what makes a tank cloudy

[MBVette]

I have been dealing with my tank being cloudy almost since i started it up. it has a haze to it, and i cant figure out why. when i do my water changes (30-40 gallons weekly) it clears up for a couple days but it becomes cloudy again. My last testing last week showed 0 nitrates 0 phosphates.

[smallreef]

Microbubbles? Or when you pull water out there is free floating stuff in it?

[Incredible Corals]

The haze is probably from being a new tank and all the new stuff developing in there. My latest tank did the same thing when I first set it up and it cleared up just fine after about a month or so. Nothing to worry about.

[PotomacBoater]

I added a bag of Fluval carbon in my sump and it made my water much clearer

 

you can't rush cycling, etc but once all that is done, carbon can remove some of the bad stuff

[Coral Hind]

It could be suspended bacteria which forms in a new tank until the bacteria in and on the substrate becomes colonized enough to perform the function. This normally happens early on in new tanks or when an increase to bioload happens, like adding new fish.

 

It could also be the fines from the new sand that was added. If fine enough they can take some time to settle out or be removed by the filter. Have you tried adding a flocculant to help bind the small particles together so they can be removed. I've used KZ Coral Snow but there are several less expensive options like Kent Marine's Pro-Clear. Using a flocculant not only helps to clear the tank of cloudiness but as it binds with compounds to clump them it allows the now larger items to be caught directly by corals which allows them to take in amino acids, iodine, calcium, and food particles.

[Sharkey18]

Every time I set up a new tank I have the same problem. I have found that it takes close to a YEAR before my water is as clear and sharp as I want. Main culprits are usually:

1) micro bubbles. Find the source and fix it

2) detritus: filter socks, vacuuming

3) bacteria: time

 

I've also always seen a great improvement when running UV.

 

But really, I consider it a factor of an immature tank and it will get better. My tank has been running for 6 months, livestock for 2 months, and the water is finally getting clearer, but not yet the crystal clear look I am waiting for.

[MBVette]

Never even heard of those products, so I will check them out.

 

This has been an issue for te 3 months the tank has been up. I have been replacing the carbon, but the carbon looks clean right now so I just don't think the carbon can catch this stuff.

[MBVette]

Every time I set up a new tank I have the same problem. I have found that it takes close to a YEAR before my water is as clear and sharp as I want. Main culprits are usually:

1) micro bubbles. Find the source and fix it

2) detritus: filter socks, vacuuming

3) bacteria: time

 

I've also always seen a great improvement when running UV.

 

But really, I consider it a factor of an immature tank and it will get better. My tank has been running for 6 months, livestock for 2 months, and the water is finally getting clearer, but not yet the crystal clear look I am waiting for.

Thanks. I just want to make sure it's nothing wrong more than anything. The tests are coming back good and the fish and corals seem to be doing really well. I guess that's the most important thing.

[jimlin]

not sure what kind of rocks and sand you are using, but when i first set mines up, adding live rock and live sand helped me clear the water.

[MBVette]

I used all dry Marco rock and sand.

[Gadgets]

Are u using filter socks on to your drain?

[MBVette]

No socks

[epleeds]

i have a bunch if you want to try a few and see how it does..

[Incredible Corals]

I also have several filter socks you can have.

[Incredible Corals]

Oh and I had a similar issues in my tank and Eric had a great idea to put a power head on the other side of the tank pointing up and towards the overflow. That really helped as well.

[Gadgets]

Sounds like either a bacterial bloom or a bunch of crap from the dry sand and rock stuck in the water column. You should try using filter socks. If that doesn't work you can try one of those additives. If its a bacterial bloom u just need time. Have u ever though about using Dr. Tim's?

[MBVette]

I think I'll get with Eric or Steve and see about gettig some socks from them, since that's an easy way to check

[epleeds]

Like Steve said, do u have a lot of surface agitation. When he positioned a power head to add some agitation and push the water into the overflow his tank cleared up considerably.

[MBVette]

My two returns are basically dedicated to surface agitation and my 3 mp40s are used to create the flow of the tank. I have a nice wave that rolls across the tank.