ya, that filter is white and it looks like there was black stuff inside it.
so the intake thing, does the spongy foam stuff go around the outside of it? is it better to have it the strenght that it is now or reduce it a little?
i have gravel at the bottom of the tank, no substrate. the stuff flying around is the organic stuff: food and poop and algae. i am pretty sure i do not get all of it as it flies all over the water when i start pulling up the silk plants and stuff so i can vacuum the gravel. sometimes i get gravel pieces getting sucked up the tube. i have a small siphon as i mentioned and worry it isnt doing a decent job and cleaning the organic stuff out of the tank.