Strange "dust" in water column?

[Crested]

Hey everyone, over the last couple of days I have noticed what looks like dust floating around in my tank (photo attached). I recently add a YWG so at first I thought maybe he was digging and kicking up the sand but I haven't seen any burrows. I thought that maybe it was micro bubbles from something but when I turn all pumps off it doesn't rise or settle, it just stays suspended. Any idea what it could be?

Edit: my water became a little cloudy about 2 days ago and it suspect it was a bacterial bloom. Not sure if there's any correlation between the 2.

 

[Brad Miller]

Goby is probably doing it, sounds like you may want to jab the sand a bit and see it it's the same thing.
If it is, then run some filter floss and clean up the sand a little each week

 

[rkpetersen]

If you have a sump, it could be detritus being picked up and blown out by your return pump.

 

[DHill6]

If you have a sump, it could be detritus being picked up and blown out by your return pump.

+1 on sump junk.

 

[Crested]

Goby is probably doing it, sounds like you may want to jab the sand a bit and see it it's the same thing.
If it is, then run some filter floss and clean up the sand a little each week

I have a polyester pad that I change out every other day and do water changes with sand vacuuming every week, I'll play with the sand when I get home and check it out

 

[Crested]

+1 on sump junk.

I use a polyester pad in my overflow to catch the junk that goes back there, is there anything finer that will catch smaller pieces before it gets back to the pump?

 

[Brad Miller]

1 polypad might not do the trick, usually need to double or triple up the layers.
You want to filter with at least 200 microns or so capability.
Detritus will be in the sand and sump and when stirred up will cause the cloudy water.
If this isn't your problem, post your parameters and someone can assist you further.

 

[Crested]

I just ordered 50 micron filter pad so hopefully that will clear it up
Here's my parameters just in case:
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate- steady around 15
pH- 8.0