White Particles in Water

[heather p]

Hello Everyone,
I have a question regarding some white particles that are in my water. I have a 38 gallon tank with live rock, 2 fish and some inverts and the tank has been set up for about 5 months. I have had small white particles floating in the water and coming out of the filter for about 3 months. I cannot get rid of them!
I have talked to many people in local fish stores. Some of the stores had encouraged me to buy Kent Marine supplements including liquid calcium and iodine. I had put in a few of the recommended amounts and that's when my problem started. Another fish store then told me that the problem was too much calcium in the water. They recommended water changes which I have been consistently doing, but I cannot get the white particles to go away. Also, I have a calcium test kit and my calcium level is normal and even a bit on the low side.
If anyone can tell me what these white particles are and how I can get rid of them, I would really appreciate it.
Also, are reef supplements such as calcium, iodine and strontium & molybdenum necessary for the tank - like some people say - or do they only cause problems - like the other local fish stores have told me?
Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Heather

 

[burnnspy]

What are the water parameters? Something is amiss and its prolly the alkalinity.
I only add Aragamilk and Kalkwasser to my reef. I do not recommend iodine, stronium or molybdenum.
BurnNSpy

 

[ironreef]

maintain cal,alk & ph feed you tank= fish /corals good foods and w/c will add the rest. theres alot of trace elements in foods. have you cleaned your filter?
[ December 30, 2001: Message edited by: Ironreef ]

 

[sampson]

Hi, if the white particles you are talking about are small then its just natural sediment from the sand and waste from the fish and corals everyone has it. Look at the tanks in the pet stores they have some too. If its big stuff then i'm not sure.

 

[kris walker]

I've heard that pods like to populate filter pads sometimes. Could they be pods? What kind of filter do you have? If you look in the filter media, do you find a whole lot of this white stuff? If so, then it is prob not a water chem issue IMO.
If they are pods, a Mandarin or scooter blenny will help reduce their population. But these fish are a little difficult to keep alive sometimes.
sam
[ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: Surfin Sam ]