Cant get water to clear up

[Greg B.]

So I have a 40gal breeder that has been set up almost 1 year. Water parameters are ph 8.4 alk 10.6 cal.426 mag. 1230 phosphates .03 nitrates 5ppm salinity 1.026. Has 3 clown 2 damsel and a hippo tang. Also has a cleaner shrimp and about 10 blue leg hermets. About 2 weeks ago my water started getting cloudy and I couldn't get it filtered out. I did a large water change and it took care of the problem. For about a week. Now we are back to being cloudy again. Only thing that is new is the hippo tang but that is just in the last few days. I've ran it through carbon for a few days but still.cloudy. even did some clarity yesterday and it's no better today then it was. I don't know what is causing it all of a sudden. I haven't had any issues with cloudy water except on tank cleaning day when I clean the sand bed.

 

[Greg B.]

So I have a 40gal breeder that has been set up almost 1 year. Water parameters are ph 8.4 alk 10.6 cal.426 mag. 1230 phosphates .03 nitrates 5ppm salinity 1.026. Has 3 clown 2 damsel and a hippo tang. Also has a cleaner shrimp and about 10 blue leg hermets. About 2 weeks ago my water started getting cloudy and I couldn't get it filtered out. I did a large water change and it took care of the problem. For about a week. Now we are back to being cloudy again. Only thing that is new is the hippo tang but that is just in the last few days. I've ran it through carbon for a few days but still.cloudy. even did some clarity yesterday and it's no better today then it was. I don't know what is causing it all of a sudden. I haven't had any issues with cloudy water except on tank cleaning day when I clean the sand bed.

Also water has a green tinge to it when I put it in a specimen cup.

 

[TX_REEF]

sounds like you could try a UV sterilizer.

Also, hippo tang is not a good idea in a 40 gallon tank.

 

[Greg B.]

sounds like you could try a UV sterilizer.

Also, hippo tang is not a good idea in a 40 gallon tank.

It's small and I am planning to get a 150 gal soon

 

[TX_REEF]

It's small and I am planning to get a 150 gal soon

the sooner the better!

 

[Naekuh]

It's small and I am planning to get a 150 gal soon

Problem is they stunt growth when people do that.

Soon would need to be soon, as blue hippos grow fast, and if they don't have room they get stressed, and if they get stressed, well, they are one of the biggest ich magnets i have ever had, that i swore i would avoid if possible.

 

[Uncle99]

MG is low, potentially leading to precipitation in the water?
Check that and bump to 1359-1400ppm

 

[Greg B.]

Problem is they stunt growth when people do that.

Soon would need to be soon, as blue hippos grow fast, and if they don't have room they get stressed, and if they get stressed, well, they are one of the biggest ich magnets i have ever had, that i swore i would not get away, and try to avoid if possible.

The thread is about water quality. Not my choice of fish.

 

[Uncle99]

It's small and I am planning to get a 150 gal soon

Should get ya out 2 years before upgrade required.
This one in a 65G 3 years before upgrade with an yellow as well.

 

[The_Paradox]

The thread was about water quality. Not my choice of fish.

Fixed for you. Photo would help as would numbers. Lots of things can cause cloudy water.

 

[Marquarium]

I've had success using aquaclear filters when i've had water cloudyness.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Also is your carbon tumbling?

Might've missed it too but what is your current filtration system? Canister filter or sump or hob?

 

[Greg B.]

I've had success using aquaclear filters when i've had water cloudyness.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Also is your carbon tumbling?

Might've missed it too but what is your current filtration system? Canister filter or sump or hob?

Hob for a 75 gal carbon sits pretty tightly inside the filter. It's all of a sudden as well.

 

[The_Paradox]

Hob for a 75 gal carbon sits pretty tightly inside the filter. It's all of a sudden as well.

With limited information my official guess is bacteria.

 

[Greg B.]

Fixed for you. Photo would help as would numbers. Lots of things can cause cloudy water.

 

[Greg B.]

Fixed for you. Photo would help as would numbers. Lots of things can cause cloudy water.

What other numbers do you need? Did I forget something that isn't in the main post?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is there any flow in the tank?

 

[Naekuh]

That looks like a Bacteria bloom if you said 2 weeks AFTER water change.
I don't believe its your Calcium precipitating out with your Mg levels being in range.

For now as a precausion i would drop a air stone and oxygenate your tank as a safty incase it is a bacteria bloom. As your saturated O2 will tank by the result of it.

 

[Greg B.]

That looks like a Bacteria bloom if you said 2 weeks AFTER water change.
I don't believe its your Calcium precipitating out with your Mg levels being in range.

For now as a precausion i would drop a air stone and oxygenate your tank as a safty incase it is a bacteria bloom. As your saturated O2 will tank by the result of it.

Is this something I should wait out?

 

[Naekuh]

Is this something I should wait out?

yes... dont do water changes as it can prolong the bloom.

A UV will help greatly in this situation as well.
But make sure u get your water oxygenated, before your fish start gasping.

 

[Greg B.]

Is there any flow in the tank?

I have 1 mp20