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View Full Version : Ok guys, Need Some Help - Fine Particles In the Tank


layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 01:19 PM
Folks,

Since I brought my new 120g tank on-line, I've been dealing with an odd problem not encountered in my previous 54g tank. I seem to have a fair amount of fine particles floating around in the tank...

The tank has been up and running for about a month now...

At first I thought my Tunze's might be kicking up some sand, so I shut them down to see what happens, but the problem persists. In addition, I get fine bubbles rising to the top of the tank, almost like my water is very slightly carbonated. The bubbles mostly rise off the sand bed, but it does occur from the rocks occasionally too. In addition, I see a fine "slick" of this particulate at the top of the water. If I stir it it will break up, but not dissipate. I don't think it's microbubbles, but really have no idea... I have tried large water changes to see if that helps, but it doesn't. With the powerheads on, it is somewhat noticeable. I have shut down just about everything (skimmer, carbon, etc) thinking something was pumping air into the tank, but doing any of those things doesn't alleviate the problem. Any ideas what's going on? Is this some sort of precipitate? I'm dosing Kalk...

All the fish and inverts are doing great, so that isn't a factor, but this issue is making me nuts!

Any ideas on what to look for would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
L3

little_squid
07/11/2008, 01:25 PM
my guess is it cause of the tank being new but then i have seen this issue with before with people using instant ocean salt

layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 01:40 PM
Thanks... I'm uisng Tropic Marin Reef Salt. I wonder if thats part of the problem?

little_squid
07/11/2008, 01:45 PM
all i use is TM so that is not your issue imo

i do wonder how your getting build up on the surface of your water. are you not running a overflow? or not enough water movment?

Tswifty
07/11/2008, 01:45 PM
Sounds like the surface is not being agitated or skimmed well enough.

Angle a powerhead at the surface slightly, that should help break the film up enough so your filtration can remove it.

What type of skimmer are you using? Is it HOB or In-Sump

Here' what they water's surface on my tank looks like:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/tswifty8/new901.jpg

nickts40
07/11/2008, 01:52 PM
I am on my fourth tank and it's 6 weeks old. I have a ton of pods in the water stream and all over the glass.

nickts40
07/11/2008, 01:53 PM
I am usiing IO salt as well... its the pods...

layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 01:58 PM
I don't think it's pods... As for gear, my skimmer is an AquaC Evo240 and I have 3 Tunze 6055 Nanostreams for water movement. I just drained about 30+ gallons of water and still see this stuff floating on the surface! UGH!!! I will try and position the powerheads so that one is agitating the water at the top of my tank, but not sure that will help... This one has me baffled!

little_squid
07/11/2008, 02:05 PM
yea not sure if nanos will do the trick

they well help but not like a larger tunze would

layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 02:38 PM
Thanks, so you think perhaps the 6055's don't have enough horsepower and that may be the problem? I have a Tunze 6100 i could try out... I would be thrilled if that did the trick!

little_squid
07/11/2008, 02:52 PM
this is a 6' tank right? yea what would it hurt right?

layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 02:54 PM
Actually the tank is 4x2x2...

Thanks!

joshkennedy07
07/11/2008, 04:10 PM
What's you Ca level? Alk? Mg?

layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 04:12 PM
Hi,

Going to check them tonight and will report back.

Thanks!
L3

layer3switchguy
07/11/2008, 05:30 PM
Ok, so just did the following tests using Salifert:

CA - 490
MG - 1470
Alk - 9.9 dKH

My Mg may be skewed, as I added mag earlier today...

Other than my CA being high, any ideas?

layer3switchguy
07/12/2008, 06:40 AM
AM bump... :)

otrlynn
07/12/2008, 06:48 AM
Are you dosing Ca? Could it be higher than you think and precipitating out?

layer3switchguy
07/12/2008, 07:07 AM
Hi,

I'm dosing Kalk, and a few times a week add Liquid Reef from Brightwell Aquatics. I thought it might be precipitate. I'll stop dosing the Liquid Reef and see if that makes a difference...

At this point I'll try anything! :)


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12931588#post12931588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by otrlynn
Are you dosing Ca? Could it be higher than you think and precipitating out?