Water clarity

Psirex · 08/22/2011, 05:39 PM

The water in my tank always has a 'haze' to it; I use the same water source for my freshwater tanks and the water in those are crystal clear.... I am using a protein skimmer which is doing its job.....

any help is greatly appreciated......

dava6711 · 08/22/2011, 05:47 PM

Could be a possible bacterial bloom but need more info, how long has it been hazy for, what colour does the haze appear to be, do you have any livestock in the aquarium, how long has it been setup for and do you have any biological filtration running on the aquarium?

Psirex · 08/22/2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dava6711

Could be a possible bacterial bloom but need more info, how long has it been hazy for, what colour does the haze appear to be, do you have any livestock in the aquarium, how long has it been setup for and do you have any biological filtration running on the aquarium?

Up and running since April, its been hazy for sometime now, hazy as in foggy/cloudy, wet dry filtration, 120 gl tank, 125 gl protein skimmer

2 yellow tail damsels
1 domino damsel
3 Zebra Turbo snails
1 Hippo Tang
1 Atlantic Blue Tang
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Green Mandarin
1 True Percula Clown

hope this is enough/right info

Virtuoso · 08/22/2011, 06:15 PM

What are your parameters? Check the sticky at the top of the forum. Do you run a filter sock or carbon?

fender4string · 08/22/2011, 06:25 PM

Most importantly, what's your water source? Are you using tap or an RO/DI unit? If you're not using and RO/DI you should strongly consider purchasing one. I recommend Bulk Reef Supply. If you are using an RO unit, carbon will probably do the job.

Psirex · 08/22/2011, 06:37 PM

will test alk and calc all other water test come back fine I test on a b-weekly basis....

Psirex · 08/22/2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fender4string

Most importantly, what's your water source? Are you using tap or an RO/DI unit? If you're not using and RO/DI you should strongly consider purchasing one. I recommend Bulk Reef Supply. If you are using an RO unit, carbon will probably do the job.

Its tap water (treated to be safe for fish fresh/salt) I use the same water for my fresh tanks and its crystal clear...

thegrun · 08/22/2011, 07:49 PM

Tap water often contains a lot of nitrates and phosphates which will lead to algae and algae blooms. That may be your problem, but post your parameters for a better diagnosis.

WetShepherd · 08/22/2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psirex

hope this is enough/right info

You'll still probably be asked for a bit more - live rock?, how much, water change sched. etc. Do you test for all the additional paramaters that marine tanks require over the usual FW tests? Here's the info from the sticky mentioned - just copy and paste if you feel like it and good luck

Quote:

Help, please, with my problem:[cloudy water]

Size of tank: [120]

Age of tank [4 months]
Sump?
Skimmer:
nitrate:
ammonia:
temperature:
Water source {tap}
Salinity: [eg, 1.024]
Alkalinity: [eg, 8.3]
Lights [mh/T5/LED, other]
Calcium: [eg, 420]
Magnesium {eg, 1500]
Dosing?[list other additives used, if any]
Specimen dipped [in what] or quarantined or previously treated?

dava6711 · 08/23/2011, 05:06 AM

Certainly sounds like a bacterial bloom then, bacterial blooms can give the aquarium a 'milky' kind of look- does it look milky? Has any livestock gone missing- if it has it could be decomposing causing the 'hazy' appearance of your aquarium? Using treated tapwater won't cause a milky appearance in my opinion, however it may give a greenish hue if there's high phosphates in said tapwater causing unwanted algae problems?

lordofthereef · 08/23/2011, 07:46 AM

FWIW, just because your tap water is clear, it doesn't mean that it will remain so when adding a salt mix. I am not saying that this is the answer/reason, but comparing it to your fresh water tank isn't really a valid comparison.

The first thing I would do is run some GAC. See if that clears anything up. It's cheap and I think 3/4 of the time we see clarity issues, GAC solves them.

billdogg · 08/23/2011, 08:33 AM

I vote for running some carbon as well. If you don't have a reactor, you can put it in a canister filter. The downside to that method is that it will need to be cleaned frequently (weekly or so) You caould also just put it in a mesh bag in a high flow area of the sump, but it is not too effective that way.

I much prefer either a TLF reactor, orbetter yet if you have the space, a reactor from bulk reef supply. They are very easy to use and clean and work very well.

jacob.morgan78 · 08/23/2011, 10:35 AM

Sorry for butting in here but I was curious about this and the people on the thread could probably answer it for me.

I was curious if I could use a current reactor to run some carbon through. I'm already running phosguard in it but not using the entire space. Can I use the remaining space above the phosguard for carbon? Also, if I did run both in the same reactor, would I need to and what should I use to separate the two media?

Thanks!

Percula9 · 08/23/2011, 11:31 AM

I have had this problem, it is caused by the use of tap water. The tap water which is already high in calcium and magnesium, then salt is added which raises it more, is causing precipitation. Switch to R/O water and the problem will go away.

PasserAngelfish · 07/21/2014, 10:10 PM

insufficient water flow maybe the reason.

08/22/2011, 05:39 PM	#1
Psirex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,934	Water clarity The water in my tank always has a 'haze' to it; I use the same water source for my freshwater tanks and the water in those are crystal clear.... I am using a protein skimmer which is doing its job..... any help is greatly appreciated......

08/23/2011, 07:46 AM	#11
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	FWIW, just because your tap water is clear, it doesn't mean that it will remain so when adding a salt mix. I am not saying that this is the answer/reason, but comparing it to your fresh water tank isn't really a valid comparison. The first thing I would do is run some GAC. See if that clears anything up. It's cheap and I think 3/4 of the time we see clarity issues, GAC solves them. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

08/23/2011, 08:33 AM	#12
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I vote for running some carbon as well. If you don't have a reactor, you can put it in a canister filter. The downside to that method is that it will need to be cleaned frequently (weekly or so) You caould also just put it in a mesh bag in a high flow area of the sump, but it is not too effective that way. I much prefer either a TLF reactor, orbetter yet if you have the space, a reactor from bulk reef supply. They are very easy to use and clean and work very well. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

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08/22/2011, 05:47 PM	#2
dava6711 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: England, UK Posts: 140	Could be a possible bacterial bloom but need more info, how long has it been hazy for, what colour does the haze appear to be, do you have any livestock in the aquarium, how long has it been setup for and do you have any biological filtration running on the aquarium?

08/22/2011, 06:15 PM	#4
Virtuoso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 727	What are your parameters? Check the sticky at the top of the forum. Do you run a filter sock or carbon?

08/22/2011, 06:25 PM	#5
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	Most importantly, what's your water source? Are you using tap or an RO/DI unit? If you're not using and RO/DI you should strongly consider purchasing one. I recommend Bulk Reef Supply. If you are using an RO unit, carbon will probably do the job.

08/22/2011, 06:37 PM	#6
Psirex Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,934	will test alk and calc all other water test come back fine I test on a b-weekly basis....

08/22/2011, 07:49 PM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Tap water often contains a lot of nitrates and phosphates which will lead to algae and algae blooms. That may be your problem, but post your parameters for a better diagnosis.

08/23/2011, 05:06 AM	#10
dava6711 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: England, UK Posts: 140	Certainly sounds like a bacterial bloom then, bacterial blooms can give the aquarium a 'milky' kind of look- does it look milky? Has any livestock gone missing- if it has it could be decomposing causing the 'hazy' appearance of your aquarium? Using treated tapwater won't cause a milky appearance in my opinion, however it may give a greenish hue if there's high phosphates in said tapwater causing unwanted algae problems?

08/23/2011, 10:35 AM	#13
jacob.morgan78 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Farmville, VA Posts: 1,184	Sorry for butting in here but I was curious about this and the people on the thread could probably answer it for me. I was curious if I could use a current reactor to run some carbon through. I'm already running phosguard in it but not using the entire space. Can I use the remaining space above the phosguard for carbon? Also, if I did run both in the same reactor, would I need to and what should I use to separate the two media? Thanks!

08/23/2011, 11:31 AM	#14
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	I have had this problem, it is caused by the use of tap water. The tap water which is already high in calcium and magnesium, then salt is added which raises it more, is causing precipitation. Switch to R/O water and the problem will go away.

07/21/2014, 10:10 PM	#15
PasserAngelfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 74	insufficient water flow maybe the reason.