Lately my fish tank has been really dirty, especially the substrate, Even when I use the gravel vac it doesnt help. The tank water is really blurry, and everthing turns brown and gross after a while. I am think about saving some money, and totaly empty my ankd and everything in it. Most of the fish will go in a tnak thats I will leave running for like 2 weeks, and the bigger ones will go in my sister tank, the angel etc.

After I buy my new filter, lamp, and a plant gravel, along wil some background plants, anything tall that will grow in medium lighting, any suggestions...

Set everything up, and cycle the tank, using all the new equiptment. After two week I will slowly add the fish and thats about it.

Just wondering, whats I REALLY quiet canister filter?

You know if you're dead set on this new filter/substrate thing thats fine, but I don't really see a need to recycle the tank. Move your fish out, change out the substrate for some eco complete or black flourite sand - RINSE first (black substrates will harbor less algae, and show less crap), leave your old filter going until bacteria colonies re-establish themselves in substrate/etc. Then get yourself a rena XP2.

If you're still growing a ton of algae read what I wrote in your other post. I'll reiterate here just in case you forgot WHICH ONE it was. Lower your phosphates (Switch the kind of fish food you feed with or just feed less as this is the largest supplier of phosphates to your water) and make the ph slightly acidic with a large piece of mopani wood or something. Or even peat.

Edit: To clarify things like bloodworms and other more natural food sources will give off less phosphates than normal flake food. I was using Tetra Color Tropical Crisps in my 30gal that were just loaded with phosphates (more than regular flakes), and the algae was overwhelming while I was using them (until i got amano shrimp). Most tropical fish tend to prefer worms over flakes, too.

I gotta ask, how long has this been going on? It seems like you're really impatient to get it all straightened out. I mean, I would be too, but sometimes you've just got to let something cycle out... the more you try to mess with it, the longer it takes.

Well, if you're moving, there's no better time if it's a fresh start you want. I'm moving too, and taking the opportunity to upgrade my goldfish tank to something they can actually FIT into. Dirty little things...

Rena XPs all the way. I have the XP1 and XP2, love them both... can't tell they're running unless I put my hand on the top sometimes.

k, thats what I was thinking of doing