Too much or too little media...

[cptcaveman]

Is it possible to have too much media in a canister? So i sent my 704B back and had to setup my 303B in its place. This was about two months about two months ago and i still have cloudy water. At first I had 1 course, 2 medium, and 2 fine pads that came with it all in the bottom tray, followed by filter floss in the second, then matris and purigen in the top. After about a month I removed some of the floss and added some really fine micron pad to the top tray under the matrix. i gave it about two weeks and nothing happened. So I removed all of the floss micron padding and just used the pads that came with the 303B, course and medium in the bottom (with ceramic rings under the bottom tray), fine in the middle, and matrix with purigen in the top. 

My water is still pretty cloudy and I'm not sure if I should put the media back in and fill the canister, or leave it how it is. I was concerned that all of the media was causing blow by and wasn't cleaning the water. I used the UV light for about a day without any improvement.

I've tested the water with a API ammonia liquid kit and test strips

NH3/NH4=0
Nitrate=40-ish
Nitrite=0
GH&KH=180-ish
PH=7-ish  it's light around the outside with a dark center. I know BB wont grow in acidic water, but I don't see it being that bad (but might be).

[childofiam]

Do you have any tank pictures of your set up? Filtering system setup?

Richard

Ok I just saw pictures of your set up...

[Carl]

Seems to be a pretty good set up.

One thing to keep in mind with any canister filter, is to go primarily coarse to fine as per water flow. With the Sunsun, this is bottom to top (as with most)

You might consider volcanic Rock in the bottom tray instead of ceramic rings with a nylon sock of Matrix just on top.

Purigen near the top is a good idea
Adding Algone here MAY help.

Of course a good true UV Sterilizer will help too

Resources:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Volcanicrock.html
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Algone.html

Carl

[devonjohnsgard]

That's a fine pH.

How about adding a AAP Filter Max to the intake of the canister filter. They work wonders for clarification. Will hold a lot of detritus and help have a much higher beneficial bacteria load.

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/PreFilter.html