Cloudy water need help

Alan600 · Jul 6, 2015

So i have 20g frag with sps for the last week I been trying to figure out why my water has been cloudy . I tested all my parameters and did a 5g water change and it got worst . I been doing research from what I read it could be bacteria bloom or over dosing alk or ca but I don't over feed or dose my tank . I add a chemipure blue to see it would help take away the cloudiness. Can anybody help me .
alk 8.4
CA 420
MG 1400
No3 2ppm
po4 .02

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 6, 2015

So you dose nothing?

How long has the tank been set up?

Alan600 · Jul 6, 2015

Will I do but it's not a lot . I probably dose 20ml of esv CA and 6 ml of esv alk solution a week . I normally just do water changes . It has been running for 8 months

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 6, 2015

When did the cloudiness begin in relation to the last dose?
Was it a manual dose? The two doses not at exactly the same time?

It may be bacterial, in which case it will likely go away on its own. You may be able to speed it up with a diatom filter or a UV, but the bacteria won't hurt anything and may actually feed corals.

miyags · Jul 6, 2015

I had a bacterial bloom in a QT, I added a UV sterilizer. The water cleared up in 3 days.

Alan600 · Jul 13, 2015

I'm still having trouble with the tank the cloudiness has not gone away . I've lost to frags I really don't know what to do . I have not dosed anyhing or added anything so I don't know what it is . Is it okay to add a uv to a sps tank ? I thought uv were bad for corals

nervousmonkey · Jul 13, 2015

No, UV doesn't affect corals. UV only affects what is in the water column. You'll be fine using a UV with your setup; it will definitely help and cannot hurt your sps at all.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 13, 2015

Alan600 said:
I'm still having trouble with the tank the cloudiness has not gone away . I've lost to frags I really don't know what to do . I have not dosed anyhing or added anything so I don't know what it is . Is it okay to add a uv to a sps tank ? I thought uv were bad for corals

Bacteria are unlikely to kill the frags, but a UV is a fine way to go (but expensive).

Alan600 · Jul 13, 2015

So my parameters must me off I been testing every other day . What is a good uv ? Corallife good brand for uv the they it at my lfs. Thank you guys for the help

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 13, 2015

I've never thought a UV would be useful for me, so I've not looked into specific brands.

Alan600 · Jul 13, 2015

Okay I really don't like them either . I really didn't want to put LR in the tank I had it in the sump but only could fit 5 pounds . Shold I just invest in some LR and put in the tank about 10 pounds

tfink660 · Jul 13, 2015

get some seachem clarity.. it will clear it up quickly..

twilliard · Jul 13, 2015

What filtration do you run?
from the picture could it be stirred up sand particles?

Alan600 · Jul 13, 2015

This what I have a 5 gal sump

twilliard · Jul 13, 2015

I am not thinking it is any sort of biological issue.
seems to be fine particulate in your water.
when you do your water changes do you use a white bucket?
I can tell a lot by the color and clarity of the water I change.
here is an odd way to determine biological load. Take a ph test (titration) and let it sit capped, watch how many hours it takes to turn yellow. If you have a high biological load it will turn yellow within 6 hours. If your load is ok it will take 12+ hours to turn yellow.
the bacteria available creates co2 which changes the color of your titration test.
no flaming please people, I have done this for years

twilliard · Jul 13, 2015

Here is an example of today's testing
I note the time taken and note the time of color change
To back this up take a ph test of newly mixed saltwater and a ph test of the tank. The one from the new mix will never change to yellow.
and mind that this also includes organics.

Alan600 · Jul 13, 2015

I use a 5 gal water jug . So its white because it has to much biological load ? I did notice when I feed the tank everyday it cleared out a bit but I stopped and it went back to being cloudy .

Alan600 · Jul 13, 2015

Can I use a salifert ph tesr can I use that ?

twilliard · Jul 13, 2015

Any titration test will work.
you fed every day?
I would perform this test if you are able to.
sounds like more small water changes will be needed if it changes yellow within 8-12 hours
Please remember this is just from my knowledge without having a microscope lol