Cloudy water

[bryanb85]

I just got my tank up and running. Filtration only. I have a 75 gal conerflow with live sand only as of now. The water has been in for a week. Now i have this white cloudy appearance tot the water. I just topped off my water yesterday due to evaporation. Is this a salinity problem, chemical problem...? Water has been perfectly clear until now

 

[saltyair]

Could be a bacteria bloom - are you dosing?
how much flow and is it directed at the sand?
are the lights on during the cycle (turn them off)

 

[RA]

Do you have a refractometer to check your salinity? If not you should get one. What do you mean the water has been clear until now, what did you do? Did you stir up the sand? How much live rock do you have in your tank?

 

[judin2117]

Im thinking bacteria bloom if you havent done anything other than top off, but make sure you are topping off with fresh water not saltwater

 

[bryanb85]

saltyair - not sure what dosing is...? my flow rate has been adjusted down due to my return pump being way to powerful. 977 gph, now down to about a third of that. Why should lights be off?

ra - I have a hydrometer. I checked the salinity level after topping off with my RO water. It was just above. 1.26. I haven't done anything different. I just came home from work yesterday and noticed the water wasn't as clear. I do not currently have any live rock yet (this hobby is EXPENSIVE!)

judin - what is and what causes a bacteria bloom?

 

[acabgd]

If you don't have any live rock why is your tank running at all?

 

[bryanb85]

The last time i didnt run my tank while i left for the long weekend my glass was nasty when i came back home

 

[judin2117]

There are different things to Dose with and would recommend reading alot of the forums on dosing first. Bacteria bloom is something that can happen when cycling a new tank as the chemicals are balancing, you can also expect a big nitrate spike before your tank is ready for fish. Lights off to prevent some unwanted growth. As far as not having live rock, i wouldnt expect to add any fish until you have some in there for a while to help cycle properly. I know i answered all the questions kinda quick and general but thats cause there is so much to talk about here. I strongly recommend just doing a bunch of reading on cycling tanks and alot of your questions will be answered.