Really Cloudy Water

BamboozleBean · Oct 18, 2020

Hello everybody,

I recently rescaped my tank and removed the sand, I am aware of the consequences it could have to my tank. After rescaping I have been suffering from cloudy water during the last few days. I have quite a lot of flow going so I’m not sure if some stuff still needs to settle at the bottom or if it’s a bacteria bloom of sorts. I am running carbon and filter floss in a sock.

Daddy-o · Oct 18, 2020

Gonna take time. I make it a habit on my bare bottom to suck the crap off the tank bottom when I do a water change.
Cheers! Mark

cshouston · Oct 18, 2020

When you removed the sand, you destabilized the bacterial balance in the tank. It’s a bloom that will go away with time. It’s nothing to worry about.

Just keep an eye on your water parameters and perform water changes if anything starts to look bad.

BamboozleBean · Oct 18, 2020

cshouston said:
When you removed the sand, you destabilized the bacterial balance in the tank. It’s a bloom that will go away with time. It’s nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye on your water parameters and perform water changes if anything starts to look bad.

Thanks, I had a suspicion that was it.
I only have inverts and a montipora. So there isn’t a strain on tube bipolar right now.

Aqua Man · Oct 19, 2020

Were you dosing carbon before the re scape? Dial back your dose amount either way. Blooms can be caused by adding to much carbon to fast.

Pistol Peet · Oct 19, 2020

If it's been like that a couple days I'd say bacteria Bloom some water changes or a UV sterilizer will help take care of this I'm sure after removing Sand that has been there for a while the bacterial Bloom is definitely not out of the question

vetteguy53081 · Oct 19, 2020

Bacterial bloom
Generally settles down in 24-48 hrs
If not, you can add carbon or preferably chemipure blue

BamboozleBean · Oct 20, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Bacterial bloom
Generally settles down in 24-48 hrs
If not, you can add carbon or preferably chemipure blue

I added some chemi pure blue as soon as a put all the water back in.
It still seems to be cloudy after 3 days now.

BamboozleBean · Oct 20, 2020

Aqua Man said:
Were you dosing carbon before the re scape? Dial back your dose amount either way. Blooms can be caused by adding to much carbon to fast.

I was always running carbon media, but I added and a packet of chemi pure blue to the filter sock.

BamboozleBean · Oct 20, 2020

Here is the tank 2 days after this post.

cshouston · Oct 20, 2020

BamboozleBean said:
I was always running carbon media, but I added and a packet of chemi pure blue to the filter sock.

He meant carbon dosing like vodka/vinegar/nopox. That being said, I don’t know why someone suggested chemipure to eliminate the cloudiness. It won’t make a difference. You just have to wait out the imbalance. Removing sand is a major destabilizing event. The bacteria will eventually find a new equilibrium, but it’ll take some time and patience. The only thing you can use to clear it right away is a UV sterilizer.

BamboozleBean · Oct 20, 2020

cshouston said:
He meant carbon dosing like vodka/vinegar/nopox. That being said, I don’t know why someone suggested chemipure to eliminate the cloudiness. It won’t make a difference. You just have to wait out the imbalance. Removing sand is a major destabilizing event. The bacteria will eventually find a new equilibrium, but it’ll take some time and patience. The only thing you can use to clear it right away is a UV sterilizer.

Okay I wasn’t sure about that either. I will give it a few more days.

Aqua Man · Oct 20, 2020

Mis read, wasn’t awake yet apparently!! Just saw carbon and thought that might of caused your bloom.

I purposely caused a bloom with Vodka. Went on for over a week. Added some microbacter 7 to bring things back in balance. Also a bare bottom tank. Cleared up in a couple days after a few doses of MB7. Could be coincidence.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 20, 2020

BamboozleBean said:
I was always running carbon media, but I added and a packet of chemi pure blue to the filter sock.

If you added it to filter sock, it will not be effective. Place in sump in path of running water and also allowing sock to entrap small micron particles that is making water cloudy

BamboozleBean · Oct 20, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
If you added it to filter sock, it will not be effective. Place in sump in path of running water and also allowing sock to entrap small micron particles that is making water cloudy

I have an all in one 25 gallon, so the sock is in the back. But same idea, I don’t know if the sock would be able to help if it’s a bacterial problem though.

BamboozleBean · Oct 20, 2020

Aqua Man said:
Mis read, wasn’t awake yet apparently!! Just saw carbon and thought that might of caused your bloom.

I purposely caused a bloom with Vodka. Went on for over a week. Added some microbacter 7 to bring things back in balance. Also a bare bottom tank. Cleared up in a couple days after a few doses of MB7. Could be coincidence.

It’s alright no problem, I changed mine to a bare bottom I was having too many problems with sand I am 99% sure that’s the cause of the bloom. I need to get new rodi filters but would a water change help?

vetteguy53081 · Oct 20, 2020

BamboozleBean said:
It’s alright no problem, I changed mine to a bare bottom I was having too many problems with sand I am 99% sure that’s the cause of the bloom. I need to get new rodi filters but would a water change help?

Water change may or may not
Being a bloom, filter sock will entrap those particles.