I have two tanks of 30 gallons and both have dirt like substance floating.

These tanks are heavily planted and with peat and sand substrate with few leaves littered on the base. I have a few floating duckweeds and submerged floating plants like Water Milfoil and also have arrow wort which shoots out floating leaves, on the base I have Valisneria, Elodia, Amazon sword. Bog woods and a 120 g/h power filter (peat and ceramic rings) and air pump outlets. These are open tanks without any hoods. Lighting is subdued to 30 watts as the tanks get diffused sunlight from morning till day end and plants grows quite well. I have placed the duckweed and milfoil to keep the dust away and also provide some cover for the fishes.

Water chemistry:

PH - 6.7 to 5.5 hardness 110

The problem is that the water constantly has floating dirt like substance and this cannot be cleared by the filter and even I have tried vacuuming the base and even about 80% water changes. it clears for a day or two and the dirt comes back on the third day.

Though my fishes are very happy in it and also growing well, however the water looks bad like river water. I have 6 (3 in each) Angels in one and 4 (2 in each)Discus in the other with 4 Yo Yo loaches in each tank.

Please help me to remove this dirt like substance.

Warm Regards

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