always run carbon to keep ur water clear. i dont use it though and my water is crystal clear.
 
kdeyarmin said:
Are there any special tricks to keeping your saltwater aquarium clear. I have a 210 gallon marine tank and it never seems to be clear. I have live rock, 2 canister filters, an AC 110, and a protein skimmer running. Any thoughts on buying the live bacteria to help?? It has been up and running for about 4 months now.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
what's being run in the canister filters?

For a crystal clear aquarium run a great skimmer, carbon inside a reactor and a 100 micron (or smaller) mechanical filter (commonly called a "filter sock")
 
Sounds like you r trying to run a salt tank like a fresh tank
More than likely your canisters are causing the problem. Invest in a good sump and return pump, setup a skimmer and some filter socks on your main drain and ditch the canisters. I was told you might be able to run carbon or GFO in a canister but it could be hard because you can't see if the media is running properly. Maybe sell the canisters off and get a carbon and/or gfo reactor.
My tank is less than 4 months and it's alwAys crystal clear except after feeding time. I run a skimmer that is rated for several times as much capacity as I have, I recommend over sizing your skimmer as well, don't buy a skimmer rated for a 210, you want something rated for 300-400g. The used market for tank gear is very good, don't be shy of buying used.
 
You can run a UV filter/ filters. It is best to run them in line before your skimmer so the skimmer picks up as much of the dead particles as possible. In my opinion, it's one of the best choices to keeping a healthy tank.
 
run carbon through a reactor. easiest thing and is relatively inexpensive. i wouldnt do uv or anything like that. but thats just my oppinion.
 
Do you have a sand sifting fish like a goby that is making the water cloudy?

Also there is nothing really wrong with 2 canister filters, but use them for activated carbon. Many reefers do this (including Randy Holmes Farley I believe). I run carbon in a canister. People seem to get in trouble when they try to use canister filters as biological filters, adding bio-stars or some sort of ceramic live rock surrogate. I keep my canister loaded with a bag of carbon and that's it. I change it every 3 weeks to 1 month.

It's not ideal to use a canister but using them properly will help rather than hurt. What's in the AC110?
 
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