Cloudy water

[LittlePuff]

Yesterday I did 2gal water changes on both of my 5gal. HOB filters, new filter media in both. They both have live rock, no skimmers. They have been up for ~6wks. Tank #1 has 4 hermits and 4 nassarius snails. The cloudy tank has 4 hermits, 4 nassarius snails and a fiddler crab (still alive, found out later that she won't make it) I put a Hikari algae wafer in each tank. They were eaten completely. One tank is clear, the other cloudy. My ammonia and nitrites are 0, my nitrites are 10.

Anyone have any ideas. I have pre-made water, if ya think another water change would help. Thanks!

Kim

 

[XtrmCHoPZ]

What kind of test kits are u using for ammonia and nitrite, nitrate. Ive found that some brands are way off. Also if youre cleaning yoru filters, DO NOT EVER replace all the media completely. Stagger it so the bacteria that has built up on those filter pads isnt all thrown out. If u have to filter pads, replace ONLY one every 2 weeks, while leaving the other "dirty: one in there, that way it can "seed" the other pad with good stuff. I found out the hard way along time ago not to change all the pads at once, It can cause problems and cloudy water. Try water changes and maybe some bacteria cultures that you can buy at the LFS.

 

[LittlePuff]

I have live rock and sand in the tanks. I clean them out so they don't over produce nitrates. My kits were for Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. They are a couple of months old. I did exactly the same in the other tank, and it is clear.

Kim

 

[XtrmCHoPZ]

What exactly are u cleaning? And just from experience AP tests arent the most accurate, try another brand and compare results

 

[LittlePuff]

Taking out everything in the filter. Rinsing the "pad" in fresh R/O and placing a new carbon pack. I'll try to get another test.

Kim

 

[LittlePuff]

Anyone else have any ideas?

Kim

 

[whiteshark]

Do you have any caulerpa in there? Sometimes if it doesn't get enough light it can go sexual and cloud up the tank.

Check this out.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/nftt/index.php

 

[LittlePuff]

nope.

Kim

 

[XtrmCHoPZ]

i dont know for sure but its not a good idea to rinse the pads with fresh water. try saltwater from a water change

 

[LittlePuff]

I'm trying to kill the bacteria.

Kim

 

[Randall_James]

Hi Kim,

Cloudiness can be caused by bacterial blooms.

This is normally in response to an induction of organic matter of some type. This is not a bad thing as the decaying matter will turn to ammonia without the help of the bacteria. Killing the bacteria is not in your best interest.

It (bacteria) will find a happy balance soon enough and is just part of running small immature tanks.

Just keep a steady watch on ammonia levels and do water changes if it starts to climb. Otherwise, just let the tank age gracefully and things will settle down.

 

[LittlePuff]

I wonder why it was only one of the tanks.

Kim