Particles in water/tank glass

[Mickie]

You guys are going to get sick of me!

My gross diatom bloom is starting to go away, either by die off or my CUC is doing a really good job.

I just did a 20% WC and added my skimmer, which is already pulling gross stuff.

Since then though, I've got some white particles floating in my tank like dust, and it's also on my tank walls (with little white bugs).

Is this normal? Is this diatom die off or something else?

Thank you!

Water parameters:

pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0 or close to 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: about 20 (down from 40 after WC)

 

[Mickie]

 

[Brandon42]

the little white bugs are copepods and they are a good thing! algae grazers and your fish will eat them.

 

[Mickie]

the little white bugs are copepods and they are a good thing! algae grazers and your fish will eat them.

Thanks! Any idea why the water has particles in it?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Could be micro bubbles from your new skimmer. could go away once it's broken in.

Thanks! Any idea why the water has particles in it?

 

[Brandon42]

Thanks! Any idea why the water has particles in it?

what do the particles look like? could it just be salt or are they bigger? i get the dusty looking algae as well but it usually stays to the glass only.

 

[Mickie]

what do the particles look like? could it just be salt or are they bigger? i get the dusty looking algae as well but it usually stays to the glass only.

It could be salt? It looks like dust in my tank. They're suuuuuuuuper tiny.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

No your salt will dissolve in the mixing container. or, at least it should be.

 

[Brandon42]

It could be salt? It looks like dust in my tank. They're suuuuuuuuper tiny.

do you have a better picture? i always have tiny white specs goin through my water always assumed it was salt.

 

[Mickie]

So, basically my tank looks cloudy.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Salt will eventually dissolve or fall to the bottom, in most cases. usually when you see tiny floaties it's micro bubbles. possibly sand if something stirred up the sand bed, but that would settle eventually.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Did you have this issue before the skimmer?

So, basically my tank looks cloudy.

 

[Brandon42]

sometimes i get cloudy water after a water change, could be micro bubbles as well though, maybe your skimmers out put it to close to the return pump. do you have asump?

 

[Mickie]

I noticed it was cloudy right before I did my first water change and added the skimmer.

To be honest, I think it got cloudy after I added cuc to get my diatom bloom.