Cloudy water

MoneyGone · 01/31/2010, 02:37 PM

I have been running my 125 for about 9 days and the water has turned very cloudy. I added 2 shrimp for the cycle a week ago is this what is turning the water cloudy. My powerheads are not stirring the sand from what I can tell.

ammonia is .5
nitrite is .5
nitrate 0 - 10 hard to tell

I got some filter socks today and carbon. Should I run carbon in the sump now? Also my skimmer octopus extreme 150 is off should I start running it? If now when? Thanks for any advise.

Yaqngie · 01/31/2010, 03:12 PM

Live shrimp or dead shrimp? I know weird question but some people think that putting dead shrimp in their tank help with the cycle and the rotting of this could add and cause cloudyness.

Run some filter socks and maybe cut off the powerheads off for a few days. Dont run the skimmer yet until the sand settles.

MoneyGone · 01/31/2010, 04:31 PM

I added two cocktail shrimp which are now just globs of slime on the bottom rocks. I added a filter sock to my overflow line and a filter sock with activated carbon today. We shall see if it starts to clear up.

Yaqngie · 01/31/2010, 04:37 PM

Take the shrimp out that is probably a factor.

Shane Hoffman · 01/31/2010, 04:45 PM

No, dont take the shrimp out. Maybe take one out. Dead shrimp or fish food are both proven methods to cycle your tank properly. This has been cited in many books as a proper humane way to cycle your tank, if you would like or are interested I can give you the names of a couple of books. It would speed up the process to mince, smash, or grind the shrimp but I would just be patient and let your tank cycle.

Yaqngie · 01/31/2010, 05:38 PM

Shane I agree that it is a proper and humane way to cycle a tank but with out the proper flow or filtration it could be causeing the cloudiness.

01/31/2010, 02:37 PM	#1
MoneyGone Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 199	Cloudy water I have been running my 125 for about 9 days and the water has turned very cloudy. I added 2 shrimp for the cycle a week ago is this what is turning the water cloudy. My powerheads are not stirring the sand from what I can tell. ammonia is .5 nitrite is .5 nitrate 0 - 10 hard to tell I got some filter socks today and carbon. Should I run carbon in the sump now? Also my skimmer octopus extreme 150 is off should I start running it? If now when? Thanks for any advise.

01/31/2010, 04:45 PM	#5
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	No, dont take the shrimp out. Maybe take one out. Dead shrimp or fish food are both proven methods to cycle your tank properly. This has been cited in many books as a proper humane way to cycle your tank, if you would like or are interested I can give you the names of a couple of books. It would speed up the process to mince, smash, or grind the shrimp but I would just be patient and let your tank cycle. __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

01/31/2010, 03:12 PM	#2
Yaqngie Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: ILM, NC Posts: 85	Live shrimp or dead shrimp? I know weird question but some people think that putting dead shrimp in their tank help with the cycle and the rotting of this could add and cause cloudyness. Run some filter socks and maybe cut off the powerheads off for a few days. Dont run the skimmer yet until the sand settles.

01/31/2010, 04:31 PM	#3
MoneyGone Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 199	I added two cocktail shrimp which are now just globs of slime on the bottom rocks. I added a filter sock to my overflow line and a filter sock with activated carbon today. We shall see if it starts to clear up.

01/31/2010, 04:37 PM	#4
Yaqngie Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: ILM, NC Posts: 85	Take the shrimp out that is probably a factor.

01/31/2010, 05:38 PM	#6
Yaqngie Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: ILM, NC Posts: 85	Shane I agree that it is a proper and humane way to cycle a tank but with out the proper flow or filtration it could be causeing the cloudiness.