can low pH and alk cause cloudy water?

[mopar9012]

I have low pH and alk, im working on doing a water change that has buffer added to it. Can that cause cloudy water?
My tank has been setup for about a year and a half. Its not REAL cloudy, but theres like a tint of green to it, and i dont like it.
I ran carbon last week, nothing changed. I aslo have bubble algea that im trying to get rid of.
nitrates and nitrites are both zero.

 

[hatessushi]

what is the pH and Alk reading? Mine typically runs a pH of 7.8 to 7.9 and my Alk is in normal range to high and my water is clear.
Be careful adding buffer to new mix water. Everytime I did it the calcium preciptated and I have to clean my power head, heater and container off.

 

[reefnut]

Don't add any buffers to the newly mixed saltwater... if you need to add a buffer mix it with RO/DI or Distilled water, mix it up until the water becomes clear again and add it slowly to the tank. Remember when adding a buffer you need to also test for calcium. Adding one w/o the other will throw the water's chemical balance off.
Low PH or low Alk will not cause cloudy green tinted water. Carbon will normally help clear it up, so will some good water changes with RO/DI or Distilled Water.
What are the tank's parameters??

 

[mopar9012]

Alk:between 80 and 120
pH:7.8(not too bad)
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
I dont have a test for CA, i have a test kit for it but it is so confusing i dont undertstand. Whats a good test kit for Calcium?
My carbon is about 1 year old, does carbon ever go old? Should i go buy some new carbon?

 

[mopar9012]

oh yeah, too late about adding the buffer. I added it to the water that im going to use for the water change.

 

[reefnut]

Carbon is used up very quickly in salt water tanks... with in a few days from what I understand. Get some new and run it for a while.
Salifert makes a very good calcium test kit but it is a little involved... not to bad though.
Your alkalinity is low but you do need to test the calcium before adding any more buffer.

 

[mopar9012]

Originally Posted by ReefNut
Carbon is used up very quickly in salt water tanks... with in a few days from what I understand. Get some new and run it for a while.
Salifert makes a very good calcium test kit but it is a little involved... not to bad though.
Your alkalinity is low but you do need to test the calcium before adding any more buffer.
I didnt have the carbon running in my tank for a year. I just had it sitting around in the container for a year.

 

[reefnut]

lol... I see