View Full Version : Cloudiness
sammy77
03/25/2013, 10:54 AM
In need of some help please..
My Fowlr tank has been up and running for a good 9 months or so. I've been dealing with a cloudy tank for a little over a month now and I'm thinking it may be a bacterial bloom of some sort? I have tried changing carbon, increasing my water change volume, and while the water changes seem to help the most, it's back within a day or two. Lots of micro bubbles as well. I haven't done anything different, nor am I using anything new. Salinity is always between 1.022-1.025 and Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, and very little Nitrate.
My patience is getting tested by the day with this.. Thank you for any help!
http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz266/sammy77_01/025_zpsb59363fb.jpg
http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz266/sammy77_01/024_zps971a236e.jpg
Cymonous
03/25/2013, 11:45 AM
Is there anything in the tank? I see maybe some snails, but no fish. Your sand and rocks also look awfully clean. Did you change or add anything to this tank? How large of a change have you done?
MrClam
03/25/2013, 11:53 AM
Microbubbles are a relatively easy fix, but you have to find the source. Do you have a sump? Skimmer? Need more information to figure out where the problem is.
sammy77
03/25/2013, 12:15 PM
Is there anything in the tank? I see maybe some snails, but no fish. Your sand and rocks also look awfully clean. Did you change or add anything to this tank? How large of a change have you done?
Sorry for the poor quality pics from my phone. Yes, I currently have a Blue Throat Trigger, Pink Tail Trigger, Blue Hippo, Purple Tang, Flame Angel, & a Coral Beauty Angel. An assortment of about 50+ snails. I did not change or add anything recently. I usually do 20-30gal changes weekly.
sammy77
03/25/2013, 12:19 PM
Microbubbles are a relatively easy fix, but you have to find the source. Do you have a sump? Skimmer? Need more information to figure out where the problem is.
I'm using a 100gal Rubbermaid stock tank for my sump, in my basement. Skimmer is a Reef Octopus 5000 internal. Thank you.
seanothon
03/25/2013, 01:30 PM
I had something similar when my tank didn't have enough flow. You could try putting a couple power heads in and see if that helps.
reefndude
03/25/2013, 05:41 PM
My tank did the exact same thing. Added some chemi pure elite, crystal clear in 2 or 3 d. ays. My tank was cloudy for at least a month.
worm5406
03/25/2013, 09:04 PM
But is it bubbles or something else?
If it is bubbles follow the entire feed line from start to finish. Something is causing a venturi effect and sucking in bubbles like a skimmer. What is on the surface of the tank? A film or anything?
Stusdesktop
03/25/2013, 09:26 PM
I've noticed bacterial blooms in my tanks at certain times of the year. Specifically from Fall to Winter and then from Winter to Spring. So far we've seen bright green and cloudy white blooms. Water numbers are always the same before and afterwards, nothing is changed on the tanks, no rhyme or reason why the blooms.
I have a canister filter (with a 9w UV bulb) that I pack with a couple of grades of filter floss, run for 24 hours and the water is crystal clear afterwards.
sammy77
03/26/2013, 07:28 AM
But is it bubbles or something else?
If it is bubbles follow the entire feed line from start to finish. Something is causing a venturi effect and sucking in bubbles like a skimmer. What is on the surface of the tank? A film or anything?
It does seem like there maybe a slight film on the surface. Can't tell for sure. From the sump I can't tell much of a difference, that is the area that is clearly visible to me. I will try to snap a picture of the top of the water surface of the sump this evening. Seems like I may have both bubbles and something else...
sammy77
03/26/2013, 07:30 AM
I've noticed bacterial blooms in my tanks at certain times of the year. Specifically from Fall to Winter and then from Winter to Spring. So far we've seen bright green and cloudy white blooms. Water numbers are always the same before and afterwards, nothing is changed on the tanks, no rhyme or reason why the blooms.
I have a canister filter (with a 9w UV bulb) that I pack with a couple of grades of filter floss, run for 24 hours and the water is crystal clear afterwards.
Can I just run some filter floss in my sump some how?
Stusdesktop
03/26/2013, 08:17 AM
Can I just run some filter floss in my sump some how?
Certainly worth a try.
Depending on how your sump is set up either just after your skimmer section or just before your return section should work. I'd make some form of basket for the floss to sit in so it stays where you want. Stiff bird netting from one of the DIY stores, bend it into a "U" shape, floss in the middle and then fix to the top of the sump.
nynick
03/26/2013, 08:33 AM
I put a large HOB filter in my sump and draped a filterfloss pad like this one for example http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-POND-DIY-Filter-Floss-Poly-Wool-Sheets-Fish-Tank-Filter-Pads-12-X-18-x-15mm-/251211331103?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3a7d5cb61f over the out section all the way down to the water. Then put a light that shines right on it (I use daylight bulbs, the 35w that equals 100w for a couple of bucks in a clamp). I run mine 24/7, instand algae scrubber and mechanical filter that has solved any and all algae problems I had. Clean it out once a month in old tank water when you do a water change but do not clean it too well, takes forever to get the algae up and running if you do.
Total cost, around 50 bucks.
SoLiD
03/26/2013, 08:41 AM
The simplest fix for a bacterial bloom would be to run Ozone through your skimmer. In less than 2 days you'll have crystal clear water. Trust me, it works.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weipro-ET50-Ozoner-50mg-OZONE-PROCESSOR-FOR-MARINE-AND-FRESH-WATER-/160992627516?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257be88b3c
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weipro-ET100-Ozoner-100mg-OZONE-PROCESSOR-FOR-MARINE-AND-FRESH-WATER-/400439437142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3c0ce756
sammy77
03/26/2013, 09:17 AM
Certainly worth a try.
Depending on how your sump is set up either just after your skimmer section or just before your return section should work. I'd make some form of basket for the floss to sit in so it stays where you want. Stiff bird netting from one of the DIY stores, bend it into a "U" shape, floss in the middle and then fix to the top of the sump.
My sump is wide open. I have a Rubbermaid stock tank. So this shouldn't be difficult. Thanks, I'll do this today. How often are you changing yours?
sammy77
03/26/2013, 09:19 AM
I put a large HOB filter in my sump and draped a filterfloss pad like this one for example http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-POND-DIY-Filter-Floss-Poly-Wool-Sheets-Fish-Tank-Filter-Pads-12-X-18-x-15mm-/251211331103?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3a7d5cb61f over the out section all the way down to the water. Then put a light that shines right on it (I use daylight bulbs, the 35w that equals 100w for a couple of bucks in a clamp). I run mine 24/7, instand algae scrubber and mechanical filter that has solved any and all algae problems I had. Clean it out once a month in old tank water when you do a water change but do not clean it too well, takes forever to get the algae up and running if you do.
Total cost, around 50 bucks.
Great idea:beer:
sammy77
03/26/2013, 09:19 AM
The simplest fix for a bacterial bloom would be to run Ozone through your skimmer. In less than 2 days you'll have crystal clear water. Trust me, it works.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weipro-ET50-Ozoner-50mg-OZONE-PROCESSOR-FOR-MARINE-AND-FRESH-WATER-/160992627516?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257be88b3c
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weipro-ET100-Ozoner-100mg-OZONE-PROCESSOR-FOR-MARINE-AND-FRESH-WATER-/400439437142?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3c0ce756
Never tried one. Do you run it 24/7?
Percula9
03/26/2013, 12:17 PM
What are the tanks parameters? pH,calcium,alkalinity. Are you using tap water for water changes?
SoLiD
03/26/2013, 01:57 PM
Never tried one. Do you run it 24/7?
I run it 24/7.... You can do that or when ever you feel like you need to. Ozone oxidizes organics such as , fish poop, diatom algae, and such. It is very helpful for water clarity. IME it is hard to overdose with a small 50mg-100mg unit. An air dryer is also good to have for higher ozone production through the reaction tube. I'd also run carbon somewhere in your system.
This is kind of old and a little over the top, but a great source of information.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php
sammy77
03/26/2013, 05:32 PM
What are the tanks parameters? pH,calcium,alkalinity. Are you using tap water for water changes?
Per my Reef Keeper, PH is 9.0
It's a bit high I believe, I could try and recalibrate probe and recheck. It's always read 8.5 or more. I've got a FO, and rarely test alkalinity or calcium. I will to have to pick up a newer test for them. Never used tap water before, RODI only and TDS shows 0.
sammy77
03/26/2013, 05:34 PM
I run it 24/7.... You can do that or when ever you feel like you need to. Ozone oxidizes organics such as , fish poop, diatom algae, and such. It is very helpful for water clarity. IME it is hard to overdose with a small 50mg-100mg unit. An air dryer is also good to have for higher ozone production through the reaction tube. I'd also run carbon somewhere in your system.
This is kind of old and a little over the top, but a great source of information.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php
Thank you very much. That's great information and I think it's definitely worth a try.
dml931
03/26/2013, 08:50 PM
gonna jump in a say that a ph of 9 is pretty high. i'd look into the cause of this as you shouldn't be higher than 8.4. 8.0-8.2 are ideal. could be adding to the cause of your cloudy water too. just my $.02. ;)
Percula9
03/26/2013, 10:05 PM
If your pH is really that high, you could be having a snow storm. The cloudiness is calcium precipitating out of solution.
bnumair
03/26/2013, 11:02 PM
i am pretty sure ph of 9 is not correct. its more than likely a ph probe drift off calibration. very common in DA probes. re-calibrate it.
High pH levels (9+) can harm fish by denaturing cellular membranes.
sammy77
03/27/2013, 05:09 AM
Thank you. I will do a PH test today to see where I'm really at. Also get some fluid to calibrate my RK probe.
sammy77
03/27/2013, 04:57 PM
Tested PH, 7.6-8.2
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