Particulate matter

[edwarder]

I recently set up(6 months ago) a 55 gal tank with about 60lbs of live rock and a plenum in it. The rock is about 70% covered with coraline. My problem is that I have a constant snow storm of fine particulate matter that circulated in the upper one third o fhte water column. I thought it would go away once the sand devloped a biofilm on it but it has not. The particulate matter appears to be created by the hermits in the tank picking at the live rock. Any suggestions on how to rid my tank of this problem?

 

[scooterr]

What kind of sand is it? Try and help you
jeff

 

[edwarder]

The sand is aragamax but I dont think that the sand is the source of the problem. It looks like the hermits are picking pieces of the live rock off.Thanks in advance fo rany advice.

 

[jmeader]

Set up a sponge filter with a powerhead in that region of the water coloumn. Should clear it up in less than a day. If it took 6 months to get to the point of dealing with it, it should be months before you need to use the sponge again.

 

[MedicineMan1]

Is it possible you have some kind of chemical imbalance and are seeing a precipitate of some kind? If alk and calcium aren't "balanced", calcium can precipitate. There's enough other minerals in salt water that can precipitate, too. I'm not a chemical expert on reef aquariums but have just enough chemistry background to be dangerous!