New Filter reccomendation (to remove visible particle matter)?

Question

I have a 90 gallon tank. Here is my current filter setup:

Emperor 400, converted to all bio filtration using 1.5 liters of matrix bio media, a fistfull of pillow stuffing as pre-filter, and 2 air stones under the matrix.

Magnum 350 Canster, with 2/3 matrix and 1/3 carbon in a media cage, wrapped up with pure-flo 50 micron cloth, a standard rite-size pad, and then surrounded with pillow stuffing.

2 large sponge filters (the glass tube / blue sponge kind) hooked up to an air pump.

My current setup is great for bio filtration, but I'm not getting enough particle matter out of the tank. I can see thousands of little particles floating around in the water.

I'd like to switch to the paper filter for the magnum, but I bet there will not be enough bio filtration.

I was considering buying a used magnum hot 250 with a paper filter in it.

Any suggestions for diatom / paper filters / solutions to reduce particle matter in the tank?

Answer 1

You can always do what I use to do when I had a 90 freshwater.
You already have a good bio filter with the Emperor 400, add a Aqua clear 70 or 110 loaded with a foam insert, and Bio balls people use in saltwater wet dry filters.
Keep your Magnum 350 all hooked up and ready to go BUT replace the "basket" with the micron (paper) filter and turn it on once per week for about 8 hours.
This will keep your Bio filter about the same or even better(with the aqua clear) and WILL get rid of all your suspended particles.

Answer 2

Diatom filters will definitely clean up the particulates without harming the bio filters. I'm surprised that the sponges are not doing a better job on the particles. Try cleaning the sponges in a bucket of aquarium water at water change time, it may take a couple of rinses to get some flow through them. I would alternate cleaning the the sponges to keep the bio filter action high. It's not necessary to get them spotlessly clean,just get some water flowing through them.
In the past I've used a Vortex diatom filter with great success,but it requires setting up and running the filter every week or two for (with a 90 gallon tank) several hours. These filters are great at "polishing" the water to a state of gin-like clarity,but people seem to fall away from using them after a few years (or months) of pristine looking water.
Before dropping the cost of a Vortex maybe have a go at a low tech solution,try the largest Hydro-sponge filter you can get,some of them are 8" or so in diameter and 5 or 6" thick,and come with enough tubing and stuff to attach a cheap "power head-type" pump . Let this run in the tank until you get the particulate removal you desire,and clean it up and put it away until needed again.
Also,you might want to back off on some of the pillow stuffing and allow a little more flow. If the stuffing isn't getting the particles,why have it in there?
Were it me,I'd just sit further away from the tank.

Answer 3

I own a cleaning system called a diatom filter. You do not use it all the time, it is great to keep your tank from going bad on you. It is not cheap.

Here is some info for you if you need it.
First things first. Always add water conditioner and aquarium salt when setting up. ALL the items you are putting in your tank such as stones,fake plants,decorations, should be washed in a water aquarium salt solution. NEVER use soap of any kind.

Do not even have anything on your hands when doing this for example;hand lotion,soap,perfume. You set up an aquarium it should set for at least 2 weeks with the filter systems running before you put anything in it. Once this time period is over. I would add the cheapest tester fish you can buy. This is to make sure the quality of water is going to be good for them.Give them about a week to see how good they do before buying anymore. If they don't make it you might have to get water from elsewhere.

Do not just throw the fish in when you bring them home.They should remain in the bag, but be placed in the aquarium to let their water temp slowly progress to the temp of the aquarium. This usually takes about 1/2 hour. If you just throw them in you are gonna shock them. If this happens you will lose them. Do not over fill the tank with fish, we go by the size of the fish. For example; 1 square inch of fish for every gallon of water.

If you are going to use chlorine water when replacing the water please use a additive in the water before you put it in the tank. This neutralizes the chlorine. Always and I mean always add aquarium salt to your tank when putting new fish in the tank. This will help on their stress levels. The salt will have directions on correct amounts to add on the back of the container. Do not add water that is too hot or too cold. It should be luke warm and just about match the temp of the aquarium. If you find little white spots on your fish after adding water that means the water was to hot or cold. Thus causing a disease called ick. This will kill your fish, if you don't buy a medication to clear it.

I suggest using a Magnum and a Penguin brand filter system together. This is for tanks ranging in sizes 20 to 130 gallons. Do not buy just any old run of the mill fish food for them. Check with your local pet store. I order out for mine to a place called Big Als. I have been an aquarium owner for 25 years.

Answer 4

You should really try sump filteration. It is by far the best!