I've had my new SW tank running for about a day and a half. All my chemicals are FINE, and my nitrates,nitrites,ammonia and PH are all perfect levels.. So i added some crushed coral i bought from Petsmart, and it says MINIMAL rinsing, so i rinse it a little bit, now my tank looks like a swamp, two hours ago it was CRYSTAL clear!!!! AHHHHH helppp.. How do I get this to clear, I have one damsel and one peppermint shrimp in there, damsel starting swimming funny so hes in the QT, but my PS is just fine.. just wanna clear the water..
Helppppp
- Thread starter xbambamx
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kass03
New member
All your levels are fine because the tank has only been set up for a day and hasnt started to cycle.
Most of us don't use crushed coral anymore as it traps detritis alot more than aragonite sand plus the aragonite can be benificial if your keeping corals to help with calcium but it can be used.
Your suppose to add the substrate and rock first before you put animals in and make sure the water is at the right salinity and temp doesnt swing and is stable.
Impatience in this hobby will kill alot of the animals your trying to keep.
For 1 thing I doubt that shrimp will make it through a cycle so if you have somewhere else to put it I would.
Most people don't use fish to cycle a tank anymore as they have a good chance of dying and if they do make it damsels can be very territorial. Theres plenty of others ways to start it such as adding a pinch of flakefood per day.
Most of us start with liverock which is also a good way to cycle a tank and most benificial even if your keeping fish only.
I see you have some rock. Put it in the tank.
That said the cloudiness should settle over time. It might help to run some carbon or a polyfilter to clear it up. I see others said filter floss which would work to. (I had to go offline so started typing before you had the second post lol)
You really should start doing alot of reading here on starting a tank which should help you have success. The beginners forum will have alot of info.
LFS don't always have the best advice.
kass
Most of us don't use crushed coral anymore as it traps detritis alot more than aragonite sand plus the aragonite can be benificial if your keeping corals to help with calcium but it can be used.
Your suppose to add the substrate and rock first before you put animals in and make sure the water is at the right salinity and temp doesnt swing and is stable.
Impatience in this hobby will kill alot of the animals your trying to keep.
For 1 thing I doubt that shrimp will make it through a cycle so if you have somewhere else to put it I would.
Most people don't use fish to cycle a tank anymore as they have a good chance of dying and if they do make it damsels can be very territorial. Theres plenty of others ways to start it such as adding a pinch of flakefood per day.
Most of us start with liverock which is also a good way to cycle a tank and most benificial even if your keeping fish only.
I see you have some rock. Put it in the tank.
That said the cloudiness should settle over time. It might help to run some carbon or a polyfilter to clear it up. I see others said filter floss which would work to. (I had to go offline so started typing before you had the second post lol)
You really should start doing alot of reading here on starting a tank which should help you have success. The beginners forum will have alot of info.
LFS don't always have the best advice.
kass
TOURKID
New member
Just put your rocks in the tank, and wait a day or two for the sand to settle. it'll be fine.
Filter floss they sell at your lfs in bags. Its.. well.. hu. a white pillow stuffing looking stuff. If you have no where to put it (like a hang on back filter) then dont even worry about it. It'll clear up.
Filter floss they sell at your lfs in bags. Its.. well.. hu. a white pillow stuffing looking stuff. If you have no where to put it (like a hang on back filter) then dont even worry about it. It'll clear up.
marinelife
Active member
First the damsel and the pepperment should go back to the store a two day old tank is not for them, then put the live rock in the tank and that will cycle the tank for you, in a few days the cloud from the sand will be gone.
They are talking about a filter pad, if you go to you local fish store you will find: blue, white, black and maybe some other colors
They are talking about a filter pad, if you go to you local fish store you will find: blue, white, black and maybe some other colors
Waxxiemann
New member
It's going to take at LEAST 30 days for the tank cycle to complete. That Peppermint WILL die soon unless you remove it.
You said that you have a QT tank? Well put them back in there if they were doing well in there before.
Keep your skimmer on.
You need to take your time and do some more reading me thinks. I read constantly for 6 months (every day, no lie) before I even bought my tank.
Patience is key.
You said that you have a QT tank? Well put them back in there if they were doing well in there before.
Keep your skimmer on.
You need to take your time and do some more reading me thinks. I read constantly for 6 months (every day, no lie) before I even bought my tank.
Patience is key.
Waxxiemann
New member
SO many poeple get discouraged and so many animals die in this manner.
I wish you luck friend.
I wish you luck friend.
Waxxiemann
New member
what kind of filter is it?
Waxxiemann
New member
I don't think that the filter is going to do much of anything during the cycling period. It may help clear some dust out of the water depending on the media your running in it. Your rock and sand should take care of your filtering needs. I'd probably ditch the filter if I were you.
