Nitrite Issue

[Josh Hobgood]

Your salt mix had hw-Marinemix Reefer contained Calcium at 445-450 ppm, Alk of 9.0 dKH, Magnesium at 1380 ppm. Unless you added something to make it higher or your salinity is way off. Its hard to get to 600ppm cal with just salt.
As far as the cloud. It could be bacterial or could be algae. Do you have a carbon reactor? Do you have a UV sterilizer? Do you have a skimmer?

I have a Carbon Reactor, GFO Reactor, and a Skimmer.

 

[lapin]

Set your skimmer to wet skim and reduce your lighting. You will need to monitor salinity as your top off water will not have salt. Replace the wet skim with saltwater. Let us know if it has any effect.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

Set your skimmer to wet skim and reduce your lighting. You will need to monitor salinity as your top off water will not have salt. Replace the wet skim with saltwater. Let us know if it has any effect.

What are we looking for in doing so?

 

[lapin]

We are looking to remove the suspended stuff in the water column and by reducing the light we hope to stop the new growth of algae.
Since your tank is new, Im going to add a few things.
In my experience alk will not be stable for another few months. As things grow they will consume it. Algae and some bacteria can cause it to drop. Let it drop. Things will equalize and you will see it stablize. If it drops to an unsafe point then you might think about dosing. Your water changes should keep it high enough to be safe.
Right now I would avoid dosing anything. You dont want to fuel whats making your tank cloudy. Water changes could even be fueling the cloud. If the cloud does persist then you might look at a UV sterilizer or Dr Tims makes a Waste Away product that is a type of bacteria that might compete with your cloud.
I think you are just going thru one of those stages that will pass with time.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

It seems to be a bit better today. I'll try leaving it alone and sticking to 12 gallon weekly water changes. How does this sound for now?

 

[Wendy Rodgers]

I notice you have a sandbed... if you are using a crushed substrate with shell in it that can raise your calcium as well.

+1 on salinity being to high as well as that will give you elevated numbers to.

What are u using to test salinity?

 

[Josh Hobgood]

I notice you have a sandbed... if you are using a crushed substrate with shell in it that can raise your calcium as well.

+1 on salinity being to high as well as that will give you elevated numbers to.

What are u using to test salinity?

A Refractometer for BRS

 

[Porkstar]

PSA: Always calibrate the refractometer before every use.

 

[Josh Hobgood]

PSA: Always calibrate the refractometer before every use.

I always do!

 

[Josh Hobgood]

It is amazing how the bloom goes away at night and gets so strong during the day