water cloudy slightly milky looking?

[72olds455]

Anybody know why this might be happening? I did unplug the skimmer for two days because it was adding alot of tiny air bubbles to the tank but that has been fixed and I just turned it back on. Will this clear it up?
Thanks
David

 

[thomas712]

You might also want to run a fresh batch of carbon, the skimmer should help as well. I'd double check for an ammonia spike.

 

[72olds455]

The ammonia has gone up a little due to vaccuming the sand a few days ago. I did not think that would be related cause the water just got cloudy today. So after a few days it should clear up?
Thanks
David

 

[fishieness]

for future reference, vaccuming sand is not a good thing because not only does it often cause a sandstorm, but it also takes out bacteria and creatures, also taking away the point of live sand.
but this is my guess, you left the skimmer still for 2 days. that also leaves the water still in it. The water will become stagnant and basicaly turn bad.
i agree, check for an amonia spike, that might be the cause of one.

 

[thomas712]

I think fishieness is pretty much on the mark there. You simply do not vaccum a sand bed like you did with crushed coral. Thats like destroying/disturbing a filter with its bacteria base.
So disturbing the sand was the big thing here, and unless you removed that skimmer to fix it you could have had some stale water in it as well.