water for water change cloudy

[psyrob]

Has this happened to you? I made up a 5 gallon bucket of RODI water, put in the same amount of Reef Crystals salt I always do, and put in a power head. A day went by before I found the power head was humming, but not pumping any water. There was a thick layer of undissolved salt on the bottom of the bucket. I set a different power head in there and a day later, and the salt is all gone, but the water is all murky, not crystal clear like it usually is.

Is it still good to use? Salinity is good (1.25), but it looks like there is smoke in there. I hate to waste water dumping it out...what do you think?

 

[vorm]

Did that first power head burn-up and die in there?

Not sure if it's fine to use or not, but if it were me I would dump it and make more. Why even risk your tank over 5 gallons?

 

[psyrob]

good question and good point. The power head worked the last time, then when I plugged it in, it made the sounds it usually does but wasn't pumping any water. I don't know what it might have leaked into there...you are right about not risking the tank over 5 gallons...we have it drummed into us out here is LA not to waste water, but it's not worth the risk as you point out.....