How to get rid of a "Snowstorm" ?

24gnanonewbie · 11/15/2007, 10:18 AM

I think I have a snowstorm... My tank has been cloudy in the past, and this is not "cloudy" its like a fog. Its horrible... I have added no suppliments to the tank.

I will be testing all my parameters tonight...

But in the meantime, how do I get rid of it?

Water Changes? And what would be a recommended percentage?

xtopher_vw · 11/15/2007, 10:39 AM

Skim wet

sir_dudeguy · 11/15/2007, 10:49 AM

I would suggest doing a good water change.

Could it be calcium precipitate? I've heard when the calc and alk are off or too high or something that the calcium will actually fall out of the water and land on the rock and stuff..

Or, did you have any large corals die? I once lost a very large torch coral and this happened.

24gnanonewbie · 11/15/2007, 11:18 AM

What percentage of a water change?

I did not have any big corals... and couple frags of zoas.

What did you do to get past it, sir_dudeguy?

Travis L. Stevens · 11/15/2007, 11:21 AM

I agree with dudeguy. We need to know what is causing it first. Do you have fish that stir up the sandbed? It could be just dirt and skimming wet will work. If not, then check your Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium levels. This could be causing your calcium to percipitate out. A few large water changes to help put things back in place and then using an amount of 2-part to balance out the Ca/Alk where you want them to be for fine tuning will do the trick.

c.rob · 11/15/2007, 11:26 AM

Wether it's biological or chemicle you need to change the water. I have done 100% water changes in the past. If the new water is the right Ph,salinity,temp and aged a day or so you will not hurt anything. I would also run carbon since you don't know if it's biological.

What is in the tank specificaly and what are the params ?

czerbe · 11/15/2007, 11:47 AM

i don't think a 100% change is a good thing you might screw things up even more. try a 50% change and skimm wet and see what happens in the morning but check your levels

Zoa Girl · 11/15/2007, 01:21 PM

I would first check all parameters. My first thought when I read the op was ammonia.

Run carbon, skim wet, 50% water change.

AussieSurfGirl · 11/15/2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by czerbe
i don't think a 100% change is a good thing you might screw things up even more. try a 50% change and skimm wet and see what happens in the morning but check your levels

I agree with czerbe

KAiNE · 11/15/2007, 01:33 PM

I had a snowstorm a few days ago.... my fault since i went to work knowing that my kalk tub was very low. What i didnt know was that the intake hose was down in the mud....

PH spiked to 9.2 and it was a "white almost thanksgiving" in the reef. Luckily my wife was home and my controller sent me a text telling me of the ph spike. Got my wife to hit it with 50ml of vinegar (200g system). That got it down to 8.6 within an hour. No bad effects seen. Actually I have seen a rise in ORP and what seems to be better water clarity.

I skimmed wet or i should say white.... pulled about 2 gallons a day of wet, white skimmate and today (3days later) there isnt much white residue left. My rocks were covered... everything was white except the corals... pretty neat look...lol

IMO - if your reef is healthy and the ph didnt hold above 8.6 for very long you should be ok... skim wet and run carbon if you can. I didnt do any water changes myself mainly because i had just done one last weekend and dont have the salt on hand. If i had seen problems, i would have.

Wait until the cloudiness is gone before you test ALK and CA otherwise your reading will be false.

11/15/2007, 10:18 AM	#1
24gnanonewbie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Glendale Posts: 897	How to get rid of a "Snowstorm" ? I think I have a snowstorm... My tank has been cloudy in the past, and this is not "cloudy" its like a fog. Its horrible... I have added no suppliments to the tank. I will be testing all my parameters tonight... But in the meantime, how do I get rid of it? Water Changes? And what would be a recommended percentage? __________________ MJ Chinese Proverb: "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others." Current Tank Info: 30L Innovative Marine

11/15/2007, 10:49 AM	#3
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	I would suggest doing a good water change. Could it be calcium precipitate? I've heard when the calc and alk are off or too high or something that the calcium will actually fall out of the water and land on the rock and stuff.. Or, did you have any large corals die? I once lost a very large torch coral and this happened. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

11/15/2007, 11:18 AM	#4
24gnanonewbie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Glendale Posts: 897	What percentage of a water change? I did not have any big corals... and couple frags of zoas. What did you do to get past it, sir_dudeguy? __________________ MJ Chinese Proverb: "When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others." Current Tank Info: 30L Innovative Marine

11/15/2007, 11:21 AM	#5
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I agree with dudeguy. We need to know what is causing it first. Do you have fish that stir up the sandbed? It could be just dirt and skimming wet will work. If not, then check your Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium levels. This could be causing your calcium to percipitate out. A few large water changes to help put things back in place and then using an amount of 2-part to balance out the Ca/Alk where you want them to be for fine tuning will do the trick. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

11/15/2007, 11:26 AM	#6
c.rob Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 430	Wether it's biological or chemicle you need to change the water. I have done 100% water changes in the past. If the new water is the right Ph,salinity,temp and aged a day or so you will not hurt anything. I would also run carbon since you don't know if it's biological. What is in the tank specificaly and what are the params ? __________________ 11 yr old 180g reef , DSB , ATS , Skimmer , 100g sump. 2'x2' frag tank fed from 180

11/15/2007, 10:39 AM	#2
xtopher_vw Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 195	Skim wet

11/15/2007, 11:47 AM	#7
czerbe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: reading pa Posts: 112	i don't think a 100% change is a good thing you might screw things up even more. try a 50% change and skimm wet and see what happens in the morning but check your levels __________________ "Eat Drink and Be Merry" --Dave Matthews Current Tank Info: 75gallon reef tank small livestock

11/15/2007, 01:21 PM	#8
Zoa Girl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Huntingdon, PA Posts: 49	I would first check all parameters. My first thought when I read the op was ammonia. Run carbon, skim wet, 50% water change.

11/15/2007, 01:33 PM	#10
KAiNE Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Middle TN Posts: 667	I had a snowstorm a few days ago.... my fault since i went to work knowing that my kalk tub was very low. What i didnt know was that the intake hose was down in the mud.... PH spiked to 9.2 and it was a "white almost thanksgiving" in the reef. Luckily my wife was home and my controller sent me a text telling me of the ph spike. Got my wife to hit it with 50ml of vinegar (200g system). That got it down to 8.6 within an hour. No bad effects seen. Actually I have seen a rise in ORP and what seems to be better water clarity. I skimmed wet or i should say white.... pulled about 2 gallons a day of wet, white skimmate and today (3days later) there isnt much white residue left. My rocks were covered... everything was white except the corals... pretty neat look...lol IMO - if your reef is healthy and the ph didnt hold above 8.6 for very long you should be ok... skim wet and run carbon if you can. I didnt do any water changes myself mainly because i had just done one last weekend and dont have the salt on hand. If i had seen problems, i would have. Wait until the cloudiness is gone before you test ALK and CA otherwise your reading will be false. __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is Tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is Liberty." -- Thomas Jefferson