Cloudy Water

[birddawg]

Hey everyone, put water in the tank and then added Red Sea blue bucket salt last week. I added the salt to a temp a little higher than what it recommends, and now my tank is cloudy. It hasn’t cleared up in about a week and a half and I was wondering why is that? I have my 2 wavemakers running at full speed and well as my return. Tons of water flow and even have a filter floss to get the bigger particles. Is it the salt that is still showing or could it be the bacterial bloom? Only thing I have put in the tank is dry rock (could be dust from that) and some of the Aqua Forest Media. Not sure a bacterial bloom could be going on, but want to hear people’s thoughts if y’all have any. Try to get my water clearer as soon as possible. Thanks!

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

What sort of mechanical filtration are you using? Filter floss or sock? It will help pull the particulates out of the water. I doubt it is bacterial unless you added some to start the tank cycle.

 

[bushdoc]

This can apparently happen if you mix your salt too fast in water with temp too high.It is caused by Calcium carbonate precipitation.
If it doesn’t clear within few days I would start from the beginning and follow proper mixing instructions

 

[birddawg]

What sort of mechanical filtration are you using? Filter floss or sock? It will help pull the particulates out of the water. I doubt it is bacterial unless you added some to start the tank cycle.

Got filter floss, just don’t think it would be that much dust from my dry rock? Feel like it should be taken out by now

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Got filter floss, just don’t think it would be that much dust from my dry rock? Feel like it should be taken out by now

What @bushdoc said above. What was the water temperature you mixed with? Did you add salt to the water slowly or dump it in quickly? I run a powerhead and preset heater in my bucket while adding salt slowly. What you are seeing could be calcium carbonate precipitation.

 

[birddawg]

What @bushdoc said above. What was the water temperature you mixed with? Did you add salt to the water slowly or dump it in quickly? I run a powerhead and preset heater in my bucket while adding salt slowly. What you are seeing could be calcium carbonate precipitation.

I had the RODI in my tank for a “leak test” running at 78 degrees. I mixed it in with that water because I didn’t want to have to discard of it. The salt is supposed to be mixed around 66-68 I think? Didn’t see that till after, but that was over a week and a half ago why would it still be cloudy? I mean could it possible be a bacterial bloom? I’m just confused because this hasn’t happened with any other tank I have started.

 

[Jamie814]

78 degrees.

78 is fine for mixing. Sediment or precip would clear up and settle out if it's been a week already like that, I would bet on bacteria bloom.

How long has the tank been setup?

If it's excessive bacteria UV will take care of it.

Carbon can also clear cloudy water but will not clear a bacteria bloom.

 

[birddawg]

78 is fine for mixing. Sediment or precip would clear up and settle out if it's been a week already like that, I would bet on bacteria bloom.

How long has the tank been setup?

If it's excessive bacteria UV will take care of it.

Carbon can also clear cloudy water but will not clear a bacteria bloom.

Been running with salt and dry rock for about 10 days. Just put sand in yesterday.

When the sun shines through the house the water looks like it has dust or something in it. Very odd, and don’t know what to do? Run carbon?

 

[Jamie814]

Run carbon?

You can try carbon; it would be the cheapest option. A cheap uv on amazon would be next.
Something like this,
40-150 Gallon Tank, U-V

How are you cycling the tank? Did you add anything to jumpstart the cycle? You could just wait it out a couple more weeks also and see if it clears up.

 

[birddawg]

You can try carbon; it would be the cheapest option. A cheap uv on amazon would be next.
Something like this,
40-150 Gallon Tank, U-V

How are you cycling the tank? Did you add anything to jumpstart the cycle? You could just wait it out a couple more weeks also and see if it clears up.

I haven’t added anything other than live Carib Sea special grade sand and AquaForest biofil media. Both come with beneficial bacteria, but I have not have the tank anything else. I think I added too much salt when I originally mixed it in the tank. It’s driving me crazy why there is so must “dust” looking particles in the water. Could it be precipitation from the salt and me over doing it? I’m going crazy lol