cloudy water

[hutch1814]

i just got a sebae and started to feed it today and ever since then my water has been cloudy and its not seemin to clear up i dont run filters but a protein skimmer and a fuge have 80+ lbs of LR so it does the filtering for me if anybody has answers please fill me in!

 

[ALTI]

what r u feeding it? Cloudy water is usually not associated with feeding unless you are having some type of bacterial bloom. Have u been adding any calcium additives lately. A little info on your system would help.

 

[DJ88©]

[moved]

 

[hutch1814]

i have been adding calcium but only 2 times a week and water sample is perfect with zeros across and i have been feeding silver sides

 

[ALTI]

how long has the tank been set up? bacterial blooms are not uncommon in newer tanks. It should go away on its own. Make sure your skimmer is working properly.

just make sure your not overdoing the calcium dosage. what is your cal level?

 

[hutch1814]

the tanks been runnin for about 1 1/2 years BUT i did have a little calcium spike it got to 670 because the RO water i put it was bein filled with all the supplaments that i put it and didnt know it so it got kinda of high would that cause the cloudy water though its been high for about 2 weeks and now stuff isnt openin up as much as it use to

 

[Craig Lambert]

What is your Alkalinity level?

 

[hutch1814]

the perms. in my tank are nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia is all at 0 P.H. is at 8.2 calcium is at 640 now (high i know) DKH is at 9 and saltinity is at 1.25 hope that helps

 

[Craig Lambert]

It sounds as though you have had calcium precipitate in the tank. Your calcium level is very high, and should be in the 400-450 range. It should fall to that level on it's own if you stop adding any calcium suppliments, ie Kalk etc. In the mean time you will want to keep your Alkalinity up. It is at a good level now, as 7-11 dKH is the recommended range. If you have a two part suppliment like b-ionic, you could just dose the Alk portion and let the calcium fall.

Which salt are you using? I would also suggest that you post this on the Chemistry forum, and get Randy's opinion.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&forumid=112

 

[hutch1814]

im using the reef crystals but im switchin to tropic marin tonight when i do my water change im hopin that by doin it i will drop the calcium and get rid of the cloudiness but whats your choice on salts for a reef tank?

 

[Craig Lambert]

If you use IO, it will mix to around 370ppm calcium at 1.025 salinity. I use IO, and when I mix saltwater I raise the Magnesium to 1300 (IO usually mixes to around 1180 IME), and then I raise the calcium to 430. Then I just maintain those levels in the tank, while keeping Alk around 10.0 dKH.

 

[ALTI]

definatelt sounds like a calcium problem. over 600 is way too high. do a couple of water changes and dont raise the calcium of the new water. do like craig said about adding more alk to the system.