Floaties...

[thelitone]

I just set up a 50g and am new to saltwater. The water is crystal clear except for the air bubbles moving around. The "floaties" Im talking about are on the top of the water. I dont know what they are , or if their supposed to be there. They kind of look like dust but not really. Anybody know what this could be?

 

[sandollar]

Could be from the sand. Either way, maybe run a micron filter or filter sock which should pick up anything in the water.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Maybe debri from transfer, or just not a clean tank.

Often you will see a new tank set up with dirt from inside tank. You could have had something fall into your salt mix, Your filling tools may have been a little dusty. Maybe something blew in your tank while filling. Your best bet is to get some surface agitation. Place a few powerheads towards the surface. This debri will often get sucked up from surface from prefilter or surface skimming. A brand new tank may look clean but dirt, glass, tiny bits of styrafoam,plasitic, card board, etc often sucomb to surface when filling.
Good Luck.
Ed

 

[Sascha D]

yeah lots of stuff comes in with the sand or crushed coral mix. Even if you rinse it really well you're still going to get a bunch of pieces of wood and debris. I would vacuum the sand through a filter sock and then pour the water back into the tank.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Regardless of what type filter system you use, will need either a surface skimmer as in an overflow, a hang on filter, or a powerhead chewing up the surface. The top of the water needs to be turned over frequently to allow proper gas exchange.

 

[thelitone]

I have an overflow box, 5g sump with filter media and bio balls, and a protein skimmer. I tried to mix the surface to see if that stuff would sink. That made air bubbles that got trapped under the stuff that i now notice is kind of oily.