cloudy tank on new reef

sunsetters · 08/07/2006, 07:05 PM

hello to all . just comeing aboard and looking forward in getting to know some of you. so i`am gonna cut to the chase i need help. with new reef tank,100gal plexi. it`s been set up for 3 weeks now and it`s develop a lightwhite cloud ?/ what is this ?
i`ve ask local shop they say it`s because i have a watersoftner in my house and not to use this water. that i have to drain my tank and start over ,bumer. please help with your opinions or facts .

thanks in advance.

everl0ng · 08/07/2006, 07:15 PM

welcome aboard! i am also new to this hobby, but i have heard from other members that some clouds come from bacteria beds starting to bloom. wait and don't drain it until some more experienced members give you their insight!

Andrew · 08/07/2006, 08:41 PM

Have you added anything new to the tank in the last week?

navajo · 08/07/2006, 08:54 PM

FIRST OFF

To Reef Central

This is most likely normal. It could be an algae bloom, micro bubbles, or small sand particles. I agree to just give it a few days and see what's what before you drain it.

ReefWreak · 08/07/2006, 09:53 PM

If it's a white cloud, my bet would be with the sand you used. I certainly am still experiencing the white cloud effect 3 days after adding sand to my tank, because me being stupid, was in too excited to rinse it first. Now I know, and when I add the other sand to the tank, I'm definatly rinsing it out first in tap water, then adding it to the tank after it's dried. Maybe I'll rinse it in salt. Point is, you need to rinse and repeat until it stops letting cloudy water out.

And welcome to RC!

bertoni · 08/07/2006, 09:58 PM

If the water has been clear up until now, and the sand hasn't been disturbed, I would guess it's a bacterial bloom. It could also be precipitation of calcium carbonate. Are you dosing anything into the tank? What are the basic water parameters?

An RO-DI unit is a good investment, in my opinion, but water from a water softener shouldn't be any worse than tap water, and likely better. I wouldn't drain the tank just yet.

sunsetters · 08/08/2006, 12:24 AM

I`am so glad i found you guy`s , glad to see such rapid responce.
i also have a fresh water 75 and thought about my softner not causeing it any problems! so i have to question my local shop on there advise. all parameters are looking very good . and all my little friends are doing well. and yes tank was clear 3 weeks up till
this passed saturday 8/5/06. just have to keep a eye on it and hope it clears, i`ll get back with you guy`s in a few and let you know how things are going. thanks for your feed back.

pitt_prodigy · 08/08/2006, 03:26 AM

Water softner should not cause any problems... i had experienced a short period of cloudyness as well after the initial sand storm. I chalked it up to bacterial bloom.... which is a good thing! After a few days i went away on its own. Hopefully its just your bio filter getting warmed up! Keep us posted.
-pitt

teddybear22482 · 08/08/2006, 10:47 AM

Ive had mine going for 2 months and sometimes it gets cloudy. When it stays cloudy for a few days I do a water change and it clears it up. Im not sure what causes mine to get cloudy. Maybe a bacterial bloom...who knows. Maybe just dirty water? I have no clue! Good luck and Welcome to RC! This is a great site and you will no doubt learn ALOT! I did! I found out reefers are very nice and always ready to share good advice!

08/07/2006, 07:05 PM	#1
sunsetters Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5	cloudy tank on new reef hello to all . just comeing aboard and looking forward in getting to know some of you. so i`am gonna cut to the chase i need help. with new reef tank,100gal plexi. it`s been set up for 3 weeks now and it`s develop a lightwhite cloud ?/ what is this ? i`ve ask local shop they say it`s because i have a watersoftner in my house and not to use this water. that i have to drain my tank and start over ,bumer. please help with your opinions or facts . thanks in advance.

08/07/2006, 07:15 PM	#2
everl0ng Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Lima, OH Posts: 782	welcome aboard! i am also new to this hobby, but i have heard from other members that some clouds come from bacteria beds starting to bloom. wait and don't drain it until some more experienced members give you their insight! __________________ Nick Kohrn Current Tank Info: Mixed NC24

08/07/2006, 08:54 PM	#4
navajo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern VA Posts: 644	FIRST OFF *To Reef Central* This is most likely normal. It could be an algae bloom, micro bubbles, or small sand particles. I agree to just give it a few days and see what's what before you drain it. __________________ Tom (The Tool Man) "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to KEEP fish and his family will soon be eating Ramen Noodles..." Current Tank Info: 210 GAL SW/ 55 GAL Heavily planted FW/ 3000 GAL KOI Pond/

08/07/2006, 09:58 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the water has been clear up until now, and the sand hasn't been disturbed, I would guess it's a bacterial bloom. It could also be precipitation of calcium carbonate. Are you dosing anything into the tank? What are the basic water parameters? An RO-DI unit is a good investment, in my opinion, but water from a water softener shouldn't be any worse than tap water, and likely better. I wouldn't drain the tank just yet. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/08/2006, 03:26 AM	#8
pitt_prodigy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 751	Water softner should not cause any problems... i had experienced a short period of cloudyness as well after the initial sand storm. I chalked it up to bacterial bloom.... which is a good thing! After a few days i went away on its own. Hopefully its just your bio filter getting warmed up! Keep us posted. -pitt __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 72 gallon RR Oceanic, heavily modded ASM G2 skimmer, 30g sump/refugium, AI vega lighting x 2, apex controller, Phos Reactor, etc.

08/07/2006, 08:41 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Have you added anything new to the tank in the last week?

08/07/2006, 09:53 PM	#5
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	If it's a white cloud, my bet would be with the sand you used. I certainly am still experiencing the white cloud effect 3 days after adding sand to my tank, because me being stupid, was in too excited to rinse it first. Now I know, and when I add the other sand to the tank, I'm definatly rinsing it out first in tap water, then adding it to the tank after it's dried. Maybe I'll rinse it in salt. Point is, you need to rinse and repeat until it stops letting cloudy water out. And welcome to RC!

08/08/2006, 12:24 AM	#7
sunsetters Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5	I`am so glad i found you guy`s , glad to see such rapid responce. i also have a fresh water 75 and thought about my softner not causeing it any problems! so i have to question my local shop on there advise. all parameters are looking very good . and all my little friends are doing well. and yes tank was clear 3 weeks up till this passed saturday 8/5/06. just have to keep a eye on it and hope it clears, i`ll get back with you guy`s in a few and let you know how things are going. thanks for your feed back.

08/08/2006, 10:47 AM	#9
teddybear22482 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lagrange GA Posts: 144	Ive had mine going for 2 months and sometimes it gets cloudy. When it stays cloudy for a few days I do a water change and it clears it up. Im not sure what causes mine to get cloudy. Maybe a bacterial bloom...who knows. Maybe just dirty water? I have no clue! Good luck and Welcome to RC! This is a great site and you will no doubt learn ALOT! I did! I found out reefers are very nice and always ready to share good advice! __________________ "When life hands you lemons...throw them at the mean people!!" Current Tank Info: 10 gallon nano.. Mixed reef...two clown fish, one damn damsel, and one arabian pseudochromis... Lots of snails, some damned "bull in china shop" hermit crabs, brittle star.