Dealing with Cloudy Water

[Joe del Rey]

Five days ago, our family went to a beach trip so I took the chance to take EVERYTHING I could add in my tank... and this is my new set up (just changed the deco and stuff)

So, I'll be honest with you.
The local people there are selling live Pincushion Sea Urchins and out of excitement, I bought 2. They were fine until I put them in the tank (I acclimated them using drip method so I assume everything will work). They slowly lost their spines and eventually died within 2 days. The water got so cloudy and when I took them out of the tank, they were dripping red gooey fluid and smelled the worst that my stomach almost turned (this is the worst). Since dead organisms caused the cloudiness, I assume this is a bacterial bloom.

How do you guys deal with it?

(PS. I will never buy anything out of impulse ever again.)

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I'd probably run some GAC to get anything that they may have released out of the water. Otherwise, if the fish is acting fine, I'd just ride it out. The bacteria will sort itself out soon enough and get back to normal. just make sure you're running a protein skimmer or air stone as a bacterial bloom can consume alot of oxygen and suffocate fish.

 

[Rjukan]

Did you test for ammonia?

I would do a large water change and run carbon. The first paragraph of your post is somewhat confusing. If I'm reading it right you took items from the beach besides the urchins. What else did you take and put in your tank?

 

[Joe del Rey]

I'd probably run some GAC to get anything that they may have released out of the water. Otherwise, if the fish is acting fine, I'd just ride it out. The bacteria will sort itself out soon enough and get back to normal. just make sure you're running a protein skimmer or air stone as a bacterial bloom can consume alot of oxygen and suffocate fish.

What's GAC?

My fish, hermits, and crab are doing fine (surprisingly).

 

[Joe del Rey]

Did you test for ammonia?

I would do a large water change and run carbon. The first paragraph of your post is somewhat confusing. If I'm reading it right you took items from the beach besides the urchins. What else did you take and put in your tank?

Yes you read that right.
Besides sea urchins, I also took live rocks.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

GAC is granular activated carbon. It's commonly used to absorb impurities in the water, and can help remove toxins released by fish or corals. It can be put in a media bag, or run in a media reactor to increase it's effectiveness.

Looks like you don't have a sump? unless your overflow is well hidden. What kind of filtration are you running on your tank now?

Glad your fish and inverts are doing well. Since you brought live rock, it's possible you're going to have some die off from transporting it, so you'll want to monitor your tank for a little while to see if you get a cycle again. Check Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate to see if they are climbing.

 

[Joe del Rey]

GAC is granular activated carbon. It's commonly used to absorb impurities in the water, and can help remove toxins released by fish or corals. It can be put in a media bag, or run in a media reactor to increase it's effectiveness.

Looks like you don't have a sump? unless your overflow is well hidden. What kind of filtration are you running on your tank now?

Glad your fish and inverts are doing well. Since you brought live rock, it's possible you're going to have some die off from transporting it, so you'll want to monitor your tank for a little while to see if you get a cycle again. Check Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate to see if they are climbing.

I see. Might try GAC if time would allow me. I am quite busy at the moment.

I actually have a 5-gallon sump behind the tank and it's been running since the beginning.
The water is quite clearer now compared to yesterday so I guess the live rocks are doing their job.