Can't get a handle on Cloudy water in Macro Tank??

[TheWackyWiz]

Hi Everyone,

Hope all is well with you! I've been struggling with cloudy water in my 10g macro algae tank for about a month now and so far I haven't been able to nail down the cause. After reading through the various forum posts on this topic I think I've narrowed it down to some sort of bacterial bloom but hoping for guidance.

First things first, here are my params over the last couple months. NOTE: I cycled the tank for ~3 months (with live rock/sand) before introing any live stock. Now I have 1 Tail Spot Blenny, 1 court jester goby, 3 sexy shrimp, two snails and a handful of hermits

Ideal Params	8.1-8.3	1.023-1.026	380-450 ppm	8-12 dKH	.01-.03 ppm	0 ppm	0 ppm	1-10 ppm
Date	PH/HRPH	Salinity	Calcium (Ca2+)	kH	Phosphate	Ammonia	Nitrite	Nitrate
11/23/22	8.2	1.026	500	8	0.00	0.25	0.00	10.00
12/2/22	8.2	1.025	460	7	0.25	1.00	0.00	5.00
12/12/22	8.4	1.025	480	7	0.00	0.50	0.00	2.50
12/27/22	8.4	1.025	480	8	0.00	0.25	0.00	5.00
1/19/23	8.2	1.025	460	8	0.00	0.25	0.00	0.00
2/6/23	8.4		460	8	0.00	0.25		10.00

I have a HOB filter which is running sponge, filter floss and charcoal. I am confident it is not microbubbles or substrate because it eventually clears and is get's worse when the lights are on.

In addition to strong coraline algae growth I have also been dosing Microbacter 7 and ChaetoGrow (to provide nutrients for the pom pom, red ogo and caulerpa). I have had some success with MB7 but the water inevitably clouds back up after a couple days

There is also this dusty white precipitate that settles on the macros which I think is the same as whats circulating in the tank.

Any ideas as to what is going on and how to fix it?

Thank you!!

 

[Spare time]

Stop adding bacteria if you are getting a bacterial bloom. Also, your ammonia is at 0ppm, not 0.25.


How often do you clean the filter floss and sponge?

 

[TheWackyWiz]

Stop adding bacteria if you are getting a bacterial bloom. Also, your ammonia is at 0ppm, not 0.25.


How often do you clean the filter floss and sponge?

I change the filter floss and sponge about every month or so. I usually try to keep limit the amount of biological filtration changed each time. Not sure what you mean RE the Ammonia? This is using an API test kit which i know is not the most accurate.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

I am having a similar issue. The tank was clear then became cloudy recently. The tank has been set up for about 6 months. I think the issue is for me either. 1) I started feeding algae wafers because I only have inverts in the tank. I am going to stop and do a large water change to see if that will help. 2) Some type of bacterial bloom. In that case water change will not help. 3) algae die off, in which case a large water change and carbon will help. My nitrates and phosphates are in range with 5 ppm Nitrate and .025 ppm phosphates. For a macro algae tank those are pretty good nutrient levels. They have been stable for the last 2 months.

 

[hbubley]

I change the filter floss and sponge about every month or so. I usually try to keep limit the amount of biological filtration changed each time. Not sure what you mean RE the Ammonia? This is using an API test kit which i know is not the most accurate.

API tests look for two types of ammonia (NH4 and NH3) and we only care about one type (NH3), if your tank is cycled then the general rule is your ammonia is likely 0.