Please Diagnose my Problem

[devildog999]

Put 75 pounds of live rock in my 55 gallon a week ago and this started right away. The problem being that the water has a somewhat yellow clowdynish to it. I am running a refugium and a fluval 405 (just carbon). Cleaned the fluval and did a 10 gallon water change two days ago but it seems to actually be getting a little worse. Any ideas on the problem and how to fix? There are two pics below.

Thanks in advance

 

[RedAnt78]

Looks like its cycling

 

[devildog999]

But my ammonia is not going up. Is that normal?

 

[oceanwonderz]

I was just gonna say that its ammonia as well and that I would try getting a protein skimmer on there instead of a canister filter

 

[oceanwonderz]

I also want to add that you should be doing a water change every few days to a week to get rid of the coloring and run your carbon while you do it.

 

[MarineSniper]

+1 on the water changes and let me know if you don't have a protein skimmer; I have an extra that I'll ship to you, no charge to devil dogs. Just one of my backup/emergency units but it'll get you through until you can pick up a good one

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

the tank is cycling...leave it alone...in a month if the water is still discoloured run some more carbon...what is your source water? are you using RO/DI water to mix? you do NOT need to do water changes or run a skimmer during cycling..

 

[MarineSniper]

I'm doing a move from my 90 to a 135 and only have 1 good skimmer and a Seaclone that is around for a backup or possible qt.

I plan on taking a couple of weeks to do the transfer as I want to make sure I don''t have a full blown cycle and have wondered about the need for a skimmer on there before the transfer of fish and corals

I was planning on using approx 50% of my current water along with about 80# of my live rock from the tank everything is in now. With no fish or corals in there, will that small skimmer suffice until the transfer? I plan on watching the new tank for 10 days to 2 weeks to watch for any signs of cycling. If everything looks clear and the parameters match, the regular skimmer will make the move at the same time as the livestock

 

[devildog999]

I do have a protein skimmer built into my refugium, tho I don't know if that is enough.

Using tap water and treating with a dechlorinator that also works on the other stuff in the water that is no good.

 

[britreefer]

+1 on Nanoreefwanabe, Your tank is cycling. The cloudiness is from bacteria die off, or large amounts of detritus in the LR you added. If you have no ammonia then do not do a water change, its counter productive during the "cycle". I think the most important question which has ben missed is where did you get your rock? If you had it shipped then you may be dealing with a curing period which would explain the yellow even better. just let it sit and run your skimmer. If its a bad skimmer then get another one. you dont want to skimp on your skimmer. Then wait a few days, make sure you have lots of flow in there and after a few days use some carbon and do water tests. then go from there. also Tap water will not help you in anyway for a saltwater aquarium, you will have more problems than you want. just my 2cents.

 

[devildog999]

I got the rock from aloha-aquariums.com.

Just in case it matters, the rock spent apprx 2 days out of water from time of shipping to me putting it into a ice chest with saltwater, heater, and airstones. It spent about 36 hrs in the ice chest before I put it into my aquarium and this clowdyness happened pretty much right away.

 

[MarineSniper]

+++1 on the tap water. Use only ro/di. It's probably little to do with your "problem" now (a new tank cycling is normal) but it will cause mountains of grief later.

 

[devildog999]

What is ro water? I believe di is distilled. Where do you get these water souces in bulk? Also, what is the problem with tap?

 

[freetareef]

they are referring to ro/di water. it stands for reverse osmosis/de-ionized water which is made by running your tap water through a ro/di filter.
did you read all the stickies in the "new to the hobby" forum?
it would be a good place to start and will save you tons of grief in the long run.

Also your rock is dead. the yellow tinge in the water is from a bacterial bloom. your cycle won't start till there is life or waste from life forms present. your rock is curing in your tank. when that is done, throw a piece of raw shrimp in your tank and let it cycle.
please read the stickies.

 

[devildog999]

How will I know when that is done and what exactly is a bacterial bloom? Also, when this is done, will this effect when I can start placing corals? I do have a few hermet crabs in there.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Thiago Barrak]

You use active carbon? Acrylic wool?
Could add a shark bag and control the bacterial outbreak with a partial exchange of good water quality

 

[devildog999]

Yes on active carbon. Don't know what the wool is but not likely. What is a shark bag?

 

[Thiago Barrak]

Mechanical filtration as it does there?

Something to hold particles in suspension in the water ... Clearing the water ... and making a exchange of water to control the boom of bacteria

 

[devildog999]

The wording there is a Tad confusing, but if I am reading it right, I use a fluvial 405 with carbon only as well as a refugium

 

[Reefahholic]

What is ro water? I believe di is distilled. Where do you get these water souces in bulk? Also, what is the problem with tap?

Brother, watch this video! It may give you a little understanding!!!



http://youtu.be/ZT871Au2GCA