WMAS Discussion Forum : Cloudy tank http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 16 Jul 2026 02:08:06 +0000 Fri, 20 Sep 2013 06:52:08 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=66651 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : When I saw the topic of this...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537060&title=cloudy-tank#537060 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 20 2013 at 6:52am

When I saw the topic of this thread, I immediately thought "Bacterial Bloom" and everything you have said above confirms that a strain of bacteria living in the water column has gone out of control.

I'm sorry. I should apologize ahead of time. My advice will go contrary to what has been said above. I'm not offended if you choose to disagree or offer contrary opinions.
********************

Water changes typically will not matter because new water has nutrients to feed the blooming bacteria.Wacko (This happened after a water change, right?)

The fast way to correct this is to hook up a UV Sterilizer for just a few days.
The other way to deal with this is described below. Two of the items below are good to do anyway, from time to time, to keep a tank refreshed, vibrant and doing well in the long run.

Don't worry, tanks typically survive these occurrences without any damage.
Moving the coral was okay to do, probably not necessary but okay, especially if the other tank can support them.

A good course of action is to replace the AC with twice as much as usual and then just wait it out. AC can remove nutrients that may have sparked the bloom.

Bacteria blooms will eventually overpopulate, strip the water of the nutrients and die off.
The high Nitrate level is probably due to the large bacterial population in the water. (It takes a lot of bacteria to make the water cloudy.Wink)

If this were my tank, I would also add a good amount of macroalgae and several scoops of LS from the tank of a friend. The added LS will provide other strains of bacteria to compete with the strain that has bloomed. It may even provide a new organism to eat the blooming bacteria. (Yes, there are organisms which eat bacteria, keeping it in check.Smile) It's all about balance and equilibrium of the microbial organisms of the biofiltration.

I might also increase the photoperiod, or even turn on the lights 24/7 for a while. The increased illumination will cause all the algae in the tank to compete with the bacteria for nutrients. (I wouldn't scrape the glass because that's good algae too.) This procedure of promoting algae growth is, IMO, better than water changes for dealing with nutrient spikes because it reduces polluting N and P very fast. In my experience large water changes are labor intensive so I avoid them. I'm a lazy reefer. SmileLarge water changes also cause additional stress to tank inhabitants.

Aloha,
Mark Hug


Edited by Mark Peterson - September 20 2013 at 7:02am]]> Fri, 20 Sep 2013 06:52:08 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537060&title=cloudy-tank#537060 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : I think it was more of a white...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537028&title=cloudy-tank#537028 Author: larseb
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 6:57pm

I think it was more of a white cloudy.  I did a water change on Monday but nothing out of the ordinary from what I usually do.
I don't have a clam
I think it had something to  do with my nitrates because after i looked at the test  a couple minutes later I look at It again and the test had change more drastically then I thought. My nitrates may have been extremely high. I have done a 50% water change and my fish all look Ok. I will test the water again in a little bit. 
]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:57:14 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537028&title=cloudy-tank#537028 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : Do you have a clam? ]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537026&title=cloudy-tank#537026 Author: ReefdUp
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 6:02pm

Do you have a clam?]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:02:57 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537026&title=cloudy-tank#537026 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : Had you changed, added, or dosed...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537022&title=cloudy-tank#537022 Author: arthuriv
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 5:35pm

Had you changed, added, or dosed anything lately?

What color is the cloudiness?

Is it white, green or neither?

If white it could just be a Bacteria bloom, especially if your nitrates are high!
]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:35:35 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537022&title=cloudy-tank#537022 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : Ok so I just got enough water...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537009&title=cloudy-tank#537009 Author: larseb
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 4:00pm

Ok so I just got enough water for a  50% water change. I have a little bit of cheato but it is still green and looks fine  all of my nems look ok except for one I haven't seen it in a couple of days because it started moving. so that might be the problem. I already moved most of my corals into my nano before I read your post Ann. I will keep you guys updated ]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:00:53 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537009&title=cloudy-tank#537009 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : I wouldn&#039;t remove corals....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537006&title=cloudy-tank#537006 Author: Ann_A
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 3:19pm

I wouldn't remove corals. I would put in carbon and do a large water change. If an anemone died, the cloudiness most certainly could be a result of it. Also, if you are running macro algae check it to see if it has turned white/clear. If this has happened, remove the algae because it's gone sexual, releasing it's nutrients back into the water.

Regardless of what the cause is, I would definitely say to do a large water change (50% or more) and run AC (activated carbon).
]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:19:41 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537006&title=cloudy-tank#537006 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : larseb wrote:I just tested...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537002&title=cloudy-tank#537002 Author: Jimbo
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 2:21pm

Originally posted by larseb larseb wrote:

I just tested ammonia and it says zero  could it be a nem that died? 


The cloudiness could definitely be caused by something dying. If it's your anemone get it out of there and do a water change asap.]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:21:31 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537002&title=cloudy-tank#537002 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : Do you have macro algae and if...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537000&title=cloudy-tank#537000 Author: Molli
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 2:17pm

Do you have macro algae and if so how does it look?]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:17:47 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=537000&title=cloudy-tank#537000 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : Ph is low around 7.8 or 8.0nitrates...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=536997&title=cloudy-tank#536997 Author: larseb
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 2:03pm

Ph is low around 7.8 or 8.0
nitrates are high at like 40 ppt
]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:03:57 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=536997&title=cloudy-tank#536997 <![CDATA[Cloudy tank : I just tested ammonia and it says...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=536995&title=cloudy-tank#536995 Author: larseb
Subject: 66651
Posted: September 19 2013 at 1:54pm

I just tested ammonia and it says zero  could it be a nem that died? ]]> Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:54:43 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66651&PID=536995&title=cloudy-tank#536995