Why can't I get my water to clear

[milton859]

Hey everyone, so far I have had my 20 gallong reef up and running for a couple of months now, however my water does not want to clear up all the way. I have fine sand however my flow is not so strong that it is pushing it around everywhere thus causing the cloudiness. I have an aqua clear 20 filter and I am performing weekly water changes and it just stays cloudy. Everything in the tank is doing perfectly fine and thriving despite the water. Bellow is my tank parameters and some pics of what I’m talking about. Any Ideas of what’s going on or how to clear it up? Thanks for the help!!!!!!!

PH- 8.0
Ammonia-0ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate-10ppm
SG-1.024
Temp 78’F
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[burning2nd]

tank looks new... it takes time... let it settle... and dont add anything its not ready..

also your photo bucket account is set to public.

 

[NanaReefer]

Could be a bacteria bloom. More common in newer setups but can happen to any setup. Although unsightly it is pretty much harmless. You just don't have enough beneficial bacteria to handle your bio-load. Try increasing your surface agitation or add an air stone to increase your waters oxygen levels. Try not to over feed.
What all are you using for filtration? What about flow? What are your other parameters?

 

[TJL]

To new, nothing/no critters to capture/filter out particulate, not even bacterial slime yet. As soon as you get a Diatom bloom or add pieces of Live Rock it'll clear up quickly. You could also add a filter sock if sump is setup for one.

Cheers, Todd

 

[cbates]

People may disagree with me and I'm not a pro but I've set up three tanks. Two of the tanks I've added bio spira and the tank cleared up very quick with many rinces of the filter floss. On the other tank with no spira it stayed cloudy for quite some time before enough bacteria grew. Just my opinion

 

[Solov]

How can it be "baceria bloom" and "not enough bacteria" at the same time?

I am curious about topic as well, but for a different reason - I am trying to break in bio-pellet reactor. And while effect is nearly as pronounced as here, the water is still a bit cloudy. Been running it for 4 weeks now, gonna give it 4 more but if it doesn't clear up, I'll go back to basics and leave only fuge to fight NO3/PO4, well might replace pellets with GFO since reactor is there anyway

Oh and I do have filter sock and carbon going there.

 

[NanaReefer]

Read this it will better explain Good bacteria versus bad bacteria
http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/246850-bacterial-blooms-explained/

 

[dawguy]

Just asking one of those obvious questions, but is the new saltwater you're using to do the weekly water change crystal clear before adding it into your tank?

 

[milton859]

Yes the new salt water I am adding to the tank when I do water changes is crystal clear.

 

[milton859]

Thank you I read the article and this looks likes it is my problem. :smile:

 

[NanaReefer]

Thank you I read the article and this looks likes it is my problem. :smile:

Your more then welcome

 

[Solov]

Read this it will better explain Good bacteria versus bad bacteria
Bacterial Blooms Explained - New to the Hobby Questions and Answers - Tropical Fish Forums

Except there's no such thing as "bad" bacteria They all work toward the same goal, just one is visible in water column and other is not. Thanks for the link - very good read!

 

[eartaker]

Did you rinse your sand before putting it in the tank?

 

[milton859]

Yeah I rinsed out the sand and the rock.

 

[NanaReefer]

Except there's no such thing as "bad" bacteria They all work toward the same goal, just one is visible in water column and other is not. Thanks for the link - very good read!

I would think that when a bacteria blooms to the point of depleting the water of oxygen-that would be considered bad

 

[Thrawn]

Nanareefer has a point... It made me lol

Good read though, thanks for the article!