Secret to crystal clear tanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14869481#post14869481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
+1

Just keep it as simple and as natural as possible. Man has often tried to improve on nature but you cant improve upon perfection. ;)

sonny, you must have talking to my wife...LOL.

i totally agree with the KISS method though. simple systems with quality equipment is hard to beat. i resisted dosing vodka for so long as i didnt wanted to keep things as simple as possible, but in reality its a very simple concept and is working very well so far.
 
So nobody mentioned mangroves. I love the way they look in their own mini "mangrove swamp" tank. Sadly, I took mine down when I went away for school. Only a few people mentioned macro algae as well... All this talk about simple natural tanks. Does anyone run a tank with just water movement and use LR and stuff growing in the tank for filtration?
 
I use a large skimmer, special grade sand, regular water changes, daily 3 sided mag cleaning and once-twice a week razor clean on the back glass. Everytime I clean the tank, I run my finger up and down the silicone which keeps it clean if you do it consistently. I also have a heft clean up crew and a sand sifting star. My fuge seems to help too. Lots of cheato in there.
 
I skim the heck out of the tank, use live rock and have a ton of flow and no complaints, everything growing exceptionally and water always crystal clear, oh and the weekly water changes, plus a very large CUC.
 
A good skimmer is the most important piece of the puzzle as most everybody agrees. I have crystal clear water. I do run Ozone but am not convinced at all that is the reason for the amazing clarity. I think my clarity has much more to do with the filter sock in the sump and the carbon reactor I use on the Ozone system.

My proof is that when the ORP threshold is reached the Ozone generator turns off. I have seen it off for days until the ORP falls below accepted limits with no detectable change in water clarity.

I don't change my carbon often enough, and notice a slight tint to the water (this is with Ozone running), but when I do change the carbon, there is a marked difference in clarity the next day. I can also see a slight difference in clarity after changing the filter sock.

Oh yeah and I do dose Vodka........
 
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