Cleaning Tank a "Cluster-F***"

[ryanwolf]

Hey 3reefers...

Need to pick some of your professional minds on cleaning a tank.
I have a 72 gallon bow front...
Every time a move something in the sump... crap flies into the tank...
Everytime I clean the glass near the top of the tank... crap flies into the tank.
Obviously, the filtration system should pick up some of this stuff... and the protein skimmer further break it down... but I have a sneaky suspicion... most it just settles to the bottom or on the substrate and rocks. I have 4 powerheads on a wave controller so it's moving around... I just don't feel like it's all getting out.

My question... does anyone hand skim the tank? I was thinking about getting a really fine net... or small size pool skimmer... and when I move stuff around and it causes crap to fly around in the tank... just hand skim the stuff out... does this work? What do you do?

By the way... it clears away in about a minute or two... but like I said... I feel like much of it resettles on top along the edges or on the bottom irregardless of water moving with the powerheads...

I do have filter media and a sponge...

Any help... much appreciated!
Ryan

PS I do not have any corals that would benefit from the moving debris ... just fish at this point.

[paulg]

Are you just talking about salt creep? My surface skimmer gets anything on top of my water. You could hand skim in with a net. As far as stuff floating around inside, atleast 3 times a week i take a PH and blow of all my LR, my corals love it. Even when I clean my glass with a magfloat, i`ll hit around the bottom a bit to stir up a bit of debris.

[wildreef]

Is the filter media catching the dedris ?
Is your skimmer working properly / the skimmer collection cup trapping some ? and if so, how often are you changing out filter media/ cleaning skimmer cup ?

As i remember ryan, your tanks roughly 6 weeks old now ?

[ryanwolf]

Right on the money wildreef!
6 weeks almost to the day.
My filter media is catching debris like crazy... I have to change it every two days because of the AZ-NO3 I'm using for nitrate control (it's down to 20ppm ... works great)
My protein skimmer is having to be emptied TWICE A DAY ... no joke! Full to the brim... also because of AZNO3.
I too stir up the sand and rock... however... I was just wondering if anyone ever hand skimmed... and what I should buy to do the trick...
The stuff looks like left over mysis... although I do not even come close to over feeding it when I treat them to the frozen treat... and they certainly don't try to eat it... I hate that two minute snow look in the tank and want to lend a hand to the filtration process.

Thanks,
Ryan

[wildreef]

Ryan I would use a good ol' power head , hold it by hand and put in the sump to get the debris elavated up into the water column and then
I would do the same in your tank and aim it at the LR and the top of the sand bed to get it stirred up so the filter media and skimmer can continue it job.

All that debris is from all that live rock i would say , the tank is still going thrue its cycle of course i would say and possibly over feeding ?

( make sure your filter media is new when you do that with the power head , im sure it will clog up fairly quickly )
Also the skimmer appears to be kicking some A'hole.. there from what you describe.

If its possible to add more filter media some where in your sump ( where the water returns ) that will speed up the process of removing all that trash.

I my self use micron bags ( 2 at a time, I own 4 ) and i change them out every 6/7 days .
I also run carbon constantly to scrub the water of any nasties.

I always suggest "over kill" on filtering a closed reef such as ours.

[amcarrig]

Is the "crap" fine aragonite? If it is, you don't want to filter it out really. If it's just fish crap, how many fish have you got in your tank that are producing that much crap? Oh, and can I say the word "crap" anymore in this one post. Oh crap, I said it again

[Bogie]

Sounds like over feeding to me. If they won't eat the frozen mysis (I hope you thaw it first), then stop putting it in the tank. It's only going to add to your nitrate problem and very soon an algae problem. What do you have for a cleanup crew? Some hermit crabs will help clean up uneaten food, and so will super tongan nassarius snails. Just don't over feed and let them do their job. You shouldn't have to worry about pulling out that much left over food if you follow that advice.

[ryanwolf]

I actually cut off a third of the cube of the mysis food and drop it in the tank...
i'm assuming they're not eating it all.... because that's what the left over "crap" lol looks like...

How do you thaw it out first and then add it to the tank...

3reef... I will use the powerhead all over the tank, and change the filter media before hand to make sure the stuff gets filtered...
I don't have too many fish... 1 yellow tang, 2 clowns, 1 flame angel and a goby...
I do have snails and hermies for the clean up crew...
the stuff collecting in the corners at the top looks like the mysis...
I guess i need to thaw it out first...
What are the suggestions?
Also... should I use a turkey baster to suck up debris in the sump where the pump is at...
There's not much... but if I move something or pump something by accident.... it gets stirred up and put straight into the tank which is why I wanted to try hand skimming in case it happens again...

Ryan

[amcarrig]

I'm not sure why you're even feeding frozen food. I would switch to flake and be done with it.

[ryanwolf]

Are you saying the brine and mysis is not really needed...
i thought changing up the diet was essential????
Although the flake food is very diversified... and every fish and invert loves it!

Do away?