How clear is your tank water?

[edsbeaker]

I seem to have a lot of floating tiny particles in my tank. I hate the look of it. I don't think it's sand or bubbles. Just looks like very tiny little white particles and makes the water look hazy instead of crystal clear. My tank has only been running for 9 weeks and has a lot of pods creeping along the walls. Could they also be floating throughout the tank? Is this just another one of those new tank bumps that you have to get past like diatoms? Or do I need some kind of sock to catch it all?

 

[Playa-1]

It could be diatoms. Are you using a filter sock or a particulate filter?

 

[edsbeaker]

No, I'm not using a fliter sock. The diatoms is a good possibility. I have to clean my glass daily to get green dust algae off. It comes off super easy, but adheres again within hours. It truly is just like dust. Do you think it's just those particles floating around?

 

[Macimage]

It could also be microbubbles.

Joyce

 

[WhiteLightsaber]

Sounds like diatoms. It is usual around this time to experience these. A filter sock may help clear the water.

 

[edsbeaker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13082514#post13082514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Macimage
It could also be microbubbles.
I"m not sure if this could be it. When I turn off the pumps at feeding time these particles are just suspended in the water. Wouldn't bubbles, even micro-bubbles have a tendency to float to the surface?

 

[reefnetworth]

how many hours a day are you using lights and what kind of set-up do you have. MH? T-5? Actinic? is your tank near a window? do you use DT's? Marine snow? how many times a day and how much do you feed?

WHEW!!!

there is also a chance of another (small) cycle, it happens...

 

[edsbeaker]

Ok, the diatoms sound like a good place to start. Stupid question, but is a filter sock an item that I purchase from my LFS, and is that what it is called. Also is it just tied or rubberbanded around the end of my drain hose?

 

[Playa-1]

You can get a filter sock at the lfs or online. If your dealing with Diatoms then they will likely take care of themselves within a couple of weeks. If you go the filter sock route then keep in mind that they need to be cleaned and/or changed out every few days.

 

[edsbeaker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13082648#post13082648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnetworth
how many hours a day are you using lights and what kind of set-up do you have. MH? T-5? Actinic? is your tank near a window? do you use DT's? Marine snow? how many times a day and how much do you feed?

Right now I have 4X54 TEK lights over the 75G tank. (6X54 ATI powermodule coming in two weeks) My lighting cycle is 2 lights on from 10:30 AM- 10:30PM, and all four on from 11 AM until 9 PM.

Feeding is once a day with mainly Rods food, and coral frenzy once a week. The amount I feed of the Rods food would equal about 1/4 cube of other frozen food.

Water changes are 10% of RO/DI saltwater per week.
All my parameters were checked yesterday.

Ammonia, nitrite ,nitrate, phosphate all undetectable.
Mag-1300
Calcium-1420
kH-10
pH-8.1

I have very little diatoms, maybe a bit on the sand, but as mentioned above a lot of green dust algae. It makes sense that if I'm constantly wiping this off it must be going somewhere. Do you see any other possible problems from the info I've given you?

PLAYA-1 Thanks for the info on the filter sock.

 

[tanker]

I think your reading are wrong. Mag and calcium is too high.

 

[prickles]

coral frenzy is huge in phosphates. i used it for a while and then had big algae problems. I have since stopped. My corals don't seem to mind, and the algae is much better.

 

[ahullsb]

How do you dose your calcium and alkalinity? You could be seeing some precipitate from that.

 

[edsbeaker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13083277#post13083277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tanker
I think your reading are wrong. Mag and calcium is too high.

Sorry, Calcium is at 420.

How do you dose your calcium and alkalinity? You could be seeing some precipitate from that.

I'm not dosing, yet. The tank is pretty young, so I don't have the need to yet. I only have a few corals.

oral frenzy is huge in phosphates. i used it for a while and then had big algae problems. I have since stopped. My corals don't seem to mind, and the algae is much better.

I'll try stopping it to see if it helps, Thanks

 

[inachu]

I use that water clear liquid from my LFS and its reef safe.

It clumps up the particles so that filters can catch it.

I forgot the brand name but it comes in a blue see through bottle.

 

[Paul B]

I use and have been using a diatom filter for decades, I am on my fourth or fifth one and would not be able to run a reef without one. It will clear any particles in any tank in a few minutes without affecting water chemistry.

 

[otrlynn]

Just a very low-tech thought--If you happen to have an old hang-on-back filter left from a freshwater tank, put a new filter with some rinsed carbon in it and try running it. I have one on my tank in addition to a skimmer, and the water is crystal clear.