I came home to a cloudy tank today. Never had this happen before. What could it be? All fish are present and acting normal; all equipment is running properly; corals could be happier, but don't appear to be in distress. I checked my calcium and alk last night. Calcium was a low (320); alk was 3.89 meq/L. [I've been dealing with way high calcium/high alk in the last several months, but it had been straightening out since I switched to Tropic Marin like 4 mos. ago.] I added about a tbl of calcium in the sump last night, which I am now thinking was likely old. Could that be it? I can see through the cloudiness, but it's evident. It doesn't appear green like an algae bloom, but the actinics are on and I've never seen one before. I just now changed 20 gal (have 72 gal tank) (last change 3 wks ago), changed the filter floss, changed/added more carbon, and put in 2 more Algone pads, and it doesn't look much better. My temps are always stable @ 77-78 degrees. I don't have any kids who would have dumped anything in the tank. I did get new bulbs about 3-4 weeks ago. In the sump are about 2 layers of bioballs and I keep sheet filter floss on top of them which I change every other week. I'm running a small skimmer in the sump and a Aqua C Remora hang on the tank. They are foaming like crazy right now, but they usually do after a water change. Any advice from my fellow reefers?
What could it be. Need help.
- Thread starter joyski58
- Start date
phljess
New member
It seems like you added quite a bit of calcium but I do not know what kind it is so if you tell me that would give me a better idea. If it is the dry type, a table spoon is alot. Besides this I am unsure what would cause the problem you are describing. I do not believe that calcium would cause this problem unless it is precipitating in the tank. But for that to have happened you would have also added a buffer at about the same time. Did you add any alkalinity to the tank? Also have you added any dechlor like slime coat. That stuff will sometimes cloud a tank and cause the skimmer to go crazy.
firefish2020
New member
It might be a Calcium precip event but Im not certain either. I know there are certain calcium supplements that can cause cloudiness as you described.
What I added was liquid Seachem calcium additive. I haven't added anything at all other than that in months. The frequent water changes I do seem to keep various levels up to par. I'm running home at lunch to see how things look when the lights come on. I'm thinking another 10-15 gal water change tonight depending upon what I see at lunch. I checked nitrate this a.m. and it was a little higher than I expected considering I did the 20 gal water change last night, but it wasn't real high.
Nathan4Wvu
Do you like Phil Collins?
I think I would go with Ron on this one and you could also post this in the reef chemisty forum, but i think they will tell you the same thing. When Ca reaches a certin level to quickly it will precip out of solution this happens naturaly in the ocean some times around reefs and shouldn't hurt anything just try not to rapadly adjust Ca do it over several days. i wouldn't add any water or anything it will take care of its self naturaly
firefish2020
New member
Liquid Seachem Calcium and not "Reef Complete" will cloud your tank thats why we don't use it. It is glucose based I believe. but am not 100% on that. will clear on it's own.
firefish2020
New member
Yep Reef Complete is great but the sister product - SeaChem Liquid Calcium - will cause some cloudiness when added in full amounts. It works fine and should only be added in small amounts or dripped IMO.
firefish2020
New member
Thats what we are here for 
