New to Saltwater tank

[rajaraj]

I am new in this hobby (started around 9 months back) and as expected have been running in to quite a bit of issues .

Tank size: 4 feet x 2 feet x 4 feet



Tank was doing fine until couple of months ago had bacterial bloom. Water was very cloudy. Local aquarium people recommended the following:

1) 30% water changes every 2 weeks.
2) Adding activated carbon media to the filer for couple of weeks.
3) Clean sponge media every two days until the cloudiness goes away.
4) As a last resort, tried seachem clarity.

The cloudiness of the water even though reduced, it's still not as clear as before. Is there anything else I can try?

Water parameters:
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrate - < 10ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
pH - 8.4

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I am new in this hobby (started around 9 months back) and as expected have been running in to quite a bit of issues .

Tank size: 4 feet x 2 feet x 4 feet



Tank was doing fine until couple of months ago had bacterial bloom. Water was very cloudy. Local aquarium people recommended the following:

1) 30% water changes every 2 weeks.
2) Adding activated carbon media to the filer for couple of weeks.
3) Clean sponge media every two days until the cloudiness goes away.
4) As a last resort, tried seachem clarity.

The cloudiness of the water even though reduced, it's still not as clear as before. Is there anything else I can try?

Water parameters:
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrate - < 10ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
pH - 8.4

How is the flow in your tank? Maybe upping the flow might reduce some of the water cloudiness issues.

 

[AmazingYocool]

I am new in this hobby (started around 9 months back) and as expected have been running in to quite a bit of issues .

Tank size: 4 feet x 2 feet x 4 feet



Tank was doing fine until couple of months ago had bacterial bloom. Water was very cloudy. Local aquarium people recommended the following:

1) 30% water changes every 2 weeks.
2) Adding activated carbon media to the filer for couple of weeks.
3) Clean sponge media every two days until the cloudiness goes away.
4) As a last resort, tried seachem clarity.

The cloudiness of the water even though reduced, it's still not as clear as before. Is there anything else I can try?

Water parameters:
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrate - < 10ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
pH - 8.4

Your water quality seems alright. As for now, keep adding carbon and replace it after about a week. Its said that it can last a month, but if the water is more dirty than normal (or in this case cloudy) then it gets used up quicker. Sometimes white cloudyness stems from a bacterial bloom. Some things like this just need strong filtration and time. Everything seems healthy, so thats great!

I love that bird wrasse

 

[rajaraj]

How is the flow in your tank? Maybe upping the flow might reduce some of the water cloudiness issues.

Thanks for your response. I have a Maxspect Gyre XF350 wavemaker with one flow director pointing down and other one pointing horizontally (attached pic). If I increase the speed even a bit, it starts disturbing the sand bed.

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[rajaraj]

Your water quality seems alright. As for now, keep adding carbon and replace it after about a week. Its said that it can last a month, but if the water is more dirty than normal (or in this case cloudy) then it gets used up quicker. Sometimes white cloudyness stems from a bacterial bloom. Some things like this just need strong filtration and time. Everything seems healthy, so thats great!

I love that bird wrasse

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, it was most likely due to bacterial bloom. Another observation was that when cloudiness increased, some fishes were having trouble breathing (lost a couple of them). Have added 4 air stones until this gets cleared. I was worried that it has been 2 months and water still hasn't cleared up.

 

[AmazingYocool]

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, it was most likely due to bacterial bloom. Another observation was that when cloudiness increased, some fishes were having trouble breathing (lost a couple of them). Have added 4 air stones until this gets cleared. I was worried that it has been 2 months and water still hasn't cleared up.

Your tank is an odd shape, and its very tall. With a normal long tank, flow can get throughout the entire tank Left to right. I would consider adding more flow, and seeing if that improves the fish's Resperation. Airstones are a great tempoary solution!


Try to have the flow reach the middle of the tank, instead of the top side and bottom side. Maybe that will help

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here! If truly an algae bloom a proper sized uv sterilizer will clear your water up, good luck.