How I Got Clear Aquarium Water. Fixing Dirty Fish Tank Water.

[@jenno482]

"Excuse me, I need this table!" *Gives you side eye and very slowly saunters off...😆❤️

[@hbarwickjr]

The shopping trip shows we are all normal fish folks and what we go through. I watch for new and old ideas for the hobby. Thanks

[@chubs270]

Thanks for all your help...I'm new to the fish keeping world...now I hope to be able to Keep fishkeeping!!!

[@mattienorml349]

I love the Arowana's casually lurking in the background!

[@allthingsdarrelld]

that's the most colorful cichlid tank i have ever seen. good job!

[@alis49281]

I use mostly coarse filter materials and add snails. These critters love to eat the bigger pieces and the biofilm, just like earthworms they make the filter better. In such cichlid tanks it can work very well to add a plant filter: the outlet doesn't go directly into the tank, but instead it goes through what is basically a flooded plant pot. The roots clean the water more efficient than anything else in the world. Epipremum, Monstera, philodendron.... and many more can be used. I find filter floss too expensive because it is not washable and needs to be replaced too frequently. I enjoy my plants a lot ^^.

[@yossarian00]

plants are the only way otherwise you can keep buying filters lol

[@alis49281]

@@yossarian00 I haven't bought filter materials in years. It works just fine. Plastic doesn't degrade after all.

[@amber_noel9889]

I'm so excited to watch this! Hopefully I can get some tips for one of my tanks. Always has water clarity issues

[@45kittyboo]

Same here

[@CichlidBros]

Occasionally using Seachem clarity could also help! That FX6 will do a great job

[@MikeV607]

Noooo....water clarifiers work by binding small particles together so the filter can more easily trap them - these products are tough on fish gills.

[@CichlidBros]

@@MikeV607 I would rather remove the particles and let the filter work more effectively - only using Clarity occasionally, as the long term solution is more mechanical filtration.

[@rushman4173]

I love you mate, you and your lass have taught me loads of stuff I didn't know, keep up the good work, lots of Love from the UK.

[@scottwilson3690]

It's so cool that you show people how to do this themselves. Big fan.

[@wolffcaleb1]

I have to say, you've got on of my favorite African Cichlid tanks on KZbin. What would it take to get like a 15 minute video of just the tank? Something where the focus is truly the fish rather than fish keeping. Love your videos and your dedication to the hobby. Thanks for the content!

[@Mykul403]

Agreed! There are some beautiful fish that I’d like to know what they are called.

[@michael-ev5fk]

Hey John I have the same situation, a 200g AC tank, water quality is excellent, but a little free floating tiny particulates. After watching your video I packed a new FX6 filter I had with different foam, coarse, medium and fine with fine floss at the end of the water flow. No media of any kind. It works very well, tank is very clear now. Thanks, good video.

[@mikechesmer5682]

Most of that foam IS media, it harbors benificial bacteria. Better than any other media out there except flidized K1. :)

[@mikechesmer5682]

And also, all that extra bacteria, that's what's creating cristal clear water, not filter flossing.

[@sherylmagee2748]

The fish are gorgeous and that water looks crystal clear to me!!! Yeah, a few doggie hairs show up in my tanks sometimes! LOL YOU GUYS AND CORY ARE MY FAVS!!!!!!!!

[@Kodygreen10k]

That montage music was something else my dude haha daddy daughter dance hahaha much love brother!!!

[@gem9535]

"Nobody loves us" I'm dead!

[@Frank_and_his_Tanks]

Great video as always!! I miss the old Vortex diatom filter. Used to use it as part of my maintenance routine. Polished the water crystal clear in a few hours. Also used it to treat ick as it filtered out parasites.

[@James_Hande]

I loved mine too. Planning on getting another one since my old one got lost in moving.

[@Frank_and_his_Tanks]

@@James_Hande I wanted to get one too. However I am reluctant to do so as I think the company may be out of business. This would make replacement parts hard to get. I remember the filter bag would only last me about a year.

[@James_Hande]

@@Frank_and_his_Tanks www.diatomfilter.com/default.htm

[@philipherbert9298]

Hi Jon,Thanks for this important video. I had the same thing in my Cichlid aquarium. I done more water changes,brought new lights and used aqua clear. Nothing worked. My fish stores got me a large very large sponge filter,It works,Ugly looking,cant hide it.But Worked! So I am getting a pre owned canister filter,and only put sponges and floss in. Thanks this is be a unique and great information Video well done. Hope lisa is well and happy. Regards Phil (UK)

[@MisterDoctorE]

I have 2 FX6's on my 500L tank, they are full of media + pre-filters. I use smaller filters for polishing, I clean those out ~1-2 months; the fx6'w ~2 times a year. Tank is crystal clear.

[@pancudowny]

I've done similar with my 4040-gal breeder, which contained four Parrot Cichlids: I connected a pair of Filstar/API canisters in tandem, filling the first one with multiple layers of sponges of increasing porosity and topped with two precut layers of floss. The second was filled with a layer of bio-media, and two layers of chemical media. (Carbon and zeolite) each unit was topped with the powerheads of the next larger unit of the same line, respectively. (XP2/XP3 & XP3/XP4) I also plumbed the system with braided transparent vinyl hose (Gotta love hardware stores that sell cut lengths of hose!😊) and used 5/8" garden hose couplings. And for ease of water changes, plumbed in a diverter valve after the final stage to act as a drain/fill point. All I do is connect a hose run to a drainage point and flip a few valves to drain it, then connect the hose to a freshwater source, power-down the pumps and flip a few valves again to add clean, temperature-matched water. I add whatever chemicals I employ to the tank as it fill, then flip all the valves once more the close-off system and detach the fill/drain hose and power-up the system again. I should mention that with this system I've used both a large sponge filter and a 400-gph pump--at separate times--at the head of it's intake, with reason for the latter being because the tank's water level was at the minimum height requirement for the system... and I was hearing the powerheads cavitate fairly frequently.

[@naegwut]

I love cat sightings!

[@creu007]

Love your vids! One thing that would make your FX-6 more efficient, is to start your sponges coarse and finish with floss. The sponge filter at the intake prevents any matter from entering your canister, basically rendering your canister solely a biological filter. The first sponge should be coarse, and gradually as the water flows through the filter, the sponges get finer. Floss is the last media before the water returns to the tank. This would polish your water and be the most efficient use of the canister. imho Did I say I love your vids? Paul

[@SS-gv5it]

Solid advice 👌

[@tobiasgriffin2289]

As he said he already had heavy filtration.

[@lots33ml]

That's exactly what i have done two fx5 on my 125 and one is set up with all mechanical filtration. And yes it has made a huge difference on my tank water is crystal clear. John just one thing and I'm not criticizing you in any way but because the water looks so clean some people may get a little lazy on their water changes it must be stressed you must still do you're water changes one to two weeks depending on you're amout of bio load. Minerals must be replenished for the heath of you're fish. That part is for anyone who reads this not for you john. God bless.

[@MikeV607]

Jon, Food for thought.... I have a Marineland Magnum Polishing Internal Canister filter. With a micron filter element and pre-loaded with about 6oz of diatomaceous earth, it creates incredibly crystal clear water after it runs for a couple of hours. Here and there I'll run it following water changes for an extra clean tank. Nothing beats a diatom filter and this filter is very economical.

[@tattoogirl2227]

I love when you make the "almost vlog-style" videos like this where we're just running to the hardware store with you and stuff! With music that rocks!! I always agree with your music choices! I love Bob, but he's wrong about Disturbed. Lol! Thanks for doing such an awesome job! You and Lisa are great! 💙🐟💦

[@jaykerr8031]

I have a trickle filter on my 100 gallon discus tank, I use this for polishing the water with poly filter, I also use this for my chemical filtration seachem perigean and chemi-pure blue, so easy to remove if I need to medicate. My FX6 is solely full of seachem matrix and floss at the top! I’ve had some great results with chemi-pure for crystal clear water...

[@hoth20queen]

I can count on learning new things and reinforcing older ideas from you. Thanks so much for that. BTW....I love "us" and the 🐈!

[@TobeyNord]

aquaclear 110 on a 55gal is great thought about getting another to as you put it polish the water.

[@reptileguy8458]

That FX6 is a BEAST!!

[@reesesmith7360]

Guys I am new to this chanel and I look at all the comments and all I see is ridicule and mean comments but ya there some nice but mostly mean

[@eccentricsmithy2746]

I run 2 FX6's in series on my 125. The first FX6 is nothing but mechanical filtration from course to fine sponges, the outlet of the first FX6 then runs to the inlet side of the second FX6 and thats is nothing but bio and chemical filtration, then into the tank.

[@jessejohnson2019]

Wow that's good for you but how many of us have a fx6 just sat around doing nothing lol not me but good video and beautiful cichlids awesome colors..

[@repsej74]

Would love to see you solve it on another tank with the use of powerheads and extra flow. Great video, thanks :)

[@MarkD.Traver]

Your tanks always look nice

[@Jimbo388388]

question, just set up a 75 and will keep only 5 or 6 fish, 2 oscars, 2 bala, 1 cat and 1 algae sucker. Still need 50% water change weekly?

[@TobeyNord]

I have 2 bubblers and an intake filter with carbon infused filters backed with pillow stuffing. works great!

[@bigboomer1013]

My tank got cloudy the second day we set it up. The tank was used and so was the filter as I had that thing since childhood and only got to use it again a few days ago when my sister got surprise goldfish. I will assume that it got foggy because there are 3 goldfish in there? Not sure how it happened that quickly though. Also they all died amd so did one of the guppies we just got. We assume its because of the temperature as we didn't add the heater inside thinking it was broken

[@markhaunert5029]

Now im mad at myself for wondering what to do with a spare filter i have. Thanks for the tip

[@glennridenour5881]

Totally sounds like Soudgarden, one of my absolute favorites

[@erieschl]

2:50 your fish are gorgeous 😍

[@Cúm420-69]

I have never seen such a beautiful fish like that red african

[@nikkikennedy8728]

That red OB peacock is BEAUTIFUL ❤

[@franktra1]

YEs, agree

[@cosmicshy637]

Very much Sound Garden-ish! ❤

[@darrendelmonaco2249]

Hey JOHN how's things ? I've done this for years and if you don't mind I'd like to share an add on idea I came up with and have used for years. I hard plumb mine with black pvc about 25mm tube not the thick stuff, on the intake where the tube gets to the edge of the cabinet instead of an elbow or running strait down I attach a corner T piece, looks like an elbow with a strait bit off the side at the bend, then I add a small bit of tube just enough to fit an inline tap with an elbow on the end facing up with a small piece of soft rubber tube about an inch or two excess, ok now here's why lol your thinking wtf, keep the tap off for normal use but when you wanna do maintenance on the filter or the tank I attach my gravel siphon vac hose to the rubber tube turn the tap on and vac it into the filter, if I want more suction I cover the intake with a squash ball. Everything you vac goes through the filter and back out. Works specially well if your about to clean your canister and sneak in a quick vac.

[@randomtube8226]

This episode was so helpful and entertaining in the process. Those fish are gorgeous! I actually am dealing with this same exact issue in my goldfish tank. In all honesty. I think a step up in filtration will help. Also would it be safe to do a 75% water change or would that be too much. I normally do 50% to help avoid removing too much of the beneficial bacteria.

[@stevenretroworkshop2113]

I built a DIY overhead sump filter system my fish tanks. It's easy to do change filter floss every one or two week. 🐠🐠🐠

[@markhunter2244]

Excellent use of an old filter 🤓

[@murdoc4072]

Is there a video on the back ground used inside that tank?

[@snarla82]

8:59 Yes! Straight away thought it was Chris Cornell.

[@bgvernbeardedcanada.1274]

The song when you put together. Fast motion. Was that Kings X

[@Poisendskull1]

I added some alge fix from api cleared it right up plus next day added accuclear haven’t had a problem since.

[@lance6752]

That OB is goals omg 😍

[@charlessloop1552]

I had this issue and for weeks I couldnt figure it out and I came to the thought maybe more filtration and a 12 buck air sponge filter was the right answer

[@brettcoyle2399]

I’m headed to pet store now for a sponge filter setup for my lil 5 gal guppy tank I’m a beginner I will move them to a 10 gal but wanna learn first

[@litoloco4fish]

Beautiful, your kitty is such a character!❤❤💞👍🏼

[@kevinhoang1760]

Great video! But wouldn't you get the same result if you just added filter floss to your existing canister?

[@ihspstanktribe]

He doesn't have a canister on that tank, if you listen, he has a sump on it. Completely different filter system than a canister.

[@rubywilliams6297]

I'm setting up my 150 gallon tank for cichlids this year. I have a 20 gallon that I just cleaned up that will have guppies. Do you suggest sand or gravel for tanks?

[@davonne58]

Totally sounded like sound garden!

[@adkgaladkgal1799]

Gorgeous Fish! Thank you!

[@Miguelbisono]

Hi I have a 29 gallons tank and a fluval 40-70 and I have this problem. What can I do?

[@pkeaton1]

I added a little Seachem Purigen to my filter and my water is Crystal clear. I works Great!

[@PoseidonsPets]

Can never have to much filtration... 2:53 looks like the beginning of HITH. What food do you use?

[@PoseidonsPets]

Just saw the add for extreme food. I know it’s popular but the ingredients list is questionable. Adding some vitality would help 🤗

[@PoseidonsPets]

Adding polyfill pads underneath your course sponge in the sump would have done the same thing without hours of work 😅

[@migueleespinosa2632]

I run two FX6s and a tidal 110 on my 120g african tank. I MUST have super clear water... lol. The tidal us for a water fall effect I set up and water polishing. 50micron pad, carbon, and purigen. The fx6 get maintenance every 2 months. The tidal as needed. You can run super fine sponge filters in your sump with a powerhead and it would be effective too.

[@onehitterquitter2130]

All you need is. Two Tidal 110s an 2 large sponge filters. I guarantee it will be clean. 😁

[@ILoveKoreanBBQ2023]

I love you and your channel!

[@toddt6730]

I'm gonna just add a sponge filter, I have plenty of pump pressure to do it, I'll post the results

[@tjprosper7704]

Well please do, its been a year now brother

[@MakoyUnggoy]

@@tjprosper7704 It's been 3 years now, I think he gave up!

[@corinne2721]

You did an awesome job, love all your videos, thanks 🤗

[@hidro87798]

I made my 120gal a bucket filter with a mag drive pump and with a bunch of sponges and floss from the dollar store and my mbuna tank is always cristal clear !

[@morellalizziediamond]

Cns you do a video for betta fish tanks and water changes for tanks about 5-6.6 gallons? I jsut got mine & did everything i could but im one day my tank is now cloudy.

[@yolandarobinson8613]

Oh no you couldn't have cleaned that filter in my kitchen! Mad wife I would be....I love the video, fish are amazing and the cat is cute

[@fergusmcglade4661]

Wait wait wait STOP!!! We can't go any further with our fishkeeping until we all know what that amazing song is in the video! It sounds like audioslave

[@ronaldwall83]

Shame · Carvings · August Macke

[@Koseenanat]

Hey what is that red and black cichlid?? looks gorgeous I really want to add one to my tank does anyone know pls let me know thanks 🙏🏽

[@MakoyUnggoy]

It's a red OB Peacock cichlid

[@jasonthephoneboy]

LOL... How am I going to clean my tank? I'm going to install a pool pump full of polyfill! I am pretty sure this could work with my 30 gallon...

[@brianp6180]

That tank looks clear. It’s the larger tank with the as in Asian ariwanna that looks cloudy. At least it does on KZbin.

[@WimVeen]

Thnx for this video. Like your vids on filters.

[@brettcoyle2399]

I started with a 5 gal how many times a week should I do water change??

[@jchuck8601]

Ahahaha ThAs the first time I see some one place a order ahahha great work man!! Keep up the great videos as well. I’ve fallow alle the steps on how to keep my tanks like your and man what a difference it makes!! Thanks again !!

[@ShotofJameson]

Some bad ass looking Fish 👍🏻

[@brettcoyle2399]

I just set mine up two days ago for guppies did PH at 7.0 and it was clear for two days now it’s cloudy??

[@markmmcaulay]

This is great, thanks!!!

[@charlesreeves8177]

Very much helpful👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@JosephsTropicalTanks]

Hey John cool video I will try what you did in this video in my 65gal, I have a video that will help you on the top Glass cover you have the same problem I did it turns green, and yucky looking I have a video to help you clear up the glass and make it look like new again, come by and take a look

[@stevenkryptonite1641]

Love the video.. so jelly I see my old fish.. Happlichromis

[@layneeaston9351]

Hey, whats the red fish that gets the spotlight around the 3 minute mark?

[@layneeaston9351]

It is absolutely gorgeous

[@sambomcl]

So what you're saying is, that at the first sign of a problem we should rush out and buy a huge filter?

[@cheeky50862]

I put a fluval u4 filled with floss in my 100g discus tank (it was lonely in the fish box) it helps with polishing

[@nataliemaggard3329]

I have a five gallon tank and need a new filter any suggestions

[@darrelc5411]

I put in Purigen in my tank, cleans it right up to a crystal clear in no time.

[@tedfisher1396]

John, what kind of mechanical filtration do u have in that sump?

[@persianheir5218]

Yes to sounding like Soundgarden

[@darrendelmonaco2249]

Why didn't you use black pc hard/rigid tubing I have mine running along the back with inline taps.

[@tickets23]

Would a UV light also do the same thing? Can you maybe talk about the difference for using this set up compared to needing a UV light? Thanks

[@KlikAndSeuss]

What light would you recco for my 55 gallon. Nice content. Questions get answers your awesome!

[@KlikAndSeuss]

🤔

[@Cylastroy]

Any LED light will do fine

[@Stephen333]

Anyone know what the fish at 2:50 is??? What a gorgeous fish

[@franktra1]

an african cichlid. You need a big tank for them

[@robertlewissr8618]

Interesting and informative.

[@mikeneumann4660]

Looks like you need to upgrade your mechanical part of your filtration system

[@brianlambert7930]

What were you stuffing in the center? I've watched some other videos on how to get clear water, and I've seen poly-fil being used and that's what it kinda looked like. looks like it works pretty well on the other videos, but I wanted to get your opinion on it.

[@johnlarsen8308]

In my 100 gallon tank I have 2 marineland 350's and a canister filter also. This is the only way the tank can support 40 African cichlids. They are all different sizes and the eat a lot of food as you can imagine

[@jasonmulford4128]

I find alot of dirty water problems (even with perfect levels) is that theres to much dissolved protien in the water...do u ever get these issues?

[@fannyarthur3229]

My boyfriend does ✌🏼

[@Felaxis]

Hello! I love this tutorial. I'm planning to utilize another unused filter that I've got earlier. I have one question, how do you clean the sand? Do you regularly clean the whole tank? Remove everything, clean it manually, and then put it back together? Would you mind to give me some explanation, kind sir? Please :)

[@cass4715]

I'm not exactly sure how they do it but from what I've learned, you don't want to clean the decorations and sand completely. The more you clean or remove water, the more beneficial bacteria that's lost. A lot of beneficial bacteria is in the filter and on the decorations so 25% water change once a week, 50% water change every other week or occasionally a 75% water changes every every 1½-2 weeks is fine. It has worked for me at least, I know some aquariums may be different than others. But the overall thing is to avoid deep cleans unless you have something in the water you need to disinfect. Even that can cause issues. Idk I'm no expert 😂 just speaking from experience. Ik I'm two months late but I thought I'd try to answer your question.

[@Felaxis]

@@cass4715 Thank you! I've also learned quite much lately and you're right, we don't need to remove the whole things and clean it. Water change is enough unless we have certain things happen just like what you said. I'm so happy with my tank now. Thank you 😊

[@dermotkelly2289]

Hello, This is my first comment to you. A friend of mine is a newby on keeping African Cichlid s. He has a new 8foot tank! He is interested in keeping dwarf mbunas only . He has rock scaped the tank to a very high standard indeed with plenty of natural looking caves everywhere as the tank is 3.5f eet from front to back! Perfect. He insists that he wants to keep dwarf mbunas only. Can you recomend compatible fish to go with yellow labs as he wants minimum aggression in the tank but he doesn't want to keep too many, he knowsthat keeping 5 females to one or two males is a safe way to do this but wants your opinion on tank mates of 5 females to 2 males. Can you help please as this tank would be a great size as he has put a lot of work in this already. A great big tank. Thank you Dermot

[@d.b9743]

A single Pleco would be good for cleaning with that size tank, or even a few Red Tail or Rainbow Sharks. Both fish should be fine with Cichlid's and act as a great cleanup crew!

[@kylebusc3624]

I know this is an old video, but say I was in the exact situation as this where water changes didn't help me, but I have a 10 gal tank with a filter that came in a tank kit. Could I benefit from buying a more powerful filter (bigger hang on the back filter) to clear up the water? Also would their be any downsides to having maybe a filter that's a little too powerful for tank size?