Very cloudy water, tried everything, help!

[Chris Van Daele]

Hello,

I have a Red Sea 425xl that’s been running for about a year. Recently it has developed extremely cloudy water and I can’t seem to fix it. I’ve added extra carbon both in a media bag in the sump as well as in a reactor , I tried turning the lights off for a few days, I’ve also done a series of large volume water changes but nothing seems to make a difference.

Any input is appreciated! My next step is trying ozone but it’s a cost I’d rather avoid.

 

[EmdeReef]

Can you post pics? What color is the cloudiness?

What fish do you have? Any corals?

Do you dose carbon or anything?

 

[Flippers4pups]

If the water is "white", it could be suspended particles of sand or it's bacterial.

If green, it's a algae bloom.

A UV unit should clear up both bacterial and algae blooms.

Running a sock for mechanical filtration should take out any suspended debris.

 

[Chris Van Daele]

The water is a “white” sort of cloudy. I’ve been changing my filter socks daily so I’m assuming it must be bacterial or algae? I have a fish only tank that is lightly stocked

Should I go with UV over ozone?

 

[Chris Van Daele]

Can you post pics? What color is the cloudiness?

What fish do you have? Any corals?

Do you dose carbon or anything?

I am dosing carbon, cloudiness is white, I have a naso tang, anthia, sifter goby, and porcupine puffer (very small), no corals

 

[Chris Van Daele]

If the water is "white", it could be suspended particles of sand or it's bacterial.

If green, it's a algae bloom.

A UV unit should clear up both bacterial and algae blooms.

Running a sock for mechanical filtration should take out any suspended debris.

Would you recommend using UV over ozone for clarity?

 

[Clownreef]

Can you post your parameters please? Ca, Alk, Mag.

Are you dosing anything? Are you using RO water?

 

[EmdeReef]

I am dosing carbon, cloudiness is white, I have a naso tang, anthia, sifter goby, and porcupine puffer (very small), no corals

In all likelihood carbon dosing is causing a bacterial bloom. I would discontinue for a few days and wait for the cloudiness to clear up.

Then if you want to continue carbon dosing start with 1/5th or less of the dose and slowly ramp up.

 

[Chris Van Daele]

In all likelihood carbon dosing is causing a bacterial bloom. I would discontinue for a few days and wait for the cloudiness to clear up.

Then if you want to continue carbon dosing start with 1/5th or less of the dose and slowly ramp up.

Sorry, I think I miss spoke, I am not dosing carbon, I am running activated carbon in the sump

 

[Chris Van Daele]

Can you post your parameters please? Ca, Alk, Mag.

Are you dosing anything? Are you using RO water?

I don’t have the exact values but everything looks good according to test strips. Since I don’t have corals I’m not typically as picky. I do use RO water

 

[SPR1968]

A UV-C should help with the water clarity and I personally run one 24/7

Ozone is different (and can be dangerous/lethal depending on how it’s used) so I would stick to the UV-C

It could also be a bacterial bloom of some kind or precipitation of something, so I would check all your foundation element parameters and see were you are.

 

[Clownreef]

I don’t have the exact values but everything looks good according to test strips. Since I don’t have corals I’m not typically as picky. I do use RO water

Test.....strips?

 

[Clownreef]

Parameters are important.

Its like going to the doctor and telling him you don't feel good and expect him to treat you with zero information.

If i have to guess ... and if you're not dosing anything, you're probably feeding too much and your photoperiod lasts too long..

Other than that id be guessing more.

 

[Chris Van Daele]

Test.....strips?

I use the strips for PH and alkalinity and the Red Sea kit for nitrate and phosphate.....other than that I don’t test as I always figured it wasn’t as important without corals and with weekly water changes most elements get replenished

 

[Chris Van Daele]

Parameters are important.

Its like going to the doctor and telling him you don't feel good and expect him to treat you with zero information.

If i have to guess ... and if you're not dosing anything, you're probably feeding too much and your photoperiod lasts too long..

Other than that id be guessing more.

Turning lights off for almost a week and reducing feeding didn’t help the issue

 

[Cell]

I think it would be better to try and figure out the cause and eliminate that rather than add more components to deal with it. Something must have changed recently.

 

[Shinte122305]

If its white , you need a properly sized UV. My friend has one of those 160 gallon red sea and it had a white cloud for months he tried everything until he finally caved in listened to me and bought a huge UV from BRS. 2 days later crystal clear water. put the water in a white bucket if it has a greenish tint to it UV also helps if it has a brownish tint then try running Carbon first before jumping into UV.

also i read you turned lights off and lowered feeding none of that will help clear that up. Waterchanges will most likely help for one day and then youll get a huge bloom 2 days later.

 

[Chris Van Daele]

If its white , you need a properly sized UV. My friend has one of those 160 gallon red sea and it had a white cloud for months he tried everything until he finally caved in listened to me and bought a huge UV from BRS. 2 days later crystal clear water. put the water in a white bucket if it has a greenish tint to it UV also helps if it has a brownish tint then try running Carbon first before jumping into UV.

also i read you turned lights off and lowered feeding none of that will help clear that up. Waterchanges will most likely help for one day and then youll get a huge bloom 2 days later.

Thanks this is very helpful! Do you have a UV system you would recommend? Should I go oversized?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Everyone hit all the points, the only thing I may mention is possibly micro bubbles from a pump or skimmer?