New to the Saltwater community!!

[CandyJack]

Hi everyone I'm Dennis and I'm new to the saltwater world. I bought a 36gal bow front tank with an eshopps 70gal skimmer I'm also running the aqua clear 110 filter with the sponge, carb, and the bio filter medium, I'm running the aquamana LEDs, I try to mimic sunrise and sunset. I have a cleaning crew, 2 damsels, one sand sifting starfish and a goby. The tank has been running for 6 months and for some reason I can't get my water clear, it's milky. I do 50% water change every week and it still doesn't change. Has anyone used Kent Marine Water Clarifier? I haven't tried it yet, open to new suggestions!
Thanks Dennis

 

[melypr1985]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[CandyJack]

Thanks!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Welcome to R2R @CandyJack . I'm torn on the milky water. If it's bacterial, it should eventually clear. Otherwise, I'd try running carbon and see what that does.

 

[twilliard]

Welcome to R2R
What I am seeing is the lack of mechanical filtration.
Probably fine sand dust that the filter is unable to trap. 100 micron perhaps
You can also look into a skimmer that will help remove the fine dust

 

[Tahoe61]

Welcome.

The tank has stayed this way for 6 months? I would try some the water Kent Marine Water Clarifier.

Are you dosing anything currently?

 

[CandyJack]

@Tahoe61 I'm just checking ph, nitrate and I do make sure that the alkalinity is at 1.021-1.023. I do keep my power heads running 24/7 and my skimmer running non stop
I use RO water as well (Glacier water)

 

[CandyJack]

I did buy carbon and I have it in a bag on top of the filter sponge inside the aquaclear filter

 

[Tahoe61]

Your SG should come up a little imo, I like it right around 1.025 if you're keeping corals.

Try the Clarifier and if it does not resolve follow up with another post.

 

[ice28720]

hi

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R

 

[Wiz]

Welcome. I personally do not believe the clarifier will help you out. If you've been doing water changes and it has not gotten any better Then I don't think that the problem will be solved. I would go with filtration rather than the clarifier. Carbon and a good filter sock.When you say on top of the filter sponge, The carbon is getting good water contact correct?Also you might want to look into that sand sifting star I'm not sure that it is something you should have at this point. The general impression people have is that they eat junk out of the sand. This is at least mostly untrue. They actually feed on macro fauna that lives in your sand. Even if you have a healthy population it can decimate it pretty fast.And the macro fauna is what actually eats the gunk. So they can be counterproductive.I absolutely love your cave work. Big fan of caves.I look forward to seeing your tank grow. Oh, & I agree that you should raise your Specific gravity - 1.024 or higher. My guess is that most keep it around 1025 or 10026.

 

[CandyJack]

Yes I put the carbon in a good filter sock and it's getting good water flow, would a canister filter do a better job than the HOB filter??

 

[Wiz]

In my opinion no. Canister filters are just a place for Food and other crap to collect.And they are a bit harder to clean that I hang on. I would stick with the hang on for now. Maybe try some smaller micron filter pads. I'm not sure what you have in it at this points

 

[spspirate]

Welcome to REEF2REEF!!!

 

[Reeferfourlife]

Welcome To R2R! What type of salt are you using? do you have a sump? I agree with some advise here that you might be lacking mechanical filter.

 

[CandyJack]

Hi Reeferfourlife I'm using instant ocean (orange bag) I'm not currently using a sump.
@Wiz I bought the aquaclear110 filter sponge, then I have PhosCarb in a filter sock and on top of all that I have the bio filter (looks like Combos made of ceramic maybe??)

 

[Wiz]

I think for saltwater the filter sponge that comes with it is not very useful. I would switch to a Low micron poly pad. I'm honestly not sure what phoscarb is.Unless you're just abbreviating two separate medias. Bulk reef supply has a fantastic video on the effectiveness of different carbons. I would go with a GAC. Rox 8 seems to be the best

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Your original post said you have a skimmer and an hob filter? A 110 g hob and a 75 g skimmer?
Is that right?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Id say there's too much filtration, but I like it dirty too. Couple things. Are those ditoms or brown algae in left back corner and on some rocks? Are any of your rocks "real reef rock" the painted seeded type?
and are you using any bacterial additives. MB7 Prime Biro spira?