Struggling with water clarity

[bugzy]

Hello all. I have been really struggling with my water clarity for a month now. I sent in a ICP test and my phosphates were high so added rowaphos. I have also in the last week added some carbon (in a bag) to both the front end (removed filter sock and added the carbon in there and add carbon in the back end as well before leaving for the return pump. In the middle I have a skimmer which is pulling out some ugly stuff (nice thick dark foam head) but yet my water is so cloudy.
Any thoughts or suggestions would help.

 

[lapin]

The tank looks new. I would say watch it for a week and see how it goes. The cloudy water maybe a bacterial bloom.

 

[Billldg]

Hard to say, but it looks like a diatom or bacteria outbreak. Do you have any fish in the tank? The reason I ask is, if not, I would did a massive water change. Actually, it doesn't matter, as it will deplete the water column of oxygen, so I still recommend a massive water change either way. If fish are in their, I would monitor their breathing.

 

[bugzy]

Hard to say, but it looks like a diatom or bacteria outbreak. Do you have any fish in the tank? The reason I ask is, if not, I would did a massive water change. Actually, it doesn't matter, as it will deplete the water column of oxygen, so I still recommend a massive water change either way. If fish are in their, I would monitor their breathing.

Yes have fish and did a roughly 70% water change from both the display and the sump yesterday.

 

[bugzy]

The tank looks new. I would say watch it for a week and see how it goes. The cloudy water maybe a bacterial bloom.

It’s roughly 3 months old now so yes still on the newish side

 

[Billldg]

Yes have fish and did a roughly 70% water change from both the display and the sump yesterday.

HMMM!!! Need to think about this.

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Gedxin]

Have you tested the TDS of your RODI water?

Also that looks like a pretty thick sand bed, around 2". Just a suggestion but you may think about scaling that down to closer to 1-1.5".

 

[JMetaxas]

Probably bacterial.

 

[Garf]

What circulation have you got?

 

[PeterC99]

Do you run a UV light?

 

[jhuntstl]

Are you dosing bacteria or anything? Something like MB7 or similar. Not suggesting you should, but these products can cause cloudy water.

 

[bugzy]

Do you run a UV light?

Do not have any UV

Have you tested the TDS of your RODI water?

Also that looks like a pretty thick sand bed, around 2". Just a suggestion but you may think about scaling that down to closer to 1-1.5".

Bout 10 tds coming in and 0 coming out. Salt mix is tropic marin.

 

[bugzy]

Are you dosing bacteria or anything? Something like MB7 or similar. Not suggesting you should, but these products can cause cloudy water.

I did add in microbactor7 a few days ago but water was already cloudy. Had a bit of nh3 (under 1) so wanted to add in some new bacteria.

 

[bugzy]

What circulation have you got?

Besides the return pump which is running at 70%, I have a Nero 3 and Nero 5 both running at around 1000 gpm each

 

[PeterC99]

You keep adding more chemicals to chase the problem.

Strong UV light and carbon through a reactor keep the water crystal clear. Here’s a pic from my phone:

 

[Garf]

Besides the return pump which is running at 70%, I have a Nero 3 and Nero 5 both running at around 1000 gpm each

Waited ages for mine to clear, it didn’t. Added a UV and 24hrs later, crystal clear.