New tank, cloudy water

[Guest jcwordslinger]

I'm setting up my first saltwater tank. It's a 50g. When I added the substrate the didn't cloud up at all. But when I added the salt last night the water clouded up. And this morning when I woke up it hadn't cleared up at all. Is this normal?

[rocko918]

I'm setting up my first saltwater tank.  It's a 50g.  When I added the substrate the didn't cloud up at all.  But when I added the salt last night the water clouded up.  And this morning when I woke up it hadn't cleared up at all.  Is this normal?

27471[/snapback]

 

 

wait i am confused- you add the salt after the sand? How did you mix it up?

 

i am sure it will clear up just give it time. In the future you should always mix your salt before you put it in the tank.

[Guest jcwordslinger]

wait i am confused- you add the salt after the sand? How did you mix it up?

 

i am sure it will clear up just give it time. In the future you should always mix your salt before you put it in the tank.

27476[/snapback]

 

 

It's a new set-up, there is nothing alive in the tank yet. I added the sand first, then added the RO/DI water, got the temp up and then added the salt. I have the filter and skimmer running to aerate the water. I know not to add salt to the tank once I put lifeforms in. For water changes I will have saltwater pre-made.

[Lee Stearns]

OK JC,

Normally you mix the salt water together for 24 hours in a bucket with a heater to add it to the tank. But new tank it will work this way just take a bit longer- will take time to get fullly mixed. Do not stir it up now as you have sand in the tank- The system will take a couple of days and you will then add a bit of live rock and or some live sand from one of us to seed the bacteria. The bacteria will form a coating that sticks to the sand particles and settles them out. many put a piece of raw shrimp in the tank to feed the bacteria cycle. Watch wait and have fun - the process is much much slower than fresh water- which you have lots of experience with.

Lee