Cloudy water for about 3 weeks..

Rham1281 · Apr 13, 2023

Ive had my 75 gallon up and running for about 3 months now. Water started off crystal clear then I did a water change (disturbed the sand a bit too much which I'm sure is the cause) and it's been cloudy ever since. I have my skimmer running, keeping the filter socks clear, and I have an air stone going as well.
The water is also green when I do a change.

Here is a stock list:
2 Clowns
1 Valentini Puffer
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Hermit
1 Red Mushroom
1 Kenya Tree

Parameters:
Temp: 76F
pH 8.2
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0.0ppm - .25ppm
Salinity: 35
PO: .25ppm
Ca: 430
Lighting: 2 150W Viparspectras: white-1% blue-9% (currently only have one on to reduce light as there was a lot of green floating in the tank)

Is it just a bacterial bloom or something else?
Other than wait it out, is there anything you would recommend?

Troylee · Apr 13, 2023

Possibly bacteria and algae.. sounds more like algae thou..

Troylee · Apr 13, 2023

Have you tried any carbon? Or a uv sterilizer?

Rham1281 · Apr 13, 2023

Troylee said:
Have you tried any carbon? Or a uv sterilizer?

Ill give carbon a shot.

slopigyo · Apr 13, 2023

put some live rock in?

Shibaken3 · Apr 13, 2023

that is bad never seen such a cloudy tank. I use carbon on mine but if its that bad maybe getting a uv sterilizer is better.

Rham1281 · Apr 15, 2023

Rham1281 said:
Ive had my 75 gallon up and running for about 3 months now. Water started off crystal clear then I did a water change (disturbed the sand a bit too much which I'm sure is the cause) and it's been cloudy ever since. I have my skimmer running, keeping the filter socks clear, and I have an air stone going as well.
The water is also green when I do a change.

Here is a stock list:
2 Clowns
1 Valentini Puffer
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Hermit
1 Red Mushroom
1 Kenya Tree

Parameters:
Temp: 76F
pH 8.2
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0.0ppm - .25ppm
Salinity: 35
PO: .25ppm
Ca: 430
Lighting: 2 150W Viparspectras: white-1% blue-9% (currently only have one on to reduce light as there was a lot of green floating in the tank)

Is it just a bacterial bloom or something else?
Other than wait it out, is there anything you would recommend?

Update:
Added a UV sterilizer and a bag of carbon and less than 24 hours here are the results

Shibaken3 · Apr 15, 2023

looks like it's getting better I can see the fish, give us an update again.

officetank · Apr 15, 2023

This might be a weird question, but hows your water flow in the tank? I am no expert, but water quality seems to degrade with stagnant water. Now I'm not sure about algae, but I know bacteria thrive better in lower-flow settings.

Rham1281 · Apr 16, 2023

officetank said:
This might be a weird question, but hows your water flow in the tank? I am no expert, but water quality seems to degrade with stagnant water. Now I'm not sure about algae, but I know bacteria thrive better in lower-flow settings.

I have my return pump at about 750gph.
Im planning on getting a power head soon to help a little.

Rham1281 · Apr 16, 2023

Rham1281 said:
Ive had my 75 gallon up and running for about 3 months now. Water started off crystal clear then I did a water change (disturbed the sand a bit too much which I'm sure is the cause) and it's been cloudy ever since. I have my skimmer running, keeping the filter socks clear, and I have an air stone going as well.
The water is also green when I do a change.

Here is a stock list:
2 Clowns
1 Valentini Puffer
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Hermit
1 Red Mushroom
1 Kenya Tree

Parameters:
Temp: 76F
pH 8.2
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0.0ppm - .25ppm
Salinity: 35
PO: .25ppm
Ca: 430
Lighting: 2 150W Viparspectras: white-1% blue-9% (currently only have one on to reduce light as there was a lot of green floating in the tank)

Is it just a bacterial bloom or something else?
Other than wait it out, is there anything you would recommend?

48 hours after carbon and UV

Vested · Apr 16, 2023

Turn your lights down to the bare minimum or even off and if its a water born algae will be completely clear in a day. Then work your way back up slowly, uv looks like its helping as well!

Rham1281 · Apr 16, 2023

Vested said:
Turn your lights down to the bare minimum or even off and if its a water born algae will be completely clear in a day. Then work your way back up slowly, uv looks like its helping as well!

I'll give that a shot too!

hexcolor reef · Apr 16, 2023

The comments really helped turn your tank around. Looking great!!!!

Icryhard · Apr 16, 2023

Rham1281 said:
Ill give carbon a shot.

Do you use filter floss as well? That helps as well.

Rham1281 · Apr 17, 2023

Rham1281 said:
Ive had my 75 gallon up and running for about 3 months now. Water started off crystal clear then I did a water change (disturbed the sand a bit too much which I'm sure is the cause) and it's been cloudy ever since. I have my skimmer running, keeping the filter socks clear, and I have an air stone going as well.
The water is also green when I do a change.

Here is a stock list:
2 Clowns
1 Valentini Puffer
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Hermit
1 Red Mushroom
1 Kenya Tree

Parameters:
Temp: 76F
pH 8.2
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0.0ppm - .25ppm
Salinity: 35
PO: .25ppm
Ca: 430
Lighting: 2 150W Viparspectras: white-1% blue-9% (currently only have one on to reduce light as there was a lot of green floating in the tank)

Is it just a bacterial bloom or something else?
Other than wait it out, is there anything you would recommend?

Tank finally looking closer to normal.
Added carbon to my sump, a 24W Green Killing Machine, and my lights are both turned down to the lowest setting.