Cloudy Nano

[Crabs McJones]

Purchased tank with live rock and life sand. Added salt water from LFS added pump heater skimmer and filters. Then added half of a bottle of what I think I remember as bacteria. After a week I checked levels and since they checked out ok I added the other half of th bottle. Week later I purchased 3 fish. My filtration system consists of 3 filter boxes that came with the aquatop nano all in one. It was recomend that I not use the carbon box and instead replace it with bio media and put some chatemorphia on top of that. On the overflow side of th tank I have a bag full of some stuff that came in a plastic bottle that was recommended that I put on top of the long black sponge. Please forgive me as I am new and do not know the names of everything as of yet.

No worries! That's what were here for :)
If you added bacteria without a food source the tank may not have cycled completely. I think what I would do at this time is to let the tank run and see if it clears up. But keep an eye on levels so you dont get an ammonia or nitrate spike.

 

[BigBearReef]

No worries! That's what were here for :)
If you added bacteria without a food source the tank may not have cycled completely. I think what I would do at this time is to let the tank run and see if it clears up. But keep an eye on levels so you dont get an ammonia or nitrate spike.

I am starting to see ammonia keep up a little. Should I do a water change? I also have brown alge forming. I purchased a clean up crew and they have taken care of most of the alge in the sand and rock. Just fyi...

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I am starting to see ammonia keep up a little. Should I do a water change? I also have brown alge forming. I purchased a clean up crew and they have taken care of most of the alge in the sand and rock. Just fyi...

If your ammonia is on the low end, just let it ride out. What fish did you add?

 

[BigBearReef]

2 clowns 2 chrome's a yellow wrasse a blenny a diamond gobi 2 snails and 10 blue hermits

 

[BigBearReef]

If your ammonia is on the low end, just let it ride out. What fish did you add?

Yes mi has been 0 but now has gone up a little.

 

[fuelman]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[lapin]

Howdy

With 7 fish keep an eye on ammonia.

 

[BigBearReef]

Howdy

With 7 fish keep an eye on ammonia.

Even with a 40 gal tank?

 

[Murica]

Welcome!!

 

[Jeto2004]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!

 

[dbl]

Welcome to the family.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Welcome!

 

[BigBearReef]

Welcome to R2R!!! Usually cloudy water comes from suspended sand, micro bubbles, or an algae bloom. Can you tell us more about your system so we can provide more insight?

Here is a picture. I also am using some bio media in a bag with activated carbon.

 

[BigBearReef]

Yes it has been cycling for a solid wee or so. No this is something new. Dont have pics but will send if needed. It looks like dust floating on top of the water.

 

[BigBearReef]

 

[SPR1968]

Some great advice already so Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Greg P]

Welcome to R2R dude !!!

I'd fire your LFS for the advice they have given you !!!

Taking home a fresh tank with fish is a super No No for SaltWater

Good luck with your new tank. At least you came to the right place for advice.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

 

[BeejReef]

Welcome

Starting with live rock and sand is probably helping you a lot. With dry rock, the cycle can easily last a month. Even with live rock, many people will wait near as long to add fish and it's generally one or two at a time, once or twice a month.

You're off to a fast start, relatively speaking, so it's difficult to pinpoint what could be clouding your water. The tank is in the midst of a biological explosion ;) Bacterial blooms aren't of any particular danger, so long as your tank is getting solid air exchange. Do keep an eye on ammonia as that's a possibility too and have water ready for water changes if you see it starting to rise. Prime is also good to have on hand.

 

[Reefnman2]

Welcome to R2R!