cloudy issues

[jeffh231979]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a 3 chambered 20 gallon sump ACCORDING to my local fish store that helped me set this up the sump is the ONLY filter I need but I have noticed that the 55 is cloudy mst of the time how can i clear this upi really want a crystal clear tank please help

 

[florida reef]

A 3 chambered sump? Do you have a skimmer/fuge running? The cloudiness could be a couple of different things. How long has the tank been up?

 

[jeffh231979]

from i have been told i am running a fuge no skimmer YET and i have had it up for about 4 months now

 

[Dave3112]

Agree with Florida Reef for us to really help you we need more info on your equipment as well as your tank. Do you have any livestock? What kind? How about Live rock and sand? What are you using for circulation and are you running a skimmer? How long has the tank been set up?

 

[jeffh231979]

yes there is live rock and sand in it. it has an overflow box into the first chamber then flows to the second in the second chamber there is live rock and sand as well then it goes into the third chamber with a power head which pumps it into spray bar. I have some corals dont know the names and 4 fish, a pair of clowns yellow tang and a blue damsel

 

[florida reef]

What kind of macro algae is in the fuge? Could the mist be micro bubbles?

 

[Dave3112]

Could your fish be stirring up your sand and causing it to be cloudy? Or is one of your power heads stirring it up a little?

 

[jeffh231979]

they did not tell me to put macro algae they did tell me to put a light above the sump tank and it would grow its own algae which it has

 

[Oiseau Reefer]

Hate to ask but who told you to set it up this way? What store I would run some carbon in a bag perform a 20 percent water change and maybe think of doing a filter sock in the first chamber at the discharge and invest in a skimmer but the filter sock water change and carbon will help a ton until you can get a skimmer also what kind of lights are you running and have you tested your water recently sorry lots of questions ! But it will best help us solve your problems

 

[jeffh231979]

water test was done yesterday everything was good(i went to another fish store) longer drive but oh well.... water change was done yesterday as well and right now i have a 48" 2 bulb t5 light

 

[Oiseau Reefer]

Do you remember what the parameters were
What was
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate
What store hooked you up?? With the set up ??? It could be that your tank isn't ionicly balanced that is causing the cloudiness as well. Does the water have a milky appearance?

 

[jeffh231979]

Do you remember what the parameters were
What was
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate
What store hooked you up?? With the set up ??? It could be that your tank isn't ionicly balanced that is causing the cloudiness as well. Does the water have a milky appearance?

no i dont remember the numbers they said everything was my salinity was a little low brought it up during the water change, yes it has a milky look to it. CT AQUATICS told me how to put it together I dont go there any more due to other issues

 

[Troylee]

Do you have anyone local that could hook ya up with some chateo or another macro algae??? A skimmer is really what you want but there is ways around it untill funds permit since they do get expensive...
Get some carbon running also like mentioned earlier...

 

[jeffh231979]

yeah I can go to another fish store that i trust now to get some should i get both the algae and the carbon?

 

[jeffh231979]

I have been reading all night so far and found out about using a carbon reactor. now looking at the pics of one the size of fittings are different then the overflow hose how would or where would i install it

 

[_Alex_]

i woudlnt worry to much about a carbon reactor at this point... your money would be better spent on a skimmer right now. and yes you could run the carbon and algae. when u go to the LFS just ask them for some macro algae to put in the refuge of your sump. do you have a light on your sump? and i aggree with above if your water is milky cloudy sounds like things are not in balance. and there are some really good cheaper skimmers out there so u dont have to spend $300+ a swc 150 would work great on that and its less than $200. also make sure none of your current makers are pointing at the sand and stirring it up. if the sand cant settle out of the water column that will make it look cloudy as well

 

[Troylee]

I have been reading all night so far and found out about using a carbon reactor. now looking at the pics of one the size of fittings are different then the overflow hose how would or where would i install it

if you wanna reactor that's great and way better than a mesh bag imho... look in tlf "two little fishies" phosban 150 reactors.... really simple and cheap, you can't go wrong....the reacotr it's self will sit in the sump or hang on the side of the sump....