I just screwed my tank up!

lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
So after taking a bunch of crushed coral out of my tank I needed to add more sand. So I decided to add the real powder fine sand and just put it on top of my course sand. I rinsed it well and when I put the sand in the water only got slightly cloudy.
The next day if was even more cloudy and I noticed some bare spots where the power head had been turning into it. So I figured the sand was causing the cloudy water. So I carefully churned the sand to move the light stuff to the bottom and the old course to the top. (remember this new sand had only been in the tank for less then 24 hours)
While doing that I did not notice any cloudyness.
Today the tank is so freakin clouded I cant even see anything. Its like its getting worse even though my old sand it still currently on the top. I did a 30% water change and nothing happened. I figured water changes would at least help a little
My floval polisher pads that have always worked wonders in the past are not even doing anything. They are practically clean in the filter
PH 8.2
Nitrite 0
Amm 0
Salinity 24
Temp 79

 
U

usirchchris

Guest
Hmm I would try to rinse the polishing pads out...Maybe they are already full of gunk
. If that is not it, I would get the skimmer working overtime in hopes it could pull it out. You might try carbon as well. I am sure it will clear with time
.
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
brand new bag of carbon, skimmer cleaned and on hyper drive
Its a mystery still cloudy this morning
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I would give it a bit of time as well.
One thing I did notice on your water tests is you didn't have a nitrate reading. If your tank is fully cycled and aged you really shouldn't get any ammonia/nitrite readings past that point (unless something is seriously wrong) but nitrates are always good to check for.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
So I carefully churned the sand to move the light stuff to the bottom and the old course to the top.
This was probably not a good move as you may have stirred up some nastiness from the existing sandbed. Keep the pads clean, keep the carbon fresh, and check for any ammonia or nitrite spikes and have water ready for changes if needed.
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
leave it alone! i think this is the third time i gave u the same advise, lol.
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Well my sand bed went down alot because I took the crushed coral out so instead of buying the same sand to built the amount back up I got a different kind of sand.
When I churned the sand there was no major cloudyness, it only did this over night.
I will check my nitrates and see where they are at
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by lil.guppy
http:///forum/post/2980551
Well my sand bed went down alot because I took the crushed coral out so instead of buying the same sand to built the amount back up I got a different kind of sand.
When I churned the sand there was no major cloudyness, it only did this over night.
I will check my nitrates and see where they are at
Yeah but there may still be some nastiness down there. Check ammonia and nitrites, trates won't help you out too much right now.
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
nitrates 0
The skimmer is pulling darker stuff this morning then usual.
Im thinking its from that stupid sand.
 
salt life

salt life

Active Member
maybe since it is the real fine sand your powerheads might be picking it up easier and stirring it around?
 
nanomantis

nanomantis

Member
Are you using test strips? It is damn near impossible to get your nitrates to 0. It is something you should always have a hair of in your tank as the result of a bioload.
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Sure enough, cloudy as ever today and when I tested my water before I went to bed my ammonia was sneaking in.
So I had to do a 40% water change.
It cleared the ammonia up but the water is still cloudy. No sign of sand being swifted around like before.
So how long until this ammonia goes back down?
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Ok its been 8 hours since that water change and my ammonia is still 0. Do you think I am out of the clearing or could it go up again?
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Everything is fine. The ammonia was just barely showing when I tested it last night, but it was there.
I am leaving for vacation on Wednesday so I might have that guy check the readings and do a water change if he thinks it needs it.
I am hoping that since its been 8 hours since that water change that everything will be fine.
I have learned my lesson though grrrrrrr
The water is still cloudy but not as bad as its been. Hold on and I will get an updated photo
 
lil.guppy

lil.guppy

Active Member
Here it is
My main lights are not on yet so it looks different then the other one
Since this happened my toadstool on the left has not opened up.
 
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