Cloudy fresh mix

[CindyKz]

Hi all,

Over the weekend (Sat or Sunday? I don't remember) I mixed up about 35 gal water with Coralife salt, started heating and mixing with a powerhead. At some point someone flipped a switch so it stopped aerating and heating - no big deal. On Tuesday (yesterday) I turned the heater and powerhead back on, and added enough baked baking soda to raise the alk to 9.0. I let it mix awhile then did a water change using about half the water. At that point I turned off the powerhead and heat because I didn't plan to use it until next week.

Tonight I wanted to do a small water change in my QT so I went down and grabbed some water. It's very cloudy - I can't see the bottom of the container. My questions are what might have happened? and should I aerate and use if it clears up, or just toss it?

I've only done a couple of changes with the Coralife. If this is typical I might try something else.

Thanks,

Cindy

ETA: everything in my tanks looks fine.

 

[DLHDesign]

Any idea what the temp of your cloudy water was/is? At lower temps, the salt (and I presume other minerals) can precipitate out, causing the cloudiness. Heating the water should increase the solubility of these particles, which should restore the water to a clearer state - no harm done.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What was the alk before adding the baking soda? Almost never does a new salt mix need alkalinity.

The precipitate is likely just calcium carbonate, which is common in many mixes, especially high alk mixes. I'd let it settle and use it.

 

[CindyKz]

What was the alk before adding the baking soda? Almost never does a new salt mix need alkalinity.

The precipitate is likely just calcium carbonate, which is common in many mixes, especially high alk mixes. I'd let it settle and use it.

It was 6.something. I don't remember exactly. I was trying to stay away from high alk salt but that seemed really low to me. It has tested that way every time so far.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It was 6.something. I don't remember exactly. I was trying to stay away from high alk salt but that seemed really low to me. It has tested that way every time so far.

Something may be amiss because coralife does not typically have low alk. perhaps there is a kit error and the alk is higher than you think.

 

[CindyKz]

Something may be amiss because coralife does not typically have low alk. perhaps there is a kit error and the alk is higher than you think.

Thats always possible, though its a hanna checker and i tested it against the standard. It checked out ?