What is this stuff floating on top of my water??

[C5Chad]

Hey guys I just added live sand to my new 75 gallon tank 2 days ago. The cloudiness is clearing up, my water is around 76 degrees right now, my salinity is 1.025. But I have this stuff floating on top of my water that was there the moment I added my bags of live sand. I know it's from that but I'm just trying to figure out how to get that to go away or clear up like the cloudiness is doing.

Will it go away on its own or should I hook up a filter or a powerhead to my tank to get it to disappear?? Right now everything except for my heater is turned off. I do not have a Protein Skimmer yet, only a hang on back marineland emperor 400 filter and a powerhead.

Could use any suggestions and tips or advice any of you have!!! Thanks guys!

 

[CrayolaViolence]

bacteria and substrate dust?

 

[Tripod1404]

Dust from sand

 

[heathlindner25]

Organics

 

[Kevin Guthrie]

Stuff like that is the reason you get an overflow.

 

[C5Chad]

Will this go away on its own just like the cloudiness is slowly dissipating? Or do I need to put a powerhead in or run my filter or both? Right now I have nothing but my heater on in my tank. Anything to be concerned of??

 

[C5Chad]

This is a brand new tank.... nothing else is in it yet.... just thought I should throw that out there. Just added the live sand 2 days ago.

 

[Synden]

Adding flow to get some surface agitation will help it settle, and getting a skimmer running will help get the proteins and organics out too.

 

[Xxero]

As others have said, it's dust from your new sand. If you don't have a surface skimmer or overflow box, you can take a sheet of paper towel and drop it flat onto the surface. It will grab the dust/froth and then just throw it away.

You will also run into the same situation when you add livestock, only it will be an oily sheen from the proteins. You will be paper toweling forever if you don't apply a surface skimmer or overflow.

https://youtu.be/ZqYRUAYkN7Q

HTH! :bigeyes:

 

[C5Chad]

Adding flow to get some surface agitation will help it settle, and getting a skimmer running will help get the proteins and organics out too.

Do I want to get the bacteria out? I thought the purpose of "live" sand was that it was supposed to be filled with the good bacteria you want in a tank. I may be wrong... I'm still fairly new to this and trying to learn as I go. But I do have a powerhead I can put in and turn on if that will help things through the cycle period and settling of the live sand and crap floating on top of water.

 

[C5Chad]

As others have said, it's dust from your new sand. If you don't have a surface skimmer or overflow box, you can take a sheet of paper towel and drop it flat onto the surface. It will grab the dust/froth and then just throw it away.

You will also run into the same situation when you add livestock, only it will be an oily sheen from the proteins. You will be paper toweling forever if you don't apply a surface skimmer or overflow.

HTH! :bigeyes:

I want to get a Protein Skimmer.... I just have no clue what Skimmer to get. Want something relatively quiet as this tank is in my living room and one that has a good record of not spilling over as I've read some have done.

 

[Xxero]

Are you planning on installing a sump?

 

[C5Chad]

Are you planning on installing a sump?

A sump is out of the question for the foreseeable future due to finances. I'm trying to do everything I can to make this the best tank possible without going sump as much as I'd like to. Just can't right now.

 

[Synden]

Skimmer doesnt remove bacteria. It remove proteins and other waste, and also helps oxygenate the water. The life in the sand, will remain in the sand and rocks and not in the water column
Adding flow is kind of a critical part to any salt tank, even during the cycle. The surface agitation allows for proper gas exchange. Without it the water wont have enough Oxygen to support the life it needs to be healthy. I would say you should put a circ pump in the tank ASAP.
A skimmer will help too so I would get one as soon as you can as well but the HOB filter will get you by for now though

 

[C5Chad]

This is the fan I have.... will this be good for me to have running in my tank to help the cycle as well as the stuff floating in the top of my tank?

And should I turn on my hob marineland emperor 400? I've heard different opinions if I remember correctly on whether or not to run that during this period?

 

[Reef_Chief]

What turnover rate is this powerhead?
Also use of multuple powerheaslds/gyres gives a more random flow pattern which will be more optimal for livestock/corals than just one powerhead/gyre.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Reef_Chief]

Aldo im not familiar with the emporor 400 but i would suggest upgrading to a skimmer as quickly as you can and change the filters frequently to avoid problems.

I would advise against using it during the cycle.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Synden]

Yep that will work and will help with both. I would run the HOB too, but getting the pump in, and the water moving will help the most at this point of the cycle.

 

[C5Chad]

What turnover rate is this powerhead?
Also use of multuple powerheaslds/gyres gives a more random flow pattern which will be more optimal for livestock/corals than just one powerhead/gyre.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

The powerhead is 800 us gph... I have a second one although smaller which is on my 29 gallon that I'm upgrading from that I will be transferring over to this tank as well. But during the cycle period it won't be in this 75 gallon.