Total Newbie

[Tjoe]

I have had a salt-water tank for about 6 months. I had to restart in at about month 3 because of a bad red algae outbreak. This time I am doing things right by going slow.
I’m glad that I have found a place for people like me in Okinawa.

The only issue I’m having now is; my tank water gets cloudy when I run my MH lights. If I keep them off, the water stays clear. Turn them on, and it starts clouding up. Any thoughts?

I have:
-55gal, bowfront
-50lbs, Fiji live sand
-ProClear Wet dry with skimmer
-Outer Orbit HQI Fixture

Tjo
http://gallery.mac.com/tjoe.frank#100239
http://gallery.mac.com/tjoe.frank#100207&bgcolor=black&view=grid

 

[Sango-chu]

Not sure, but I would run the lights at a normal interval and skimmer a little wet for a few with what looks like new rock in the tank; it could be cycling.

 

[Tjoe]

When you say, "run the skimmer a little wet" what do you mean?

 

[Sango-chu]

Some of us spend weeks dailing in our skimmers (setting them) to just making bubbles and a foam to rise just over the edge of the internal pipe's cup and ooze over the nasties...some of us just take hours.

When you set a little wet, some more water goes into your cup than preferred but the nasties are more readily removed and the studff in there STINKS!!!! which means everything is skimming in overdrive, just keep an eye on your water levels and make sure that you're using nothing but RO/DI water to top-off and good saltwater to replenish the tank...You should be pulling alot of alot out when it first runs like this, but MAN!!! once you're "clean" watchout!

 

[Tjoe]

I have no access to RO water. I'm currently using tap water ran through a Britta filter. Is the real bad.

 

[TheDeparted]

yes, that is not good.. tap water is very bad.. distilled water from the comissary is better but not the best.. that would be RO/DI water. You can get RO/DI water from PPM.. cant remember exactly how much it is off the top of my head though.

 

[Sango-chu]

I go to the water store and get mine there. I take a TDS meter with me every now and then adn measure the water they give me; it always reads zero TDS. Its about 780 yen for a 5 gal jug. I water running a RO/DI unit thinking that I was saving money but once I thought about it, since I waster 4 gals making one; I am losing money because I live out in town and have to pay for the water comeing thru my pipes; waste water or not.

Your call but DEFINITELY no tap water....

 

[jeffb3t]

Sounds like it might be time to order yourself an RO. It is spendy to start with but pays off big time in the long run.

 

[Sango-chu]

I got three of them; hoarder remember, please let me know if you're really interested in one. I might be able to get talked into geting rid of one my car parts, I mean RO unit...lol

 

[magrath]

Here is a link to the RO/DI unit I use. They are excellent especially for the price!

http://filterdirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=30