Cloudy tank
- Thread starter risacarp
- Start date
jphayes921
New member
If everything is new and you just filled it. Give it time it will clear. Mine was the same way.
crawlerman
Member
Most likely a bacterial bloom. How long has it been running? Is it still cycling? Was it clear before? Are you dosing anything, particularly a carbon source?
The tank has been cycling 2 months now, without issue. We added a few livestock about one month ago, and we have allowed it to adjust. Everything has been clear and cycling until yesterday, when it was discovered that filtration system was turned off, although water had still been circulating through the filter. Yesterday is when the cloudiness began. We allowed the filter to run through the night but there is not improvement. Should I expect this to take a long time? (We are not dosing anything, only checking salinity, per our aquarium support tech. Should we be managing the tank differently?)
mcgyvr
New member
The "cycle" is likely over.. A cycle is basically over once ammonia and nitrite levels peak and then return back to zero.. That should have happened already and should happen before any livestock is added to the tank..
You likely caused a bacterial bloom or stirred up whatever by whatever happened with the filtration system..
That can take days or more to subside..
Just wait..
NOTHING good happens fast in this hobby.. NOTHING..
You really haven't given us much detail so we really can't answer if you should be managing the tank differently..
In general though for a fish only systems you just need to
#1-Refill the system with fresh water (not salt water) to account for evaporation (salt does not evaporate)
#2-Monitor salinity just to ensure its staying stable
#3-Monitor/control temperature
#4-Perform routine water changes to help replenish any deleted elements and to remove any accumulated elements..
In general it would also be beneficial to monitor nitrates and phosphates before they get out of control and fuel nuisance algae growth..
Your aquarium support tech should be handling most of that assuming you are contracting with a company to do so..
You likely caused a bacterial bloom or stirred up whatever by whatever happened with the filtration system..
That can take days or more to subside..
Just wait..
NOTHING good happens fast in this hobby.. NOTHING..
You really haven't given us much detail so we really can't answer if you should be managing the tank differently..
In general though for a fish only systems you just need to
#1-Refill the system with fresh water (not salt water) to account for evaporation (salt does not evaporate)
#2-Monitor salinity just to ensure its staying stable
#3-Monitor/control temperature
#4-Perform routine water changes to help replenish any deleted elements and to remove any accumulated elements..
In general it would also be beneficial to monitor nitrates and phosphates before they get out of control and fuel nuisance algae growth..
Your aquarium support tech should be handling most of that assuming you are contracting with a company to do so..
CRJ
Member
It could be a few things. I'm not saying my answer is perfect, but here is what I would do.
If its a bacteria bloom, get an air stone in to keep oxygen levels high, that was the biggest risk from a bloom.
Test your normal ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, calcium, ph, alk. If all are within range, don't panic.
Run carbon to help anything in the water get cleaned out. BRS 0.8 is great stuff.
For me if tests come back normal, temp is correct and everything looks healthy, I would ride it out and watch closely. This is where a QT tank can be useful if the tank is in crashing mode.
Hope it helps and best of luck!
If its a bacteria bloom, get an air stone in to keep oxygen levels high, that was the biggest risk from a bloom.
Test your normal ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, calcium, ph, alk. If all are within range, don't panic.
Run carbon to help anything in the water get cleaned out. BRS 0.8 is great stuff.
For me if tests come back normal, temp is correct and everything looks healthy, I would ride it out and watch closely. This is where a QT tank can be useful if the tank is in crashing mode.
Hope it helps and best of luck!
Ok great this is all really helpful. I am a high school science teacher, I inherited a dying, saltwater tank and I am trying to get everything up to par again. We completed emptied and cleaned the tank, we have all new equipment. I am a complete novice at this, and I really want the tank to succeed.
We are not testing ammonia, nitrites/nitrates, calcium, ph or alkphos.
Temp and salinity are monitored daily, carbon is in the filtration system, and water level is replenished maybe every 5 days or so. I do not have an air stone, nor am I familiar. I will inquire with our aquarium guy. We are not contracted, I took this on alone, but the owner of the store is supporting us as needed.
Any additional advice is appreciated. We have yet to change out the water. I will inquire about that as well. Thank you all greatly.
We are not testing ammonia, nitrites/nitrates, calcium, ph or alkphos.
Temp and salinity are monitored daily, carbon is in the filtration system, and water level is replenished maybe every 5 days or so. I do not have an air stone, nor am I familiar. I will inquire with our aquarium guy. We are not contracted, I took this on alone, but the owner of the store is supporting us as needed.
Any additional advice is appreciated. We have yet to change out the water. I will inquire about that as well. Thank you all greatly.
ReefkeeperZ
New member
Time to buy some test kits.
CRJ
Member
You need test kits for all of these. Each is very very important to a fishes health.
Water changes should be done weekly. if you havent done one in two months, consider a 80% water change with properly mixed and heated saltwater.
If you are using a canister filter, get rid of it. live rock and a hang on back skimmer or a sump will outperform it 10 fold and is easier and cheaper.
water should be topped up daily or twice daily. An auto top off is the way to go here, they are worth every penny.
Saltwater is not like freshwater, so read and read and watch every youtube video. Bulk reef supply does a 52 week series of how to run and setup a tank. I would suggest it to anyone getting into the hobby.
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKEXNIhomGs&list=PLBaMLrfToJyybUT18OE3fMomFb9XU0ffC
Water changes should be done weekly. if you havent done one in two months, consider a 80% water change with properly mixed and heated saltwater.
If you are using a canister filter, get rid of it. live rock and a hang on back skimmer or a sump will outperform it 10 fold and is easier and cheaper.
water should be topped up daily or twice daily. An auto top off is the way to go here, they are worth every penny.
Saltwater is not like freshwater, so read and read and watch every youtube video. Bulk reef supply does a 52 week series of how to run and setup a tank. I would suggest it to anyone getting into the hobby.
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKEXNIhomGs&list=PLBaMLrfToJyybUT18OE3fMomFb9XU0ffC
Hi All, I can post pictures of the tank and equipment in a bit. It has been a very slow process. We allowed the tank to cycle for a few weeks, then added a dory fish, a yellow tang, two clownfish and some type of coral. Then we allowed those guys to settle and for the tank to recycle out any contaminants. We were about to add in live rock, but our power went out due to high winds this weekend (I’m in Arlington, VA) so now I am frantically trying to save our fish. They are at my house in a temporary tank, with a heater and something to circulate the water. Temp had dropped to 64 overnight and is now back up to 80. Dory is def struggling, along with the coral.
We are using a canister filter, a skimmer, and a wave generator. I check salinity daily with a refractometer and I add water as needed. I can certainly add daily, I didn’t know that I had to do that.
Any other advice is appreciated. I’ll post pics later today or on Monday, when I’m back at the school. Thanks.
We are using a canister filter, a skimmer, and a wave generator. I check salinity daily with a refractometer and I add water as needed. I can certainly add daily, I didn’t know that I had to do that.
Any other advice is appreciated. I’ll post pics later today or on Monday, when I’m back at the school. Thanks.
gonioporagirl
New member
Is it green water or white hazy water? This is probably a bacterial bloom or an algal bloom. Both are common in new tanks. If the water is white and hazy i would wait it out and keep an eye on your parameters. You might want to do a water change to help with the overpopulating bacteria. Since bacteria use oxygen, i would recommend getting an air pump to oxygenate the water so your fish can breathe. if the coudiness is still there after a few weeks, you could try adding a UV sterilizer. This will kill the free floating algae and any parasites, without killing the beneficial bacteria in your filter and live rock.
