That cloudy water question again

[Weatherboy]

All seems well. All test well. Tiny bit of amonia and nitrates.

Cleaned filters, cleaned glass. Still a tad cloudy, and looks like maybe some sand floating around.

Not a huge deal, but not crystal clear like I'd love.
I've got a 50!gal HOB filter and canister Filter. Both cleaned.

75gal.

 

[beth]

Some details....was all well prior to cleaning? If you've just done all this cleaning, then your system may need a few days to settle in. If it doesn't clear, you can try using a water clarifier. Sometimes particles will remain suspended in the water and a water clarifier will clean that up.

It's a good idea not to clean so much that your tank starts producing ammonia.

 

[Weatherboy]

Been up for 2 mos. haven't really cleaned anything. It's been clearer but for the last couple weeks it's just bugged me that it's not clear like the store or my FW was. So 2 days ago I cleaned the filters. And a 10% water change.

Didn't help. Also, I've put clarifier in a couple times over the last few weeks. Nada.

I've got two powerheads, but they are not on the sand.
Got a decent CUC with numerous snails and such, along with peperment and 2 urchins.

Only 6 smaller fish.

Tested water and nothing major. Not completely 0 on all but .10 amonia, 0 nitrites 10ish nitrates.

 

[2quills]

If you're detecting ammonia then I suspect what you're experiencing is a bacteria bloom.

Are u using a canister filter? If so then a aggressive cleaning may have wiped out some of your beneficial bacteria and now the tank is re balancing itself again.

 

[Weatherboy]

Well here is another question.
I just cleaned the canister filter. It leaked all night, and then I refilled, made sure it sealed tight and leaked again. Not sure what the deal is....so I went to move it and it leaked everywhere. Crap.

So, I took it out. It was kinda of ugly. I admit it was a pain to get out of Cabinant when full.

I already had a marineland 350 going.

Can I get away with ONLY the 350? FOWLR.

I may add a yellow tank, small angel and a Benny later. That's really it.


Side note. I've lost a hermit and a couple snail things. Are they running out of food?
I have 3 hermits, a 20gal CUC, 2 peppermints, one urchin and one fist size urchin.

Or does occasional die offs happen?

 

[lmforbis]

At least for the time being the HOB should suffice. You may want to get another one to add to it or a bigger one to replace it with.

 

[2quills]

Anything above 0 for ammonia is deadly. I'd refrain from adding any more livestock until that gets under control personally.

 

[Weatherboy]

Okay. I'll keep working on it.

 

[Weatherboy]

I lost 6 gal of water this evening. Having to put salt in to get it right. Freaking scares me.

 

[beth]

Why lost 6 gals or water? Didn't you remove the canister?

 

[Weatherboy]

The canister broke and leaked very quickly. Plus already had drained a good gallon or so while I was at work. Can't figure out why. Had been fine till I cleaned again. Wouldn't seal right.

So I took it out. And ironically, my tank is clearer.

 

[2quills]

I had one do that to me once and then I realized one of the O-ring seals wasn't seated properly.

After that I decided to place the canister inside of a plastic tote incase it ever happened again. Fortunately I knew what to watch out for after that so I never had the issue again.

 

[Weatherboy]

Im fine with HOB if thats all i really need. Canister was given to me. And hard to get in and out of Cabinants.

 

[beth]

Better to set up a system that relies less on man-made filters, and more on simulating what is the ocean...that will result in the best water quality. Perhaps you want to start up a refugium. Far superior than what a canister can do and a lot less hassle.

 

[beaslbob]

Better to set up a system that relies less on man-made filters, and more on simulating what is the ocean...that will result in the best water quality. Perhaps you want to start up a refugium. Far superior than what a canister can do and a lot less hassle.

+1

 

[Weatherboy]

I'm told maybe a UV sterilizer?

 

[beth]

Waste of money for that. Can you post a picture? Did the system stabilize after the clean up? What are your water readings?

 

[Weatherboy]

Not horrid, not crystal clear.
All numbers are basically 0.
All aquatic life has been fine for a month.
Coralline growing well.
I keep glass mostly clean, back wall I leave.

 

[beaslbob]

sounds to me like you have it under control

 

[Weatherboy]

Still hazy.