Dust in fish tank

[richardhmc]

I just set up my temporary tank today to transfer my fish and corals into while I set up the new tank. However after I set it up, I noticed that there was a lot of dust floating everywhere. There is no powerhead or anything at the moment in the tank. So the water is very still. Is this normal for a tank since we don't see it cause of the water being pushed around? I mean, dust is always floating around and probably getting into our tanks without us realizing it.

I just don't feel like making another batch of RO water :irked:

 

[Swim]

You are pointing to something I think is often overlooked about aquarium husbandry in this day and age of high cfm skimming and uncovered aquariums. Think about the amount of dust and volatiles we are pulling into our aquariums through our skimmers in a year. I've taken to running carbon air cleaners in front of all my skimmers and pumped air before it goes into/mixes with the aquarium water. Yes, I'm sure there is lots of dust getting into the streams, rivers, lakes and oceans but we are talking a totally different scale. They can be easily made DIY but I get mine from MTC because I already have enough DIY projects and I like their quality in the things they make. Here's a picture of one they make for dual air pumps. I use cheap GAC and cheap floss in my filters. It's amazing the amount of dirt they catch.

 

[richardhmc]

mm that's a great idea.

It's just that when I make RO water, I use a giant bucket that doesn't have a lid. So it's pretty much open to anything to go into it.

At first I was skimming the dust but when I looked into the water I couldn't believe how much dust was floating around. Plus the tank is in the basement which isn't exactly the cleanest place of the house.

Does dust have an affect in tanks?

 

[guarda]

I stick my nose right up to the water and my clown comes up to feed. I sneezed many a times. Fish and corals seem ok.

 

[Swim]

mm that's a great idea.

It's just that when I make RO water, I use a giant bucket that doesn't have a lid. So it's pretty much open to anything to go into it.

At first I was skimming the dust but when I looked into the water I couldn't believe how much dust was floating around. Plus the tank is in the basement which isn't exactly the cleanest place of the house.

Does dust have an affect in tanks?

Welp, I've never learned how to not spill water so I have all my fish tanks in the basement where it doesn't matter when I spill water. :lol: I'm sure you can run a filter sock or something when you start circulating water in the new tank but I have no proof that dust does or doesn't do anything in our aquariums. I just see no good reason to add it when it's so easy to prevent it.

 

[richardhmc]

Just for flow and circulation, I plan to use an aquaclear and I'll put in some filter floss. The cotton stuff should do the trick?

 

[KathyC]

mm that's a great idea.

It's just that when I make RO water, I use a giant bucket that doesn't have a lid. So it's pretty much open to anything to go into it.

At first I was skimming the dust but when I looked into the water I couldn't believe how much dust was floating around. Plus the tank is in the basement which isn't exactly the cleanest place of the house.

Does dust have an affect in tanks?

It is suggested that you cover any standing water that you have - like your pair of rodi water. Keep in mind the some of that dust probably has bacteria in it, and you really don't want that getting into your rodi water, as that defeats the purpose of making rodi water in the first place.

Just for flow and circulation, I plan to use an aquaclear and I'll put in some filter floss. The cotton stuff should do the trick?

If you use the filter floss, you want to be sure to change it quite frequently as it will become a nitrate factory for you if you don't.


I'd try and find an appropriate cover for that vessel.

 

[Swim]

Just for flow and circulation, I plan to use an aquaclear and I'll put in some filter floss. The cotton stuff should do the trick?

Actually, I think the bags of floss I get for the air cleaners are "Dacron" not cotton.

 

[sillysidewinder]

What about on tanks that have open tops? my apt accumulates so much dust and i definitely see it on the top of my water. I haven't had any problems in the past 5-6 months while the top has been off. I was just thinking about it today, and thought that it probably isn't the best, but at the same time not devastating by any means...

 

[Swim]

What about on tanks that have open tops? my apt accumulates so much dust and i definitely see it on the top of my water. I haven't had any problems in the past 5-6 months while the top has been off. I was just thinking about it today, and thought that it probably isn't the best, but at the same time not devastating by any means...

Devastating? Probably not, but a screen covering would go a long way in catching some of the dust and it's an easy task to just rinse now and then. All the spores floating around our houses probably don't have any effect in salt water but might with fresh water tanks. I guess it just comes down to how fine we want to split hairs.