Hi everyone. I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. I really enjoy these forums & I've learned quite a bit from your experiences. Thank you for that. I currently have a 46 gallon tall tank with the following fish.
(1) Red Terror
(1) Parrot Fish
(1) Yellow Lab
(2) Green Texas Cichlids
(1) Pleco
(1) Clown Loach
(1) Red Tail Shark
Quite a selection I know. I do plan on setting up a 75 gallon tank in the near future. I most likely will keep it a cichlid only tank. My filtration was an Emperor 400 & a powerhead with sponge filter. I replaced the Emperor with a Fluval 305. I also setup a spare AC70 as well. I know I'm getting good flow rate but I cannot get the water clear. It is always cloudy. It was cloudy well before I swapped filters. I test the water regularly & my Nitrite & Nitrate are both 0. My PH is 7.4.
After lots of reading here I'm thinking I may need to replace my gravel with stone? Reason is the Red Terror thinks he's a miner. He's constantly re-arranging the tank. I do 30% weekly water changes and I level the gravel each time. Would changing the substrate to something larger be a possible solution? I am literally pulling what little hair I have left out of my head.
The Fluval 305 is filled with carbon, bio-rings & a polishing pad. The AC70 has 2 sponges & 50 micron felt pad on top for polish. I apologize for this long post & I appreciate your input. Thanks.
(1) Red Terror
(1) Parrot Fish
(1) Yellow Lab
(2) Green Texas Cichlids
(1) Pleco
(1) Clown Loach
(1) Red Tail Shark
Quite a selection I know. I do plan on setting up a 75 gallon tank in the near future. I most likely will keep it a cichlid only tank. My filtration was an Emperor 400 & a powerhead with sponge filter. I replaced the Emperor with a Fluval 305. I also setup a spare AC70 as well. I know I'm getting good flow rate but I cannot get the water clear. It is always cloudy. It was cloudy well before I swapped filters. I test the water regularly & my Nitrite & Nitrate are both 0. My PH is 7.4.
After lots of reading here I'm thinking I may need to replace my gravel with stone? Reason is the Red Terror thinks he's a miner. He's constantly re-arranging the tank. I do 30% weekly water changes and I level the gravel each time. Would changing the substrate to something larger be a possible solution? I am literally pulling what little hair I have left out of my head.
The Fluval 305 is filled with carbon, bio-rings & a polishing pad. The AC70 has 2 sponges & 50 micron felt pad on top for polish. I apologize for this long post & I appreciate your input. Thanks.