Is this bacterial bloom or something else ?

[DeepakNZReefer]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to the hobby and currently setting up a Waterbox Infinia 190.5 reef tank. I’ve finished the aquascaping using MarcoRocks and filled the tank with water five days ago. For the substrate, I used AF Bio Sand. Although I rinsed the sand as recommended on the packaging, I may not have done a thorough enough job because the water was extremely cloudy after filling the tank.

To address this, I left the tank without running the return pump for a day, which helped clear it up slightly. Then, I turned on the powerhead and return pump and added filter socks.

From day one, I’ve been dosing AF BioS and AF -NP Pro (7–8 drops of each daily). I’m using AF Sea Salt mixed with 0 TDS RO water for salinity.

As of today, the tank has cleared up significantly, but it’s still cloudy when viewed lengthwise. I’ve attached some pictures for reference.

I haven’t added any food or livestock yet—just the AF products I mentioned. What do you think could be causing the cloudiness? Is it a bacterial bloom, leftover particles from the sand, or something else?

Here are the current tank parameters:
• Ammonia: 0.09 ppm (started at 0.13 ppm)
• Nitrite: 0 ppm (has stayed at 0)
• Nitrate: 0.1 ppm (first reading today)
• pH: 8.01
• Salinity: 30 ppt
• Temperature: 26.1°C

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[MissMolly]

Likely just particles or maybe your epoxy :p I think you shuldn't worry at all. Just wait it out and it will be fine. But what I personally WOULD worry about is your sand that looks super super fine. I hope you don't plan on much flow for the tank cause it'll be a sand storm. But tank looks great! :)

 

[DeepakNZReefer]

Likely just particles or maybe your epoxy :p I think you shuldn't worry at all. Just wait it out and it will be fine. But what I personally WOULD worry about is your sand that looks super super fine. I hope you don't plan on much flow for the tank cause it'll be a sand storm. But tank looks great! :)

Thanks! I didn’t use any epoxy, instead used the MarcoRock mortar. I guess I will wait and see how I go then.

For the sand I was concerned about that too, but surprisingly it’s staying put. I have couple of Nero 7 on 65% flow and they are sort of in the middle of the tank blowing across. I will see how I go in the long run.

 

[burnsq]

So who adresses the elephant in the room ;)

Nice tank! I used the same sand, it was cloudy as well the first week. I used Special Blend, the water got very clear a few days after the second dose. Maybe just coincidence.

Why is your salinity so low? Fish only?

 

[DeepakNZReefer]

So who adresses the elephant in the room ;)

Nice tank! I used the same sand, it was cloudy as well the first week. I used Special Blend, the water got very clear a few days after the second dose. Maybe just coincidence.

Why is your salinity so low? Fish only?

Thanks! 2 weeks in and the water is still the same as it was from day 2. I might have to drop in a media reactor with carbon or the equivalent of special blend I can find in NZ.

Salinity is low because I am cycling and will be fish only for the first few months. I will slowly raise it when I am ready to add corals. Keeping it nice and simple for now :)

 

[burnsq]

Ah ok!
I am a beginner, at least when it comes to reef tanks and I don‘t know which coral you want to keep, so I do not want to give wrong advice - but the beneficial bacteria need to eat.
Your nutrients seem really low. Maybe add more ammonia or let 2-3 Shrimp decay in a water glass and squirt the cloudy water in the tank daily. That is what I did to feed the benifial bacteria I got from Nite-Out (did not use the ones with the sand).
At least for me it worked so far.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My tank was cloudy for the first few days as well; it will go away over time!

 

[Reign1]

Tank does not look that cloudy and looks like it is from sand . Unless it get more cloudy I would not worry too much. Yes they beat me to it. Low salinity. FO system?

 

[DeepakNZReefer]

Tank does not look that cloudy and looks like it is from sand . Unless it get more cloudy I would not worry too much. Yes they beat me to it. Low salinity. FO system?

Yeh FO for the moment. I will be adding corals but before that I will slowly ramp up the tank to 35ppt. Keeping it low just for the moment.

 

[DeepakNZReefer]

Ah ok!
I am a beginner, at least when it comes to reef tanks and I don‘t know which coral you want to keep, so I do not want to give wrong advice - but the beneficial bacteria need to eat.
Your nutrients seem really low. Maybe add more ammonia or let 2-3 Shrimp decay in a water glass and squirt the cloudy water in the tank daily. That is what I did to feed the benifial bacteria I got from Nite-Out (did not use the ones with the sand).
At least for me it worked so far.

I have couple of tiny clown fish in there and feeding them too. I am testing the tank daily and the ammonia is hovering around 0.08 to 0.13 range and nitrates at 2.8ppm climbing slowly. So I guess I will stick to this plan and not add shrimp juice else it might cause problems for my fishes.

 

[DeepakNZReefer]

Update: The cloudiness went away i didn’t add anything, it just cleared itself