Sump is making display tank extremely cloudy

Wilkerson.reed · 12/18/2015, 05:03 PM

I am 14 and built a sump recently and just started it up... Everything works really well except there is a small crack in between the baffle and sump wall in the Refugum section where the sand is... It is making the sand get the water cloudy... Do I just wait until sand settles or what... This is probably a really dumb question and I am sorry but I don't know what to do please help me

Wilkerson.reed · 12/18/2015, 05:13 PM

As soon as I turned the return pump on with in seconds my water went from clear to cloudy but it has stayed the same and maybe even cleared a little since then but will it just take a while to clear

chimmike · 12/18/2015, 05:19 PM

let's see a pic of the sump.

it's either microbubbles or typical cloudiness of the sand that takes some time to dissipate.

Relojdepeso · 12/18/2015, 05:58 PM

You can also remove the sand from the sump myself and a lot of people don't use sand in the sump

gone fishin · 12/18/2015, 08:38 PM

Did you use new sand in the sump? If so did you rinse it off before using it?

Also, what are you wishing to accomplish with the sand in the sump?

billdogg · 12/19/2015, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

Did you use new sand in the sump? If so did you rinse it off before using it?

Also, what are you wishing to accomplish with the sand in the sump?

What he said. I'm guessing new, unrinsed (or poorly rinsed) sand. I have a refugium with 6" DSB I used for nitrate reduction when I had a 4' moray eel. It was very effective for that. Unless it is very significant in size it won't do much for you other than create a place for detritus to collect.

FWIW - the refugium for my Eel, who lived in a 150g tank, was a 120g tank with well over 300 pounds of sugar fine sand. It is now my frag tank until I figure something better out.

chimmike · 12/20/2015, 06:54 AM

if you use live sand, rinsing it is foolish because you're defeating the whole purpose of the live sand. Sometimes I think "did you rinse it" is a knee-jerk reaction.

live sand, even if not dsb, but in the refugium, will still cloud up a bit, that's normal.

I'm wondering if OP has microbubbles.

Sk8r · 12/20/2015, 08:18 PM

Put a filter sock on it until the worst of it goes. It's probably bacteria and dust. Bacteria can stay and multiply. Dust needs to go.

12/18/2015, 05:03 PM	#1
Wilkerson.reed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 90	Sump is making display tank extremely cloudy I am 14 and built a sump recently and just started it up... Everything works really well except there is a small crack in between the baffle and sump wall in the Refugum section where the sand is... It is making the sand get the water cloudy... Do I just wait until sand settles or what... This is probably a really dumb question and I am sorry but I don't know what to do please help me

12/18/2015, 05:19 PM	#3
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	let's see a pic of the sump. it's either microbubbles or typical cloudiness of the sand that takes some time to dissipate. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

12/18/2015, 08:38 PM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Did you use new sand in the sump? If so did you rinse it off before using it? Also, what are you wishing to accomplish with the sand in the sump? __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

12/20/2015, 06:54 AM	#7
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	if you use live sand, rinsing it is foolish because you're defeating the whole purpose of the live sand. Sometimes I think "did you rinse it" is a knee-jerk reaction. live sand, even if not dsb, but in the refugium, will still cloud up a bit, that's normal. I'm wondering if OP has microbubbles. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

12/20/2015, 08:18 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Put a filter sock on it until the worst of it goes. It's probably bacteria and dust. Bacteria can stay and multiply. Dust needs to go. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/18/2015, 05:13 PM	#2
Wilkerson.reed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 90	As soon as I turned the return pump on with in seconds my water went from clear to cloudy but it has stayed the same and maybe even cleared a little since then but will it just take a while to clear

12/18/2015, 05:58 PM	#4
Relojdepeso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 51	You can also remove the sand from the sump myself and a lot of people don't use sand in the sump