Nitrite and ammonia

[saturn13]

Hi everyone,

So I went on vacation and it was just after the tropical storm hit the area, and I left my tank in the care of family and there were apparent issues with my ato not working which causes my parameters to go wild, also with some water changes recently my water keeps going cloudy, all parameters are good except i dont have a good nitrite test or ammonia test, I'm assuming this is it. Phosphate at 0.00 and nitrate at 0.10. my system is a frag tank, 45 gallon with a 29 gallon sump fill half way. I don't have much in the sump other than some rubble rock, just added more but i think my biggest issue and the reason for the cloudy water is lack of bacteria and places for it to thrive. Should I stop water changes? add more in sump for rubble and add more nitrfying bacteria?
Thanks

 

[Spare time]

If it is bare bottom then cloudy would may sense. Consider adding some biomedia or more rubble and bacteria. Alternatively, you could get a green machine UV or something similar to help clear it up. What test do you have for ammonia? Even if it is a cruddy test, they can still indicate some ammonia.

 

[saturn13]

If it is bare bottom then cloudy would may sense. Consider adding some biomedia or more rubble and bacteria. Alternatively, you could get a green machine UV or something similar to help clear it up. What test do you have for ammonia? Even if it is a cruddy test, they can still indicate some ammonia.

No more test left, ordered more coming by tomorrow hopefully.

 

[Spare time]

No more test left, ordered more coming by tomorrow hopefully.

Did you add bacteria when you started the tank?

 

[saturn13]

Did you add bacteria when you started the tank?

No, but I pulled rock from my prior tank.

 

[Spare time]

No, but I pulled rock from my prior tank.

It might be a good idea to add some more or of different types

 

[saturn13]

I added some rock to sump, I added some MarinePure Gems to a HOB filter that only has bio media in it and some DR Tims Bacteria, it's starting to clear up - i'll be adding more rock to my sump, look like local store just got sone good live rock with alage growing on it.

 

[saturn13]

Can't see from pics all that well, but didnt have much surface foe bacteria to grow, just my homemade alage scrubber and some rubble.