Water is cloudy

[DracoKat]

Cloudy may be the wrong term, but it's certainly not clear.

if I look closely, it has, what LOOKS like micro bubbles blowing around with the gyro. I am pretty sure it's not micro bubbles.

Can someone help me clear up my water?

All testing's normal
Ammonia is 0
Nitrite is 0
Nitrate is slightly above 0 (I forget the exact number)

few zoas, duncan, 2 clowns and 2 wrasses

75 gallon tank. set up for 2 months, cycled for 1 month about. 30 gal sump with skimmer.
I do not dose anything in the tank since I don't have corals.
Did about 30 gal water change on Sunday.

Umm.. if you need other info, let me know!

Please and thank you

 

[beaslbob]

try taking out a jar of water and putting it in a dark closet.
If it clears up with nothing on the bottom of the jar then you have algae.

If there is a crud on the bottom (but it will still clear up) then you have some kind of suspended stuff like sand.

Our tank was clear for a long time until we added a mechanical filter with a 9 watt UV. has stayed clear ever since.

my .02

 

[DracoKat]

I thought maybe it could be algae floating around. my diatoms cleared up about a week ago. I will do the jar trick and see

if it is algae, whats the best way to clear this up?

 

[jsker]

What salt are you using?

 

[DracoKat]

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals

 

[beaslbob]

I thought maybe it could be algae floating around. my diatoms cleared up about a week ago. I will do the jar trick and see

if it is algae, whats the best way to clear this up?

try killing the lights and after it clears then resume with less lighting and feeding. algae will die off rapidly.

We use a mechanical filter which also has a 9w UV. Has kept out water clear.

vortex diatom xl filter is a pain to setup but uses diatomaceous earth. it clears up a 55g in 3 hours. google vortex diatom filters.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You guys would hate my water. My clams scallops oysters and mussels seem to like it.

 

[DracoKat]

ha, maybe now would be a good time to get a clam

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol.
I'm not super sure how you would tell the difference between a bacterial a mineral or organic except the test above in the jar. I go by smell and texture too. Weirdo right.

I do notice blooms and phases as tank glass and such come and go too. Usually it settles out.

I have a pretty high dissolved organics in the tank. My oldest bi valve is five in long and I've had a about four or five years now.
I have six of the same species.
This one I bought is four inches long came with some hitchikers.

 

[DracoKat]

i have a jar of the water in my closet. How long should I wait to check it? let it sit over night?

I cut back on the lighting. I'll turn off the sump lighting for the time being.

I thought maybe the light as giving it a cloudy look, but I see the floating particles when I look closely. It doesn't look terrible, but I'd like to have clear water.

Nice photo!! I think my tank is still too young for a clam. My LFS has some nice ones too!

Edit: I forgot to mention, I adjusted my skimmer as well. I feel like it could be pulling more gunk.

 

[beaslbob]

your sump should have the lights remain as is. Most especially if you have a refugium. the idea is to grow the uglies on the sump not display.

Jar should start to clear up in a few hours and be totally clear a few days later.

 

[DracoKat]

@beaslbob Jar is completely clear, I don't see anything.

I am sure it's algae. I see specks floating on top of the water, a film. Closer look I can see it's specks of algae. I turned off the DT light, and I am going to cut back on feeding. I am sure I am overfeeding and that's the cause.

aside from that, what can I do to clear up the water?

EDIT:
I briefly turned the lights on earlier, and saw my glass was covered in teeny tiny specks of pods. I am wondering if they're making the water look cloudy if they're suspended in the tank? It could be them I am seeing at the surface too?

 

[beaslbob]

@beaslbob Jar is completely clear, I don't see anything.

I am sure it's algae. I see specks floating on top of the water, a film. Closer look I can see it's specks of algae. I turned off the DT light, and I am going to cut back on feeding. I am sure I am overfeeding and that's the cause.

aside from that, what can I do to clear up the water?

EDIT:
I briefly turned the lights on earlier, and saw my glass was covered in teeny tiny specks of pods. I am wondering if they're making the water look cloudy if they're suspended in the tank? It could be them I am seeing at the surface too?

Under the assumption the jar started out cloudy then you you can try the methods I listed above.

kill the lights

a filter with uv

the diatom filter

my .02