Cloudy Water.. Ugh

[jgabbsxx]

I am ready to throw this tank over a bridge. I now have cloudy water in a 2+ year established tank. Only new additions were some corlas over a month ago. Ive water changed numerous times . API Kit readings as of last week ;
mag: 1500 ppm
ph: 8ppm
calcium : 520+
KH : 214+
nitrate : 80ppm
phosphate : 1.5ppm

YES my numbers are wack but I havent been chansing numbers… just happy fish and coral…..

Plz help :)

 

[Peace River]

It appears to be an algae bloom and not stirred up sand or bubbles? Would you agree? If so, you may want to review your filtration plan. Additionally, you may also want to double check your test results with an outside source to make sure that you are getting accurate results from the API kit. Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[jgabbsxx]

It appears to be an algae bloom and not stirred up sand or bubbles? Would you agree? If so, you may want to review your filtration plan. Additionally, you may also want to double check your test results with an outside source to make sure that you are getting accurate results from the API kit. Good luck with whatever you choose!

I did lose a Nero3 wavemaker so the movement in my tank is less now than before. As far as filters I have 2 HOB Seachem Tidal 75s…Do you suggest I switch to something else?

I plan on getting my water tested this weekend!

 

[Peace River]

The loss of the pump would potentially have an impact because food, waste, and other detritus could be building up more than before. HOB filters can work, but it makes a difference with how they are maintained. I typically suggest to oversize the HOB and then clean/change the filter and other media more often than recommended. Also heavy water changes is a type of filtration that many people don't think of that way. For example, you may be able to do without a skimmer (or use a smaller sized skimmer) with heavy water changes. The water quality and livestock with usually let you know if you listen and right now your tank is telling you a story.

 

[jgabbsxx]

The loss of the pump would potentially have an impact because food, waste, and other detritus could be building up more than before. HOB filters can work, but it makes a difference with how they are maintained. I typically suggest to oversize the HOB and then clean/change the filter and other media more often than recommended. Also heavy water changes is a type of filtration that many people don't think of that way. For example, you may be able to do without a skimmer (or use a smaller sized skimmer) with heavy water changes. The water quality and livestock with usually let you know if you listen and right now your tank is telling you a story.

Really appreciate all that info. I will look into everything you mentioned!

 

[jgabbsxx]

Tested my ammonia level in the tank and it is at .25ppm. I added another wavemaker last night after the Nero3 crapped out and can see the detritus/left over food moving around much better. Will try a water change this weekend.

Any thought on Seachem Prime to resolve this?....

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

Some users on this forum have claimed that Prime doesn’t really have any measurable effect on ammonia: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/does-prime-actually-detoxify-free-ammonia-nh3.849985/

 

[Fish Fan]

Tested my ammonia level in the tank and it is at .25ppm. I added another wavemaker last night after the Nero3 crapped out and can see the detritus/left over food moving around much better. Will try a water change this weekend.

Any thought on Seachem Prime to resolve this?....

Some users on this forum have claimed that Prime doesn’t really have any measurable effect on ammonia: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/does-prime-actually-detoxify-free-ammonia-nh3.849985/

Don't dose Prime, it doesn't work to bind or remove ammonia as advertised (though it is a good dechlorinator, if ever needed). Here's the testing that was done on this:

A Deep Dive on Ammonia Neutralizer Chemistry - Prime, ClorAm-X, Rongalite and friends.

Summary (the whole thing in one paragraph) ClorAm-X is the best-performing of a barely effective product concept. Under the label usage ClorAm-X (but not Prime, or other common products) can be measured to lower the amount of total ammonia in a saltwater sample. This process is slow...

www.reef2reef.com

Many test kits will seemingly always report about 0.25 ppm ammonia when the concentration is likely much lower. I would consider this to be basically zero for ammonia. Even if the concentration really is 0.25 ppm, that's not toxic or anything to worry about. Corals can actually uptake and use ammonia in the water, so it may be a benefit. Here's a write up by RHF on ammonia toxicity:

Ammonia is Our Friend!

Ammonia is Our Friend By Randy Holmes-Farley Yes, I know the title is provocative, and likely goes against much of what you read and hear in the reef aquarium hobby. I believe, however, that the hobby may have been harmed by the continual...

www.reef2reef.com

From the above link, RHF writes:
"4. Toxic levels of ammonia are just not reached in typical operating reef aquaria. Seeing a measured value of 0.2 ppm, whether real or test error, is not a concern. It may be a benefit."

Fro the first pic you posted above, the surface of your water seems a little flat, like there's not much for circulation, which is important for good gas exchange. You want the surface water to be turbulent by pointing a return line or circ pump up at the surface.

I believe that the addition of the new Nero circulation pump is going to help here. You have either a bacterial bloom, or possibly an algae bloom, though healthy algae will be green, whereas cloudy water typically points to bacteria.

I would see what happens in a couple of days or so after the new Nero pump has been running.

I hope that helps, please let us know how you're doing!

 

[jgabbsxx]

Don't dose Prime, it doesn't work to bind or remove ammonia as advertised (though it is a good dechlorinator, if ever needed). Here's the testing that was done on this:

A Deep Dive on Ammonia Neutralizer Chemistry - Prime, ClorAm-X, Rongalite and friends.

Summary (the whole thing in one paragraph) ClorAm-X is the best-performing of a barely effective product concept. Under the label usage ClorAm-X (but not Prime, or other common products) can be measured to lower the amount of total ammonia in a saltwater sample. This process is slow...

www.reef2reef.com

Many test kits will seemingly always report about 0.25 ppm ammonia when the concentration is likely much lower. I would consider this to be basically zero for ammonia. Even if the concentration really is 0.25 ppm, that's not toxic or anything to worry about. Corals can actually uptake and use ammonia in the water, so it may be a benefit. Here's a write up by RHF on ammonia toxicity:

Ammonia is Our Friend!

Ammonia is Our Friend By Randy Holmes-Farley Yes, I know the title is provocative, and likely goes against much of what you read and hear in the reef aquarium hobby. I believe, however, that the hobby may have been harmed by the continual...

www.reef2reef.com

From the above link, RHF writes:
"4. Toxic levels of ammonia are just not reached in typical operating reef aquaria. Seeing a measured value of 0.2 ppm, whether real or test error, is not a concern. It may be a benefit."

Fro the first pic you posted above, the surface of your water seems a little flat, like there's not much for circulation, which is important for good gas exchange. You want the surface water to be turbulent by pointing a return line or circ pump up at the surface.

I believe that the addition of the new Nero circulation pump is going to help here. You have either a bacterial bloom, or possibly an algae bloom, though healthy algae will be green, whereas cloudy water typically points to bacteria.

I would see what happens in a couple of days or so after the new Nero pump has been running.

I hope that helps, please let us know how you're doing!

Update!

As of yesterday, the tank is CLEAR! I did use the Seachem Prime for 2 days and everything actually cleared up. I added another wavemaker to get things circulating and changed my filters as well.

It does seem to have been a bacteria bloom plus maybe a bit of ammonia mixed in with it.

Thank you everyone for the help :)