Water cloudy in new tank?

Crazed · 05/19/2009, 10:16 AM

Hey,

I'm not sure if I'm getting worried about nothing, but my tank, which has nothing in it (no fish, no rock, no sand) looks slightly cloudy. I have a sponge and a protein skimmer running, but I don't know if I'm just overreacting, or if it's just an effect of the light reflecting off all of the glass surface.

I took pictures, but they really make it look worse than it is, so I'm not going to bother posting them. I'll just try to describe it; if I look from one side of the aquarium to the other, I can see through the other side, but it isn't crystal clear. There's some particles in there, bubbles or dust I can't tell. Normally I wouldn't worry, but I look at the pictures of crystal-clear tanks on here with a full bioload, and I'm just wondering.

Is this going to clear up on its own? Should it fix itself once I have some bioload in there? Is there a problem with some component I have? Should I run carbon and see if it clears up?

Thanks!

I'm hoping to get my live rock today, so I want to know if I should take any action before that.

[

SpankythePyro · 05/19/2009, 10:18 AM

Did you wash out the tank before you filled it?

Is the sponge you are running clean? for that matter the skimmer too?

I'm willing to bet the spong and the skimmer are the problem... hopefully you didn't fill with tap water as well

Crazed · 05/19/2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Did you wash out the tank before you filled it?

Yes. I washed it out and ran it with freshwater for a day, then I filled it with RO/DI water and added salt. It's been running for about 2-3 weeks now I believe.

I'll check the sponge and see.

SpankythePyro · 05/19/2009, 10:24 AM

ohh you didn't say you had salt in it yet, I just assumed it was regular ro/di/distiled water... it could be your salt mix precipating still but thats very odd unless you have way too much salt in there... what is the sg of it? Remember to have the temp around 78 as well when reading this.

Crazed · 05/19/2009, 10:31 AM

1.023, measured with a refractometer.

SpankythePyro · 05/19/2009, 10:48 AM

wow I'm not sure then, if you've added anything like Ca then it could be precipitating...

Not sure tho but after running that long it should be crystal clear, check that sponge and skimmer.

Crazed · 05/19/2009, 10:50 AM

Once again, it's not super bad... it may be perfectly normal, I'm just not sure. I'll have to compare it to some other tanks I see in person. Thanks anyway.

05/19/2009, 10:16 AM	#1
Crazed Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 292	Water cloudy in new tank? Hey, I'm not sure if I'm getting worried about nothing, but my tank, which has nothing in it (no fish, no rock, no sand) looks slightly cloudy. I have a sponge and a protein skimmer running, but I don't know if I'm just overreacting, or if it's just an effect of the light reflecting off all of the glass surface. I took pictures, but they really make it look worse than it is, so I'm not going to bother posting them. I'll just try to describe it; if I look from one side of the aquarium to the other, I can see through the other side, but it isn't crystal clear. There's some particles in there, bubbles or dust I can't tell. Normally I wouldn't worry, but I look at the pictures of crystal-clear tanks on here with a full bioload, and I'm just wondering. Is this going to clear up on its own? Should it fix itself once I have some bioload in there? Is there a problem with some component I have? Should I run carbon and see if it clears up? Thanks! I'm hoping to get my live rock today, so I want to know if I should take any action before that. [

05/19/2009, 10:18 AM	#2
SpankythePyro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 221	Did you wash out the tank before you filled it? Is the sponge you are running clean? for that matter the skimmer too? I'm willing to bet the spong and the skimmer are the problem... hopefully you didn't fill with tap water as well

05/19/2009, 10:24 AM	#4
SpankythePyro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 221	ohh you didn't say you had salt in it yet, I just assumed it was regular ro/di/distiled water... it could be your salt mix precipating still but thats very odd unless you have way too much salt in there... what is the sg of it? Remember to have the temp around 78 as well when reading this.

05/19/2009, 10:31 AM	#5
Crazed Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 292	1.023, measured with a refractometer.

05/19/2009, 10:48 AM	#6
SpankythePyro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 221	wow I'm not sure then, if you've added anything like Ca then it could be precipitating... Not sure tho but after running that long it should be crystal clear, check that sponge and skimmer.

05/19/2009, 10:50 AM	#7
Crazed Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 292	Once again, it's not super bad... it may be perfectly normal, I'm just not sure. I'll have to compare it to some other tanks I see in person. Thanks anyway.