New tank - cloudy water after adding salt

becks · Jul 16, 2016

I filled up my new tank with rodi water and heated it to 25c with the sump pump and powerheads on I added aquaforest reef salt, the salt mixed quick but I've still got cloudy water. I think I may have added the salt to quick? Whats the best way to get the water clear again? Can I switch the pumps off and add the sand or should I wait for the water to clear up?

The salt had no evidence of moisture inside and was new.

Leslie Tabor · Jul 16, 2016

Check your salinity. I find when I mix my new saltwater for my water changes, if I add too much salt the water stays cloudy, even if I add more fresh water it never gets as clear. I also notice an icky build up on the pump and heater when that happens.

reeferfoxx · Jul 16, 2016

Make sure you have mixed your salt to manufactures specifications. Some salt mixes require salt to mix before temp is increased. Others need temp at normal 24-26c. Some salt mixes mix fast and others might need 5 hours or so. How long has it been since the salt has noticeably mixed? You might need to wait a few more hours. I myself, wouldn't add anything till the cloud clears.

Salty1962 · Jul 16, 2016

Be sure to let some saltwater mix and airiat over night. I use Reef Crystals and I let it mix overnight and it's clear for use.

becks · Jul 16, 2016

It's been about 7 hours so far, current salinity is 33ppt tested using a dd refractometer and calibrated, I added the exact amount according to the dosage level they quote.

Here's the instructions

Designed for aquariums with more demanding SPS and LPS corals. It does not contain bromides and can be used with the assisted by ozone filtration. It does not contain any probiotic bacteria or growth media. Phosphate and nitrate free. Upon filling new marine tanks it is recommended to let animals in not earlier than after 10-14 days.
Instructions for use: Dissolve the salt in previously prepared demineralized water. Water temperature should be about 24`C (75`F). For salinity 33 ppt dissolve 3.80kg (8.4lbs) of salt in 100 liters (27 US gal.) of water. Stir the solution vigorously for about 15 minutes. When the salt is fully dissolved and the solution clear, the marine water is ready to use.
Aquaforest recommend to keep salinity between 33 to 35 ppt.

I done this, except instead of stiring by hand the sump pump and gyre done the stiring

reeferfoxx · Jul 16, 2016

Keep on waiting. The water has to clear.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 16, 2016

Most salt mixes have some calcium carbonate that needs to settle out. In an empty tank with flow going, it cannot settle.

becks · Jul 16, 2016

So should I switch off all the pumps and let it settle?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 16, 2016

What were you planning to do next? When you add rock there will be places for solids to settle out.

becks · Jul 16, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What were you planning to do next? When you add rock there will be places for solids to settle out.

I was going to add my live sand next, but wanted my tank water to return to normal first. I've switched the sump off and gyre. By switching everything off will this allow the calcium carbonate to dissolve/ clear up?

nwayne567 · Jul 16, 2016

I wouldn't worry to much about it, try and slowly add the sand and rocks, remember with new sand the water will get even cloudier!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 17, 2016

I agree. No need to wait for settling to add sand. That will cloud the water too.

becks · Jul 17, 2016

Thanks for the replies, I was just worried I had ruined the water/salt mix. I've added the sand

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 18, 2016

becks said:
Thanks for the replies, I was just worried I had ruined the water/salt mix. I've added the sand

Sounds good.

Let us know if it doesn't clear up.

becks · Jul 21, 2016

It's still not cleared up

it was improving after I installed a 100 micro filter sock and added a fine filter material in sump, I have some filter moss arriving tomorrow which I can also add. It got to a point when I could view the back of the tank, but I then rearranged the sand bed which I knew would stir things up again, but what was strange is when I rinsed the filter pad and sock the water looked like milk, when I originally added the salt I had to much water in the sump, I pumped this into an air tight container which now looks clear???

Would adding carbon into the sump help too? Or should I keep waiting?

becks · Jul 22, 2016

I added the filter floss this morning and within 4 hours it has made huge differences to the water quality, it's still cloudy but it's improving vastly, I'll add my rock rock and keep the floss in untill the water clears again.

Ponraj A · Jul 25, 2016

Hi all,
I am facing the same problem. I have added red sea coral pro salt for 600 lts as mentioned in the bucket and my salinity was only 25. Hence I have order some more salt and I mixed only for an hour and not like the first time for 6 hours as I have to leave my home urgently i did this mistake and now my water is cloudy and i have placed some dead rocks in my sump and waiting for my water to get clear.

becks · Jul 26, 2016

Did you have the water unheated as Red Sea say to mix their salt at room temperature. You may have done the same as me and added to fast, it will clear up in a few days, I used filter floss and it cleared in 24hrs

Ponraj A · Jul 26, 2016

HI becks,
Thanks for your reply. In India the room temperature is 29c and the mistake was I poured the mix fastly without allowing time to mix. Now I have added some dead rocks in my sump and its getting cleared slowly. Only after adding the rocks I can my skimmer is skimming. I hope it will get cleared in two days. I am having bio pellet reactor already and waiting for my phosban reactor to get which i have ordered in ebay. I have planned to add seachem matrix carbon and phosguard in the same reactor. Is it ok to do so.