Cloudy brownish water

**kschweer** · 02-03-2012, 11:01 PM

So about a week and a half ago my frag tank started getting cloudy and brownish. I have been trying to clear it up ever since. First I changed the carbon and GFO, then I started small water changes every other day, then tried a 25% water change, and last tried a flocculent. Nothing seemed to help. Water changes cleared it up some but not to as clear as it usually is and within a day it's back to how it was.
Parameters:
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Calcium: 400
Mag: 1200
Po4: 0
Ammonia: 0
All: 9.5

I cannot figure out what is going on here I'm totally stumped. Anyone have any ideas. I really need to fix this because it's starting to effect my SPS frags (I'm about to move them To the display till I figure this out) but all zoas and palys are fine. Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
-Kevin

**kschweer** · 02-03-2012, 11:03 PM

This is why I asked earlier about big water changes. Figured I would just give more info and see what you guys think.

**purple30** · 02-04-2012, 12:52 AM

you might need to clean or change your filter pad in your sump

**boehm742** · 02-04-2012, 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by purple30

you might need to clean or change your filter pad in your sump

Does it have a Filter sock on it? What do you have in terms of mechanical filtration?

**kschweer** · 02-04-2012, 01:11 AM

i have a filter sock that i have been changing daily.

**boehm742** · 02-04-2012, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by kschweer

i have a filter sock that i have been changing daily.

Thats good your changing it frequently, i tend to forget here and there!

You said it is effecting your SPS frags. What exactly is happening to them? Is there algae growing on the frag discs or anything of that nature? Are the frags browning out on you?

**kschweer** · 02-04-2012, 01:51 AM

Frags seem to be dying...they are starting to turn white. I think it may be because the light can't penetrate the cloudy water as well as when it was clear. I really need to get to the bottom of this I'm starting to get frustrated

**IBEW41** · 02-04-2012, 07:23 AM

how long have you been running the gfo?

**Stoneyj33** · 02-04-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by IBEW41

how long have you been running the gfo?

+1 are you running to much gfo?

The cloudy water and sps dying ofc may be unrelated

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**kschweer** · 02-04-2012, 09:57 AM

Been running the GFO about 2 months now. I'm using less than half a cup on a 40 gallon system

**florida reef** · 02-04-2012, 10:02 AM

Possibly a bacteria bloom? I would try and think back over the last week or two and remember ANYTHING I did that was out of the normal routine since a variable has definitely changed and is causing this cloudy water. Maybe try adding a UV sterilizer for a few days and see if that helps.

**kschweer** · 02-04-2012, 02:07 PM

If it is a bacteria bloom is there anything I can do besides a UV?

**kschweer** · 02-04-2012, 10:22 PM

Anyone else have any ideas?

**Stoneyj33** · 02-04-2012, 10:30 PM

Do you have any sand sifting fish like a dragon wrasse, or something that is stirring up a dirty sand bed?

**kschweer** · 02-04-2012, 10:34 PM

No sand in the tank it's a bare bottom frag tank. There is sand and live rock rubble in the fuge that's it.

**kschweer** · 02-05-2012, 04:33 PM

I am thinking about dosing some peroxide. What do you guys think about that?

**Stoneyj33** · 02-05-2012, 05:17 PM

If you don't know what's causing it id stick to water changes. Otherwise if it doesn't change after the peroxide you will have two things to question when corals are looking as expected

**kschweer** · 02-12-2012, 09:39 PM

Heres some pictures. Any ideas?

**kschweer** · 02-13-2012, 07:46 PM

Anyone?

**kschweer** · 02-14-2012, 07:38 PM

So I moved all the frags from the frag tank and put them into the display after a long drip and a good dip. A few of the sps frags were lost and a few zoas are looking a bit rough. All levels are still fine.
Nitrate:0
Nitrite:0
Ammonia:0
Phos: 0 (hanna checker)
Salinity: 1.025
Cal:420
Mag:1150
Alk: 8 dKH

I am running pelletized carbon and phos guard. I also have a filter sock with some filter floss stuffed in it that I have been changing regularly.

Anyone have any idea on what my next step should be? I am at a total loss and extremely frustrated. Please give any input that you might think apply. All ideas are welcome.
Thank you,
-Kevin