cycling a new tank

[DevilBoy]

Since i am in the middle of cycling a tank, should i be running any chemical media such as carbon, gfo etc?

[pimpinitup6969]

I tend to just run my skimmer. No media. Keep the lighting to a minimum to stop nuisance algae growth.

[DevilBoy]

thats what i am doing, and what i have done in the past. I am just trying to get rid of the hazy water i have been having for about the past 3 weeks now.

[pimpinitup6969]

are you using a filter sock, filter floss, etc.?

[DevilBoy]

yes i have a filter sock on my drain

[pimpinitup6969]

I don't think it could hurt to throw some carbon in to help clear up the water. I personally have never had to do that to clear up a cycling tank.

[DevilBoy]

the only other reason this maybe happening is because i only have about 20 pounds of live rock along with 40 pounds of base rock. And it is a bacterial bloom and the base rock is not seeded yet. could this be possible?

[bertoni]

You might be seeing a bacterial bloom. Some carbon might help reduce any possible odor, and it won't hurt anything. Carbon might be able to bind enough toxins to do something useful, although it might just be overwhelmed by all the byproducts of the decay process.

[DevilBoy]

i just did my testing on the tank. This is what i got.

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 25ppm


it looks to me like my cycle is possibly over, but why the haziness in my water. Maybe time for a water change?

[bertoni]

I'd give it a few days. It might be a bacterial bloom, particularly if the tank is looking white or gray. A few water changes would help remove any remaining leftovers from the decay, but they might not cure the haze.

[DevilBoy]

yea its definitely a white greyish color. Like looking outside the window on a foggy day. This has been going on for 3 weeks now. I figured it would have cleared up by now. Its not getting any worse, but it isnt getting any better either. :spin2:

[DevilBoy]

any other suggestions what this might be?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, a bacterial bloom is a good bet. If so, a UV will get rid of it, but may be an unnecessary expense.

Are you adding anything to the water?

[DevilBoy]

Are you adding anything to the water?

No Randy adding nothing at this time.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Are you getting anything in the skimmer?

The choices would seem to be a big water change (close to 100%, if you can), or a UV filter, or a fine particle filter, like a diatom filter, or to just wait it out.

[DevilBoy]

Yes Randy i am getting skimmate in the skimmer cup, it is a lighter color.

[DevilBoy]

new test readings


Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrate - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm

Everything tests 0ppm now, but it still hazy. Not any worse, but not better either. Im confused, i never remember my other tank being hazy like this during the cycle. The other tank was cycled with 100% live rock tho.

[sowellj]

What about sand particulates. I had a pretty nasty sandstorm that filter socks would not remove. Just had to wait it out.

[DevilBoy]

What about sand particulates. I had a pretty nasty sandstorm that filter socks would not remove. Just had to wait it out.

No not the problem. Its bare bottom

[bertoni]

Well, the haze is likely to dissipate on its own, but it might take a while. You might try collecting a glass of tank water, and letting it settle. If the problem is a precipitate, that'll become apparent.