No idea what to do.

[scottberto]

Hello, thank you for your time- I have this cloudy water in my tank for 3x weeks. I have tried new filter, filter floss, carbon, GFO, water changes up the wazoo, copepods, etc. I have had no fish deaths, and my corals seem to be happy still. How do i fix this.

 

[flashsmith]

UV sterilizer.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Can you post your parameters?

It's tough without context to know what we're looking at - bacteria, algae, particulate, precipitation.

Having any drops in calcium, alk or mag? How are you mixing your saltwater? If you turn on your whites more, does it have colour or does it look more like snow? Or is it more milky?

 

[Reef Stallion]

Kalk?

 

[Jamie814]

Hard to tell from the picture but it looks like a bacteria bloom. A UV sterilizer would take care of it IF it's this.

 

[Fishy888]

Could something have died? Either way it looks like a bacterial bloom. A UV sterilizer would help but a water change would work much faster, especially if you’re reading any ammonia with a non API kit.

What are your parameters currently? How old is the tank?

 

[scottberto]

Sorry for the wait. Here are current parameters

ph- 8.27

Salinity- 1.025

Calcium 450

Magnesium 1130

Nitrate 12-15

Phos .02

 

[Cell]

What are you dosing?

 

[scottberto]

Nothing other than weekly water changes with Aquaforest reef salt. I’ve had trouble keeping my Mg up, i bought a bag of aqua forest Mg, but am yet to use it

 

[scottberto]

I feed my corals weekly- start with 1ml of polyphooster, then small amount of reef roids

 

[Uncle99]

Mg is low. Can result in cloudiness.
Phosphate is low low.
Bump them.

 

[scottberto]

Mg is low. Can result in cloudiness.
Phosphate is low low.
Bump them.

Thanks Unc

 

[flashsmith]

Reef roids would always foul up my tank. Most of it ends up going into filtration or polluting your sump.

 

[Paul B]

How do i fix this.

I don't think you have to fix anything. Don't feed for a couple of days, including dosing and coral food. It is probably a bacterial bloom and will clear on it's own and leave the tank healthier than it is now. As long as the fish are not gasping at the surface don't worry about it.

I would however increase surface agitation as those bacteria use a lot of oxygen.

 

[jimk60]

Mg is low. Can result in cloudiness.
Phosphate is low low.
Bump them.

Personally I think phosphate is ok. Just don't want it any lower than that.

 

[CoralB]

Adding a bottled bacteria like microbactor 7 can help clear this up if it is a bacteria bloom . But if you’ve always wanted one and you have the cash then get a UV light it will keep your water clear .

 

[scottberto]

I don't think you have to fix anything. Don't feed for a couple of days, including dosing and coral food. It is probably a bacterial bloom and will clear on it's own and leave the tank healthier than it is now. As long as the fish are not gasping at the surface don't worry about it.

I would however increase surface agitation as those bacteria use a lot of oxygen.

I’m assuming the fish will all be fine if I don’t feed for a few days?

 

[jimk60]

Your fish will be fine if you don't feed for a few days. I had a bacterial problem like yours and used a green machine UV sterilizer and it cleared it up in a few days. That was a few years ago and hasn't been a problem since

 

[Paul B]

I’m assuming the fish will all be fine if I don’t feed for a few days?

They will be fine for a few weeks and some fish can get by for a few months. But don't do that.

 

[scottberto]

Dang had no idea. UV coming Tuesday, hopefully that will help! Thank you all for the assistance and kind words.