I upgraded in January to a 140gal from a 40gal aio. I moved all the rock and livestock but started with new sand and some cured rock. The water started cloudy which I wasn't concerned about but still isn't clear almost 5 months in. I have tried bottled bacteria, and a cheap borrowed uv w no success. Also im running filter socks and a skimmer. I feel like a did a pretty good job rinsing the special grade sand but maybe not? My coral is okay but not thriving, nutrients are higher than the old tank but not ooc. Anyone have thoughts on what my real issue is and how to address it? Thanks
Persistent cloudy water (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Crabby Hermit
- Start date
What type of cloudy is it? Under white lights, is it hazy? milky? Is it white, brown, or green?
I think hazy? I don't see green for sure.
There are a few things I'd suspect
Your goby/shrimp seem to be stirring up the sand. Run filter floss/polyfil not just a sock to polish those finer particles out.
If it's bacterial or phytoplankton -
The UV you tried probably wasn't powerful enough, you need at least a 25 watt unit. A good sterilizer can clear up cloudy water in a couple days.
How long are the lights on for? Are you dosing anything? Using good rodi water?
"Worst case" we have really good luck using Brightwell Razor. Its a flocculant, binds particles for the filter to catch easier.
Your goby/shrimp seem to be stirring up the sand. Run filter floss/polyfil not just a sock to polish those finer particles out.
If it's bacterial or phytoplankton -
The UV you tried probably wasn't powerful enough, you need at least a 25 watt unit. A good sterilizer can clear up cloudy water in a couple days.
How long are the lights on for? Are you dosing anything? Using good rodi water?
"Worst case" we have really good luck using Brightwell Razor. Its a flocculant, binds particles for the filter to catch easier.
Lights are on 10hrs with an addition ramp. Ro is good consistent 0 tds. Just dosing a small amount of all for reef and water changes. Chaeto in the sump w a reverse photo period but it is not growing like it did in the old tank. Wrasse disappears into the sand somewhere overnight which I guess could also be stirring it up some?
Sand can take alot to rinse clear, but eventually, most of the silty stuff will settle out in a tank. Having fish or inverts stirring it up doesn't help. Its likely just ultra fine particles. What can help to get that down to the sump to be filtered out via a sock, etc, is microbubbling. Basically, have rhe return pump suck in air like a skimmer. After a couple hours, most everything should be "skimmed" out. Some people do this every night and swear its life changing. Lol
Also, it may be worthwhile grabbing a couple of 5 micron socks off of Amazon. Really helps to polish the water. They fill up fast, but you'll likely use them intermittently in the future if you want to clear up the water really well also. I have a few from when I was using lanthanum heavily in my DT. They really pull the finest particulate from the water.
Also, it may be worthwhile grabbing a couple of 5 micron socks off of Amazon. Really helps to polish the water. They fill up fast, but you'll likely use them intermittently in the future if you want to clear up the water really well also. I have a few from when I was using lanthanum heavily in my DT. They really pull the finest particulate from the water.
Filter socks seem worth a try. Sediment more likely than something biologic you think or is bacteria/algae also a pretty likely cause?
If you use fine socks to clear it, and it comes back quickly, it may be bacterial.