Frustrated

[Mike78]

I have a 32g biocube that's been running for over a year. Phos, Nit, Am 0, PH 8.0, Calc 480, Alk 9, Temp 77*F. Light 165w Vipraspectra black box, return pump mj1200. I can not clear the water!!! Tiny white particles are floating everywhere and some are bigger then others. Definitely not bubbles. In the 2nd chamber I have 2 filter floss pads that I cut to fit and have been replacing every day for over a week now. The problem I noticed is chamber 3 where the return pump sits is full of these particles and just blowing them back into display. I even tied a filter sock to the return nozzle. I dont understand why my tank is not clear. Thanks.

 

[JVan82]

Any pictures?

 

[Hemmdog]

What’s your salinity and magnesium? It sounds like precipitation.

 

[Mike78]

Any pictures?

No. I can this evening though.

 

[Mike78]

What’s your salinity and magnesium? It sounds like precipitation.

Salinity is 1.025 I dont have a mag test yet

 

[Hemmdog]

Salinity is 1.025 I dont have a mag test yet

How often do you do water changes? And how much?

 

[Mike78]

How often do you do water changes? And how much?

I'm doing around 12% weekly. I'm using IM reef crystal. I add about 1/2 cup of salt gradually until I reach desired salinity. Then I let that mix with my ro/di water for at least 24hrs. The new water is always crystal clear. My TDS meter always reads o

 

[Hemmdog]

I'm doing around 12% weekly. I'm using IM reef crystal. I add about 1/2 cup of salt gradually until I reach desired salinity. Then I let that mix with my ro/di water for at least 24hrs. The new water is always crystal clear. My TDS meter always reads o

Wow nice, sounds like your on top of it. Do you still have the sponge in the back before the return pump? I put a new one in my biocube every 2 months. It gets caked with particles pretty quick.

 

[Mike78]

Wow nice, sounds like your on top of it. Do you still have the sponge in the back before the return pump? I put a new one in my biocube every 2 months. It gets caked with particles pretty quick.

No I took that out in the beginning.

 

[Mike78]

No I took that out in the beginning.

It sucks because all of this work for over a year now and my tank is not clear

 

[Retro Reefer]

I agree with Hemmdog.. check your mag levels, low mag and high calcium will cause precipitation that appears as small white particulates in water column and typically you will also see a chalky film on surfaces in tank.

 

[LiveWire]

Also keep in mind that if you find your mag levels are low I would do a large water change before raising them slowly. If you have precipitation and try to raise your mag level the precipitation will increase as the calcium level in the water column is saturated.

 

[Mike78]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

 

[Mike78]

Any pictures?

The pics are of my return chamber and upper part of tank. The speckles are free floating

 

[JVan82]

The pics are of my return chamber and upper part of tank. The speckles are free floating

I'd check magnesium as previous posts seems the likely culprit. I was recently dealing with a bacterial bloom, but it's not that.

 

[Mike78]

I'd check magnesium as previous posts seems the likely culprit. I was recently dealing with a bacterial bloom, but it's not that.

Thanks. I ordered a test and a bottle of mag. I just did some test. Tank Calc-440, Alk- 8 but my clean mixed water Calc-440, Alk-11 both at 1.026 Sal. That seems like a big difference in Alk.

 

[JVan82]

Thanks. I ordered a test and a bottle of mag. I just did some test. Tank Calc-440, Alk- 8 but my clean mixed water Calc-440, Alk-11 both at 1.026 Sal. That seems like a big difference in Alk.

I use coral pro from red sea, says its 11.5 alk. I have never checked it in the bucket, my tanks are around 9 alk, guess there is some scientific reason, of which I do not know. I do know if you do water changes back to back day, your all will raise and can kill corals... learned that the hard way...