You wake up to a cloudy tank....What's the first thing you do?

[revhtree]

Somebody might need this answer!

You wake up to a cloudy tank....What's the first thing you do?
image via @mrmole83

 

[Miami Reef]

Check what died.

Remove dead carcass. Skim wet. High flow. Change carbon.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Depends really on what you have been dumping in it. To determine your next step if there is anything to do.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Poor bleach in the tank and walk away (pbitawa)

 

[Miami Reef]

Edit. Figured it out.

 

[DaJMasta]

How is the livestock? How does it smell?

It could be a bacterial bloom, where maybe you would want to increase aeration, but it will likely burn itself out in a few days, won't have significant adverse effects, and is probably best solved by regular husbandry tasks.

If the livestock looks distressed - fish panting or disoriented, polyps or anemones retracted, abnormal behaviors, etc. - then you need to act immediately. A large water change as quick as possible and making water for another, running carbon in as efficient a method as possible (reactor if possible), running other chemical medias if possible, and additional aeration could be helpful. You also then need to find the cause for it (damaged equipment, chemical overdose, cascading death) and address that ASAP. Checking all the basics (temperature, flow, automation) and trying to identify any livestock missing or visibly injured can help figure it out.

Could also be something like precipitation for a general cloudy tank, in case it would be checking to see what was overdosed and then the appropriate countermeasure (like vinegar or similar for kalkwasser overdose) and water changes are still a good idea.

It's also possible for film algae to look like cloudiness in some cases, in which case you just need to clean the glass. In any case, there are some serious causes for cloudiness that need immediate attention, and then there are some less serious causes that just need a change of habit, and it's important to corroborate cloudiness with other symptoms to find out what's going on.

 

[Dom]

Somebody might need this answer!

You wake up to a cloudy tank....What's the first thing you do?
image via @mrmole83

Looks like a bacterial bloom, so...

1. Clean all sponges and other filter media.
2. Run a UV light.
3. Water change.
4. Run carbon until it clears.
5. Oxygenate.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

What’s a pbitawa? I’m dense.

It was an acronym from the early days of reefing, "pour bleach in tank and walk away"

It's an answer to just about every perplexing issue we have in our hobby.

 

[Miami Reef]

It was an acronym from the early days of reefing, «pour bleach in tank and walk away"

I just figured it out. God I’m so dense. The answer was literally the phrase before.

 

[0MNSH1ZLLC]

1. check if you’re skimmer is clogged or over skimming and pouring over
2. Change water 20%
3. Did you dose anything?
4. Get some new carbon

Algae would mean something is out of whack, turn those lights down for as long as it doesn’t mess with your corals.

Toss an air stone in there for oxygen depletion.

Think that’s everything I’d do (shrug) good luck!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Wonder who is getting freaky in the tank. Bacteria, coral, snails, or urchins.
If not coral, snails, or urchins, then look for why bacteria are blooming. Then water change and run carbon.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Turn up the blue lighting as high as it will go, take a picture and post it here asking what’s wrong.

In reality, my tank would be to look for a dead animal first. Then check filters, heater. Test water next. Then determine WC etc.. easiest steps first. Then post the bright blue pic here

 

[littlefoxx]

Obviously this is the only reasonable action to seeing a cloudy tank!

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Really depends how cloudy.

Did a powerhead fall in the sand.. ect.

Carbon and filter pad/socks/sponge change is always good.

Major water change if able to safely.

 

[legionofdoon]

Stop carbon dosing.

 

[cilyjr]

Poor bleach in the tank and walk away (pbitawa)

Yay, a classic.

 

[0MNSH1ZLLC]

Stop carbon dosing.

Edit - My bad I thought you meant running carbon.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

In my tank, cloudiness typically implied a limewater overdose for some reason.

since I dosed by ATO, the next steps were to check clogged overflows, limewater reservoir drawn down to sludge, leaks, overflowing skimmer, etc.

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

In my tank, cloudiness typically implied a limewater overdose for some reason.

since I dosed by ATO, the next steps were to check clogged overflows, limewater reservoir drawn down to sludge, leaks, overflowing skimmer, etc.

What will pouring in bleach and walking away achieve as recommended above?

Considering some new folks may read this..

Thanks Randy!

 

[legionofdoon]

What will pouring in bleach and walking away achieve as recommended above?

Considering some new folks may read this..

Thanks Randy!

Not everyone is incapable of perceiving sarcasm.