Cloudy (white) water

Aquanaut66 · #1 07/14/2004, 02:14 PM

Have had the tank set up for 2 months All levels have been great, did have low ph for a week or two ,I added buffer and is now stabilized at 8.3. I have a problem with "milky "water now for about 3 wks( can just about see to the other side of tank, 4ft). I did my first water change a week ago of 10%, which helped a little. How can I get the water clear again? Is it a bacterial bloom? Would a protein skimmer help??

Thanks

JoeMack · #2 07/14/2004, 02:26 PM

your SG is low and what are your calcium and alk levels? Its bad to control pH with buffer

Aquanaut66 · #3 07/14/2004, 02:33 PM

Don't test for that. The buffer was a one shot deal 1 week, all is ok now since it cycled

Randy Holmes-Farley · #4 07/14/2004, 02:35 PM

It could be a bacterial bloom, or it might be precipitation of calcium carbonate (perhaps caused by adding too much buffer).

Can you describe everyting that you've added, with roughly the amounts?

As Joe asked, have you mionitored calcium and alkalinity?

Aquanaut66 · #5 07/14/2004, 02:40 PM

no, haven't monitored that. I used seachem 8.3 buffer three times. I used 4 teaspoons to treat 80 gals of my 90 gal tank over a two week period. The last time was about 3 weeks ago, pretty sure this started before my ph dip

Aquanaut66 · #6 07/14/2004, 02:41 PM

Randy,
my LFS reccommends this salinity, is this ok. He says prevents parasites and ich??

Randy Holmes-Farley · #7 07/14/2004, 03:14 PM

No, it isn't suitable for a reef aquarium. I'd raise it to about 1.026 to be close to the ocean.

After you raise it, perhasp the cloudiness willl subside.

Aquanaut66 · #8 07/14/2004, 03:21 PM

My tank is FOWLR (small amout of LR), salinity ok for this?

Aquanaut66 · #9 07/14/2004, 03:23 PM

will a protein skimmer help??

Randy Holmes-Farley · #10 07/14/2004, 03:25 PM

Maybe, depending on what the problem is.

Aquanaut66 · #11 07/14/2004, 03:33 PM

Should I raise the salinity for the FO tank??

Randy Holmes-Farley · #12 07/14/2004, 03:39 PM

I would.

Aquanaut66 · #13 07/14/2004, 03:44 PM

Thanks Randy

-A frustrated newb

Randy Holmes-Farley · #14 07/14/2004, 05:23 PM

You're welcome.

Good luck.