New biocube 32 Cloudy water

[C.k.]

Hello everyone,

I am new to salt water aquariums. I started a biocube 32 about six weeks ago. After about two weeks into it. I started getting brown diatoms and they still show up each day after the lights have been on for a couple hours. I have read that that's just part of cycling a new tank. Now just a couple days ago my water has started to get cloudy. I have been doing 20% water changes since the start up. When I started up the tank I added some Dr. Tim's One and Only live nitrifying bacteria. Other than that it's just the stock filter that came with the biocube. When I started I used live rock and live sand along with salt water from my LFS.

My questions are.

When will the diatoms go away?
When will the water stop being cloudy?
Am I doing something wrong?
Is there something else I should be doing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

 

[Ryan Darilek]

Hi and welcome to the hobby!! Don't be worried, the cloudiness is just an algae bloom and is normal. Should clear up in a day or two. The diatomaceous will be ongoing for quiet awhile (for about 4-6 months).... So get used to cleaning it up. Now would be a good time to add a clean up crew to help keep it down at least a little (if you haven't already). Here's a picture of my BC32! I'm a fan of our tank, but would recommend looking into new lights. I got the Steve's LED retrofit kit (14k spectrum) and highly recommend it!

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[C.k.]

Thanks for the reply. Your tank looks amazing. I do have a couple hermit crabs and six snails in there. I also have a clown fish and a couple of fire fish. I think I may have put the fish in to early.

 

[C.k.]

I have been looking at Steve's lighting upgrade. I just figured I should get the aquarium cycled before I start changing anything.

 

[C.k.]

I have a question for you since you have a biocube too. I get a lot of micro bubbles in the tank that come out of the sump. Is there anything I can do about them?

 

[Ryan Darilek]

I have a question for you since you have a biocube too. I get a lot of micro bubbles in the tank that come out of the sump. Is there anything I can do about them?

Thanks for the compliment above! The only thing I can think of that would cause that issue is if the return pump isn't fully submerged and air is being sucked in to the pump... Happens to me when my socks get clogged and not enough water is making it to the pump. If the pump IS submerged fully and that's not what it is, could you post a picture of what you're dealing with?

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[C.k.]

I'm trying to figure out how to post a picture right now.

 

[Ryan Darilek]

I recommend using the app Talkatap on your phone... You can download that, then access all of the forums in one place and are able to post pictures from there very easily by taping the up arrow to the left of where you're typing

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[C.k.]

I think I figured it out.

 

[C.k.]

I recommend using the app Talkatap on your phone... You can download that, then access all of the forums in one place and are able to post pictures from there very easily by taping the up arrow to the left of where you're typing

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[C.k.]

I'm not using a filter sock. I've heard of them but not sure how to use one. Do I just put my pump inside one?



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[Ryan Darilek]

Are those air bubbles or particles?? I don't use a filter sock, but yes that's the general idea of how they work. Myself, I use filter pads cut down to size that fit in the first and second row of our media trays... It removes the fine particles (picture).

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[C.k.]

Are those air bubbles or particles?? I don't use a filter sock, but yes that's the general idea of how they work. Myself, I use filter pads cut down to size that fit in the first and second row of our media trays... It removes the fine particles (picture).

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Those were bubbles I think. I'll try filter pads in case I'm wrong and they are particles.

Thanks again.


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[Ryan Darilek]

If they are bubbles, you will see a build up of bubbles all over your glass and rock... And as long as no air is getting into your pump, there won't be bubbles. What do you have in your media tray? If it's only the stock filter on the top rack and your water level is down, water falling from the top rack down to the bottom will create bubbles down there (and be loud). Throw some filter pads back there and you shouldn't see any more bubbles and/or particles and your water will clear right up

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[C.k.]

I pretty sure your right. There's no bubbles on the glass or rocks. And today when I shut off my filter and power head to feed. I noticed the particles were just suspended in the water. Not rising to the top. I ordered some filter pads yesterday it will be here tomorrow. Thanks again for the help.

I had another question about the diatoms.
Is there anything more I should be doing about them? Other than the clean up crew and weekly 20% water changes.
My clean up crew consists of two hermit crabs and six snails. The snails just stay on the rocks though. I'm not sure what kind they are. I'll attach a picture.


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[Ryan Darilek]

Of course, happy to help!
No, unfortunately there's not much else you can do for the algae (aside from being careful not to over feed the tank and not having your lights on for too long). It will just be a phase that your tank has to go through for awhile until your tank matures and there is more good algae (Coralline algae ... The purple stuff) competing for those nutrients, the the ugly algae will start to go away.

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[C.k.]

Oh good to know. I did just notice a couple little purple spots in the tank. I didn't know what they were and was going to clean them. I'll let them do there thing.

Again thank you.


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