Cloudy tank

[Jay Williams]

Hey everyone, I have a 100G FOWLR tank setup for about a month and initially I had a blue and yellow tang in there and had no issues. I then added a lavender and scopas tang (yes the scopas and yellow fight here and there) but the other day I had a massive algae bloom and the tank is cloudy now and I’ve read that I need to feed less and do more water changes. I have a 55g reef tank with almost 15 corals 7 fish and the water is Chrystal clear…but it’s a year old established tank. Do I need to let my 100G become more established or should I be looking to do larger water changes? I also have 2 hang on back filters but I was thinking about investing in a protein skimmer or maybe a canister filter. Any thoughts ?

 

[Lavey29]

Doesn't seem like enough filtration for 100g tank and adding 4 fish the first month compounded your problem. Your tank is going to go through various ugly stages the first year. You are currently having an algae or bacteria bloom and may want to add an airstone as they occasionally become toxic for fish. You also don't need lights the first 4 months to allow your tank to develop biodiversity and microfauna.

 

[Jay Williams]

Doesn't seem like enough filtration for 100g tank and adding 4 fish the first month compounded your problem. Your tank is going to go through various ugly stages the first year. You are currently having an algae or bacteria bloom and may want to add an airstone as they occasionally become toxic for fish. You also don't need lights the first 4 months to allow your tank to develop biodiversity and microfauna.

I figured, alright I’ll lower the lights I suppose?

 

[Lavey29]

I figured, alright I’ll lower the lights I suppose?

You don't need lights with no coral and your tank will build biodiversity then after several months turn them on and your ugly stages will be much more manageable. Run carbon and water changes to help clear the bloom.

 

[Jay Williams]

You don't need lights with no coral and your tank will build biodiversity then after several months turn them on and your ugly stages will be much more manageable. Run carbon and water changes to help clear the bloom.

Got it, should I removed the fish?

 

[DJF]

Got it, should I removed the fish?

IMHO the fish should be fine in there (assuming it was cycled). I agree to add oxygen and you asked about a skimmer- it wouldn’t a be bad add for the air exchange. If you have powerheads in the tank you can put them near the surface to agitate it which will add oxygen. You can add competing bottled bacteria (microbacter7/dr Tim’s)

 

[Jay Williams]

IMHO the fish should be fine in there (assuming it was cycled). I agree to add oxygen and you asked about a skimmer- it wouldn’t a be bad add for the air exchange. If you have powerheads in the tank you can put them near the surface to agitate it which will add oxygen. You can add competing bottled bacteria (microbacter7/dr Tim’s)

The tank was cycled and went through an initial algae bloom and ammonia spike , I I have a power head already running close to the top so maybe all I need is a skimmer? Not sure also maybe a canister filter ?

 

[Lavey29]

Got it, should I removed the fish?

No, unless they start showing signs of distress. Just water change and add an airstone for couple days till the bloom goes away. Fish don't need lights at all. Make sure your powerheads are rippling the water surface for good gas exchange.

 

[Jay Williams]

No, unless they start showing signs of distress. Just water change and add an airstone for couple days till the bloom goes away. Fish don't need lights at all.

Got it, thanks they’re all eating and not showing stress signs as of yet