Best Mechanical Filter?

I just set up a new 28G nano yesterday. The water is pretty darn clear already (~25lbs live sand and ~10 live rock from LFS), but I've still got TONS of particles floating in the tank and sticking to the sides. It is so bad you can see fingermarks where I rubbed them over the glass.

So in your guys experience, what is the best mechanical filter? I'd like to suck the floating crap out, if anything to help the live rock from having it be coated by it.

I've used cannister filters in the past with my freshwater tanks, and was planning on doing the same, but just running the sponge/filter media without charcoal.

Ideas and suggestions welcome!

Thanks.

 

It's just fine particles from the new sand. Just clean your glass and after a week or two, bacterial biobilms will stop the particles from floating around.

 

If you have a sump you could toss in a filter sock. It will trap all those floating particles but the down side is you will have to keep an eye on it and clean as necessary.

~Will.

 

best mechanical filter is a quality skimmer.


i agree with inwall that the best answer for what you describe is patience. just wait it out.

 

Its the fine materials that work the best for bacterial growth, ride it out! Once bacteria starts to colonize the particles will drop like a rock.

 

i have a penguin bio wheel but you should also get a protein skimmer like they have said already. go on Pet Supplies | Dog & Cat Supplies, Pet Meds | DrsFosterSmith.com Pet Products and take a look

 

You can also put a small light on a bio-wheel type filter and use it as a mini-fuge. Throw some cheato or other favorite macro algae in and you're good to go.

 

Thanks for the replies - I've got a skimmer set up and running, so thats good. I just hate the "dusty" look of the tank until it settles down.

Thanks again!