Cloudy Water

Bar16

Bar16

Member
I have a 75g FO tank. 1 Clown Trigger, 1 Lion, 1 Snowflake Moray Eel, 1 Husquarin Tusk, and a Lunar Wrasse. (All big fish 6" plus) I have a undergravel filter and just put in a fluval 404 canister to handle the heavy load. The past few days i noticed my water getting cloudier and cloudier. Anyone have any suggestions on why this is happening and what i can do to clear it up. Im going to try and do a water change as soon as possible but probably wont be able to do it for another 4 days. Besides that everything else is good fish look healthy and all my parameters are good.

:eek1:
 
could be one of the fish stirring up the bottom, if the eel is new I am sure he is digging under the rock stirring up all sorts of muck. Try a polishing media in your filter.
what are your "good" parameters? give us some #'s
 
i had the same problem with my tank all i did was start rinseing the food before i put it in the tank and that helped a little bit but the most help was when i got a protein skimmer. in about 4-5 days the water was clear
 
you probably have high phosphates. is it turning a slightly yellow-green color. if it is then that is what you have. I would pick up a UV sterilizer and start using RO water. I had this problem along time ago and that is what I done. hope this helps.
James.:bounce1:
 
No its not turning yellow more like white. When you look at the top of the water theres millions of things floating at the the top. My water levels are. AMO=0, Nitrite=0, Nitrate=70, PH= 8.4 I know my nitrates are high but theyve been like that for awhile now and havent had any problems nothing i seem to do brings them down. Do you guys think a water change will clear it up?
 
I am guessing that you have carbon in your fluval, which usually works to clear up cloudy water. You could try pura poly pads but you would probably need a mechanical filter or sump to run that. Aside from all these things you could do a 50% water change...and I am surprised that people havent already told you that your tank is overstocked, especially if the fish are 6+ inches.
 
I know its pushing it. And yes i have carbon in my filter. Water was crystal clear till about a week ago then started getting cloudier day by day. Thinking about maybe taking a fish out but i dont know i like them all way to much, But if i had to choose it would have to be the lunar wrasse. Ill do a water change tuesday on my day off and see what happens.
 
Wow you are way overstocked. The cloudy water could have to do with a bacterial growth or die off. Change the carbon and if you can afford it get a protein skimmer which will help with overall water quality and nitrates.

No offense, but an undergravel filter and a cannister filter are the 2 WORST methods of filtration for a FO tank. Both are contributing to your high nitrate level.
 
Test your water. If your water quality is in the safe or ideal range, don't worry about it. I have had the exact problem in my tank. However, the water chemistry looked stable.------------------Cloudy water could be caused by an invert spawning.
 
I also think that is a because of bacterial die off or a lack off bacteria. For a 75 gallon I think all those fish, at 6" is overstocked. Also I think you may want to upgrade filtration....all you are using is an undergravel and a fluval canister? THats not enough for a 75 gallon saltwater with 6" fish. THink about a skimmer and better filtration.

I have had similar problems with tanks looking coudy white. THe issue was always resolved through water changes and addition of bacteria cultures.
 
If u take a fish out I would say get rid of the lunar. They need more swimming space than a 75, get mean when theyre bigger and will probably fight with your Harlequin Tusk. Would also help with the bio load
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7082254#post7082254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fredweezy
I am guessing that you have carbon in your fluval, which usually works to clear up cloudy water. You could try pura poly pads but you would probably need a mechanical filter or sump to run that. Aside from all these things you could do a 50% water change...and I am surprised that people havent already told you that your tank is overstocked, especially if the fish are 6+ inches.
Click to expand...

dont do a 50% water change, do small waterchanges daily instead of 1 huge one, because when you change out that much water, you are taking out half of your beneficial algae and bacteria, so your starting a new 'mini' cycle in your tank. nitrates and ammonia will jump up like a cycle would make them...

so in a 75g, i would recommend doing 5 gallon water changes daily for about a week and see how your nitrates look. like mentioned above, change your carbon out, and you may want to add a UV. i just added a UV to my 80g (clown trigger, humu trigger, j. emperor (all 4" or less) and it made a huge difference.

im running a millineum 3000 filter, with a CPR bakpak, and gamma 15 watt UV sterolizer. my water is crystal clear.
 
The carbon in my filter is brand new i just got that filter about a week ago. What do you guys suggest i get. a powerfilter? protein skimmer???
 
Both. But stay away from SeaClones, there other HOB skimmers on the market that are much better for around the same price. But then again a SeaClone would be better than nothing at all. If u want to stick with hang ons try to see if u can fit an Emperor 400 on the back fo your tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7083337#post7083337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Monkeyfish

No offense, but an undergravel filter and a cannister filter are the 2 WORST methods of filtration for a FO tank. Both are contributing to your high nitrate level.
Click to expand...


i think this is a huge misconception. Some excellent Fo only tanks i have seen have rather "high" nitrates and they use sumps, fuges etc. As long as your changing any filter pad inside your canister i dont see it adding any kind of nitrate level. its just a big expensive powerhead with aerobic bacteria in it.

You cant apply reef levels of nitrate to fish/Fowlr systems

EDIT: grammar was horrible
 
Well the fluval is out in the street. I got so frustrated with the canister today i just had enough. I ended with about 2 gallons a water today on my carpet from that P.O.S. I went out and i bought a aquaclear 110 so much easier alot less hassel and as of now it seems like it filtering better. Tommorow im going to look into a protein skimmer. Trying to spend under 100 any one have any good suggestions???
 
You're not going to find a good skimmer for under a $100 that is appropriate for a 75g tank. IMO you should consider purchasing a Coralife superskimmer or an AquaC Remora.
 
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