New tank, mew question!

[jerrodm]

Hello everybody, I've been scouring the web for a bit and can't seem to figure this out. I have a new 40 Breeder with a 20L sump and herbie style overflow. When I did a tap water test of all the plumbing I found one small bulkhead leak that was easily fixed. I let it run for two or three weeks and noticed the water started to look cloudy in the tank. I figured this was household dust accumulating in the water. I don't have any filter media - I am planning on using a skimmer and a large biological filter (live-rock and beneficial bacteria). Is there an inexpensive way to stop dust accumulation (without covering the whole top of the tank, preventing air exchange) while I start my cycle with dry rock?

 

[TimeConsumer]

The cloudiness wouldn't be dust. It could be any number of things and we need more information to diagnose it. Especially since it's tough to tell in your post if you are talking about just circulating tap water or if you've actually started cycling the tank.

But to give you a quick easy answer, whatever is causing the cloudiness will likely be a non issue once the tank is cycled and running or once you start running carbon.

 

[jerrodm]

the cloudiness occured after a week or two of circulating tap water. I have a new BRS RO/DI that I installed two days ago, and am mixing salt water right now. I was going to add the RO/DI salt water to my tank when I get my shipment of dry-rock from BRS and a few pieces of nice matured LR from a friend soon. I am not sure what else would cause cloudiness (as I had no filtration with the tap water). Will just water changes help with cloudiness during the cycle?

 

[TimeConsumer]

I wouldn't be concerned with it. Just put in your mixed salt water, rock, sand, heater, etc and start your cycle as normal. If you start seeing cloudy water problems happen after the cycle we will diagnose it from there. Just plain tap water circulating has so many variables to it there is no point in trying to figure out why.

 

[Sk8r]

Bacteria, likely.

 

[jerrodm]

Sounds good, so once I get my rock I will start my cycle and not worry so much. I am just trying to get everything perfect for my first tank.

One last question - Will random strands of animal hair have any negative impact on my tank? I built a canopy that is closed on all sides but the back but a dog or cat hair will occassionally find its way into the tank.

 

[fishgate]

So your plan is to empty the tap water completely and fill with RO/DI saltwater? A stray animal hair shouldn't be too much of a concern but it will break down once in the water.

 

[Dmorty217]

Sounds good, so once I get my rock I will start my cycle and not worry so much. I am just trying to get everything perfect for my first tank.

One last question - Will random strands of animal hair have any negative impact on my tank? I built a canopy that is closed on all sides but the back but a dog or cat hair will occassionally find its way into the tank.

I have a Great Dane a pit bull and two cats so animal hair is a REAL concern I had. My 125 was a open top with no canopy and sump and now I have a canopy with sump on my 220g.... Point is there is no way to stop the hair from going in the tank. As far as a negative effect? No other than you may need to clean filter sponges and socks more often

 

[jerrodm]

So I'll have to figure out where and how to put in socks, I was hoping to not need them :\

 

[fishgate]

I was not going to put in socks so didn't plan for them. Later I wanted to add them so I got a 7" square eshopps one. It slid easily over my drain plumbing and is every bit as good as having a sock holder.

 

[Kyle918]

If you are cycling tap water, it is likely chlorine in the water that is slowly building in concentration since only water is being evaporated from the tank. If you are topping off with tap water, you are also adding to the amount of chlorine in the water. Like sk8er said, it could also be bacteria. I wouldn't use tap water to cycle for many reasons though.

 

[jerrodm]

That all makes a lot of sense, I have had the tank empty now for a few weeks, I just got an RO/DI a few days ago and have a 27 gal rubbermaid container mixing salt water right now. I won't be using tap in my tank for cycling. By the way, refractometers are cool!

 

[drillsar]

Cloudiness could be bacteria forming, what your seeing is most likely bacteria eating ammonia which causes cloudiness.

 

[TankStudy]

Well... You could hook up a UV sterilizer, cook all those bacteria floating around and about but....you'd cook all the floating bacteria =d But if your water clears, you'll know its bacteria.

 

[jerrodm]

I think I'll just start the cycle normally with the RO/DI water with salt water and some live and dry rock. If the cloudiness returns, I'll ask and I'll give all the specifics on the parameters, filtration, etc.

 

[KeepNitReel]

It's amazing how most people don't read/understand what the OP stated in his first 2 posts

 

[thallone]

If you are cycling tap water, it is likely chlorine in the water that is slowly building in concentration since only water is being evaporated from the tank. If you are topping off with tap water, you are also adding to the amount of chlorine in the water.

Chlorine in tap water doesn't last very long once the water is out of the pipe. If it did, there'd be no need for pools to keep adding it daily. UV light is especially bad on chlorine. http://www.bluescience.com/swimming-pools/posts/the-affect-of-uv-rays-on-chlorine/

That's why you need to let tap water agitate for a day or more before using. I can't speak to other things in tap water, but chlorine should actually be your least concern, as long as you're letting it properly age a day or two, preferably under lights. I'd worry far more about leached metals, because those actually will build up.

As for RO being better, I agree.

 

[MrTuskfish]

If you are cycling tap water, it is likely chlorine in the water that is slowly building in concentration since only water is being evaporated from the tank. If you are topping off with tap water, you are also adding to the amount of chlorine in the water. Like sk8er said, it could also be bacteria. I wouldn't use tap water to cycle for many reasons though.

Where in the world did you get this info? Chlorine is a gas the dissipates almost as soon as it leaves the plumbing system.

 

[Sk8r]

I have two cats and live near fields that get plowed seasonally, not to mention volcanic dust. I run no filter, no socks, nada. My water is crystal clear just from live rock and sandbed.