cloudy water

[Tango725]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, let me give you a little info. i have a 32 gal. biocube
that's been up in running for 5wks. with 25 lbs of LR, Went through the
typical steps of cycling diatoms the end of 1st wk, i had a hair algae at
the end of the 3rd wk so i added a cuc some snails a couple of hermits
and a emerald crab they went to town in did the job, i did a 5% wc at
end of the 3rd wk and did another 10% at the end of the 4th wk, all my
parameters were good ph=8.2 ammonia=0 nitrites=0 nitrates=2 , water
was looking pretty good so i decided to add a fire shrimp. I placed a
couple of algae wafers in the tank, the cuc had pretty much taken care
of most of the algae and since i don't have any fish yet i wanted the
shrimp to have something to munch on, the next day my water is all
cloudy. Did adding the wafer trigger a bacteria bloom or was the bloom
destin to happen anyway because of new tank syndrome??? Also my
shrimp has already molted is that a sign that my calcium levels are
good should i leave his exoskeleton in the tank or take it out??? Any feed
back on these issues would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Undrpressure23]

Calcium and Mag levels?

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[Dmorty217]

The shrimp won't eat algae, only meaty foods like mysis/brine so stop feeding the CUC algae wafers they will be fine. Take the molt out of the tank since it will never break down/disappear. As far as the cloudy water goes it could be from the wafers and thats what I'm leaning towards.

 

[Tango725]

Calcium and Mag levels?

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Calcium=440 ppm
Magnesium=??? Do i need to be testing for that now, i have no corals

 

[Tango725]

The shrimp won't eat algae, only meaty foods like mysis/brine so stop feeding the CUC algae wafers they will be fine. Take the molt out of the tank since it will never break down/disappear. As far as the cloudy water goes it could be from the wafers and thats what I'm leaning towards.

 

[Tango725]

Ok, will take the molt out. I picked up some Kent Marine Water Clarifier do you think i should dose the tank or sit back and hopefully let nature take its course???

 

[flawedexistence]

I suggest testing the magnesium if only to determine its level in your salt mix.

 

[Tango725]

Ok, is there a certain Mag test kit you suggest??? The API Reef Master doesn't come with a Mag
test, also if the water doesn't clear up over the next few days should i do water change, man i
can barely see the shrimp in his cave!!!

 

[mcgyvr]

Its fine..
Normal new tank stuff..

No need to spend money on a mag kit... had it been a mag issue you would have noticed it before that..

Just a normal bacterial bloom.. Give it time to pass.. A week or so and it should be gone.. No more additions to the tank till it does..

 

[Uncle99]

Magnisum is only to buffer calcium and alkalinity, Inhabitants don't use it...

 

[mcgyvr]

Magnisum is only to buffer calcium and alkalinity, Inhabitants don't use it...

both corals and coralline algae,etc.. incorporate it into their skeletons..
I'd classify that as using it..
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry#section-1

 

[Tango725]

Do you guys think i should kill the lights for a couple of days until this bloom runs it's course, i have them running on a 12hr schedule.

 

[mcgyvr]

Shouldn't be any need to turn lights off..

Just wait.. patience man..patience..

 

[ramseynb]

Its fine..
Normal new tank stuff..

No need to spend money on a mag kit... had it been a mag issue you would have noticed it before that..

Just a normal bacterial bloom.. Give it time to pass.. A week or so and it should be gone.. No more additions to the tank till it does..

Agree 100% with this. If you start adding stoney coral or want more coralline growth or need to raise mag to battle bryopsis (do people still do that?), then get a mag test kit. If you have no coral or even just soft coral, just water changes is plenty to replenish those elements. Also, iodine is important when a shrimp molts. I'm not sure how important calcium and magnesium are. There's really no point in testing iodine either if you do water changes. If you're using the bailing method or Triton, then maybe you'd want to test that since you do far less water changes with those methods.

 

[Uncle99]

both corals and coralline algae,etc.. incorporate it into their skeletons..
I'd classify that as using it..
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/chemistry#section-1

In very small quantities yes, I focus on calcium and alkalinity, and use magnisum to buffer the two, but you are correct.

 

[Fraq]

If this continues long term, you should consider getting a UV.