Fluidized Sand Filter Clouds the tank

[yash severums]

I have attached a Fluidized sand filter for my 55gallon/220 litre aquarium . Its been almost 6 weeks. It clouds my tank a bit . I dont thinks its sand particles as I cleaned it up fairly before starting and have done 80 percent water change 6 to 7 times after installing. Already have a Eheim 2217, fluval 407 , top filter(2000l/h) on the tank. 

When the filters are shut off the fsf clouds up more . When the FSF is closed tank starts to clear up. 

Anyone have experience with this. Really want to use that sand filter as I have heavy stocked my tank.

 

Some of my fishes...Geophagus Sveni (6months)albino heckeliiroseline sharke

[Silverback]

Is your filter DIY or a specific brand?  Did you use sand or media provided.  If you used regular sand it could be breaking down further.   Can you see through your filter and notice cloudy water in your filter when you start it? Have you tried reducing the flow into your FSF.  If you clean your other filters is your mechanical filtration the same color as your media that you're using in the FSF?

At first I thought you might be having a bacterial blume.  I think it might be related to your media.  If so you could try and change out your media.  Lifeguard makes a fluidized bed filter media that I use to use when I had chiclid tanks like yours.  K1 media is a plastic media used in fluidized bed filters.  Might be a good option for you.

Maybe run your filter using a bucket to see if it clouds the water if you can't see through filter.  

Your Albino Heckling is so cool looking.  I like your severum and your blue acaras look really good.  I think a red shoulder severum would look really good in your tank too!

I had some severums in with some affrican butterfly fish.  I would feed the ABF live crickets and the severums started eating them.  Made their colors pop!

Good luck!

[yash severums]

Thanks for the reply silverback.

I am using Boyu ft320. It does not look cloudy but when I shut the FSF off tank clears up. I just want to use it for extra biofiltration as I have heavy stocked my tank and there are many fishes who have just reached 50percent of their size..

About the albino heckelii, I really like yellow ones , all available in market are now orange or red. Severums are my favorite, I like their circular shape.

Want to add single or pair of Uaru Fernandezyepezi thus want the clear water. Will have to wait for the FSF to get fully established I think.

[gardenman]

Fluidized bed sand filters seem to have died down in popularity. They were "the thing" for a while with Wardley even making a HOB with a fluidized sand bed (their Sandman filter.) These days everyone seems to have moved more to K1-type filters. Odds are your sand might be abrading itself by rubbing against itself and creating sand dust for lack of a better word that's clouding your water. A different brand/type of sand might be less abrasive or more abrasion-resistant. Slowing the flow rate might also lessen the abrasiveness. You don't need a high flow rate for biofiltration. If you just have the sand shuffling a bit, it should be adequate and lessen the risk of undue abrasiveness creating sand dust. 

[yash severums]

Thanks  for the info on flowrate gradenman , was a bit skeptical about it. I understand that k1 is easy to setup, but I just had a interest to try something new . I will have to keep more patience , I think. The sand is starting to colourup slightly. If this turns out to be a success it would be really awesome . Both for the fishes and me (looks cool to watch)