discus tank water polishing tips

[celly]

My Discus tank water looks a bit cloudy even after weekly 50% changes. Running a Fluval 407, temp at 84F, pH 6.8, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank's 75 gallons with 6 adults, sand substrate, driftwood, and some Java ferns. Tried adding Purigen but no luck. What's your go-to method for crystal clear water?

[Sailor]

Cloudy water usually means bacterial bloom or fine debris. Check if your filter media is clogged. I use a pre-filter sponge on my intake, helps catch particles before they mess with the canister. Also, try reducing feeding for a couple days.

[melodic]

yo, had the same prob last month. switched to seachem clarity, worked like magic. my tank's 55g, 5 discus, eco-complete substrate. also cut back on flakes, gonna try beef heart soon. weird vibe how the cloudiness comes back tho.

[celly]

Cloudy water usually means bacterial bloom or fine debris. Check if your filter media is clogged. I use a pre-filter sponge on my intake, helps catch particles before they mess with the canister. Also, try reducing feeding for a couple days.

Thanks, I'll check the media. Been feeding frozen bloodworms daily, maybe overdoing it. How often do you feed yours?

[Sailor]

Twice a day, small portions. Overfeeding spikes organics. If you're using bloodworms, thaw and rinse them first. My discus get a mix of pellets, brine shrimp, and occasional beef heart. Tank stays clearer with varied diet.

[melodic]

My Discus tank water looks a bit cloudy even after weekly 50% changes. Running a Fluval 407, temp at 84F, pH 6.8, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Tank's 75 gallons with 6 adults, sand substrate, driftwood, and some Java ferns. Tried adding Purigen but no luck. What's your go-to method for crystal clear water?

purigen's chill but seachem's matrix is better long-term. my lfs guy said it's sketchy to rely on chemical filtration alone. also, your driftwood might be leaching tannins, ever boil it?

[Sailor]

yo, had the same prob last month. switched to seachem clarity, worked like magic. my tank's 55g, 5 discus, eco-complete substrate. also cut back on flakes, gonna try beef heart soon. weird vibe how the cloudiness comes back tho.

Clarity is a flocculant, binds particles for mechanical removal. It's temporary. Address the root cause: overfeeding, inadequate filtration, or poor circulation. What's your flow rate?

[celly]

Flow's around 300 gph after media. The driftwood was boiled for hours before adding. Maybe I'll try Matrix and cut feeding to once daily. Appreciate the tips, everyone.