Putting Mineral Mud in an established system... ack! everything is cloudy now!

Damsel in Distress · 11/17/2007, 06:54 PM

Sigh, I learned my lesson, don't mess with a good thing!

I have a tank that's been setup for a number of years now and I decided to add some mineral mud to my refugium. I took it offline and put the mineral mud in. Now the entire refugium looks like a cloudy mess!!! I am scared to put the system back online this way for fear that it is going to spike all the parameters in my main tank, not to mention cloud everything!

Please, does someone have any suggestions for me?

I have a 29 gallon nano with a 6 gallon eclipse as a refugium.

Thanks,

A damsel really in distress!

coralfarm123 · 11/17/2007, 07:32 PM

I doubt it will harm your tank, but I would wait until the refugium is not so cloudy before starting your return pump again. You may see a little diatom bloom or something. If your refugium intake drains directly into the mud it may still cause some clouding.

beaglelax · 11/17/2007, 07:35 PM

well you wont hurt anything but if u turn your tank back on it will become a mud storm i did the smae thing but turned my tank on right away, big mistake because anytime i mover something the settled mud in the tank would cloud, on the other hand the mud did make a huge difference in color in my tank best its ever looked

DrBegalke · 11/17/2007, 07:42 PM

i've found that clarity from seachem can really help settle things down.

Damsel in Distress · 11/17/2007, 08:41 PM

Whew, thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Beaglelax, good to hear that you did it too, and didn't have any negative effects!

I think I'll leave it overnight and see if things settle some. Maybe do a light water change in the fuge and leave the return pump back on in the morning if it's settled some.

That's pretty darn scary to see my refugium that muddy and murky!!!

Damsel

erendon · 11/18/2007, 08:13 AM

I did the same thing. It will clear up.

11/17/2007, 06:54 PM	#1
Damsel in Distress Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 32	Putting Mineral Mud in an established system... ack! everything is cloudy now! Sigh, I learned my lesson, don't mess with a good thing! I have a tank that's been setup for a number of years now and I decided to add some mineral mud to my refugium. I took it offline and put the mineral mud in. Now the entire refugium looks like a cloudy mess!!! I am scared to put the system back online this way for fear that it is going to spike all the parameters in my main tank, not to mention cloud everything! Please, does someone have any suggestions for me? I have a 29 gallon nano with a 6 gallon eclipse as a refugium. Thanks, A damsel really in distress!

11/17/2007, 07:35 PM	#3
beaglelax Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: monroe, ny Posts: 326	well you wont hurt anything but if u turn your tank back on it will become a mud storm i did the smae thing but turned my tank on right away, big mistake because anytime i mover something the settled mud in the tank would cloud, on the other hand the mud did make a huge difference in color in my tank best its ever looked __________________ When life hands you lemons make lemonade Lead follow or get out of the way Current Tank Info: 75 F/O - 220 F/O - 525 F/O for now soon to be reef

11/17/2007, 07:42 PM	#4
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	i've found that clarity from seachem can really help settle things down. __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

11/18/2007, 08:13 AM	#6
erendon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, Il. Posts: 444	I did the same thing. It will clear up. __________________ He who tries and fails is wiser than he who does not try out of fear of failure. Current Tank Info: 180 Gal Reef, DYI fuge/sump, 3x 250's, 1400 K phoenix.

11/17/2007, 07:32 PM	#2
coralfarm123 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 590	I doubt it will harm your tank, but I would wait until the refugium is not so cloudy before starting your return pump again. You may see a little diatom bloom or something. If your refugium intake drains directly into the mud it may still cause some clouding.

11/17/2007, 08:41 PM	#5
Damsel in Distress Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 32	Whew, thanks for the suggestions everyone! Beaglelax, good to hear that you did it too, and didn't have any negative effects! I think I'll leave it overnight and see if things settle some. Maybe do a light water change in the fuge and leave the return pump back on in the morning if it's settled some. That's pretty darn scary to see my refugium that muddy and murky!!! Damsel