Cloudy water..part of cycle?

[aj2001]

Is it a normal part of the cycling process? I've done a 25% water change over 2 days,made no difference.It has been clear as could be then all of a sudden boom,can barely see to the other side of the tank. All parameters are fine:
temp...76
Sal....1.025
ph...8.4
Ammon..0
nitri...0
nitra...05
alk...3+
55 gal
60lbs lr
2" sd sandbed
cpr bak pak(pulling lots of green foam)
2x175 mh
2 actinics
3 mxjets 600s
....Its not from the sand bed,I've blown the sand and rocks of before... this was an all of a sudden thing, I was thinking bacteria bloom, I noticed a small patch of what appears to be cyno on the bed,I removed it and readjusted flow.
....Its not cauplera going sexual ect...
I cant figure it out, and water changes didnt help
Its not calcium dosing......
Ive read about btas spawning, but I doubt it....
Ive tried poly and carbon...nada
Any Ideas?
Thanx

 

[flameangel1]

Hi aj2001,
Definately sounds like a bacterial bloom.
If you do a water change, the bacterial bloom will just be back, as it is trying to build up enough bacteria to cycle the new water.

As you are showing no ammonia/nitrites but have a trace of nitrates, means the bacteria are working good.
It will clear up in a day or two , if you leave it alone.

 

[flameangel1]

aj2001,,
I am assuming it is a white cloudiness you were referring to .
Is it??

 

[danmhippo]

If it's green cloudiness, cut down on your lighting to 4 hours a day for a couple of weeks and full blast on your skimmer. Green water is micro algae bloom. That's too much nutrients in the water and sufficient lights to support the bloom. Judging from your description of green skimmate, I'd guess it's green cloudiness you are experiencing.

BTW, BTA spawning? You have a BTA in a cycling tank? How long were your tank setup? (Suit up, you need your flame retardant suit now.......)

 

[aj2001]

Hippo:
The tank had been up for 3 months prior,had gone thru cycling and levels were down to zero.It was in a co-workers tank who had only 40 watt lighting,and was doing very badly,wouldnt attach or eat about the size of a quarter.... it has been doing wonderfly in my tank, fully attached and fully open about the size of a tennis ball and accepting food readily.
He wouldnt return it to the lfs so It would have definately died had I not interveined,........so flame away............
Yes greenish skimmate,but it has been greenish since day one,the cloud, is milky white, and seems to be going away on its own.
Thanx
Aj

 

[reefland]

Sounds like bacteria bloom to me. Typically once it comes and goes it is over with. I don't recall anyone claiming to have blooms coming back over and over.

Does this only happen with water changes? If so, how long after a water change? days? hours? minutes?

 

[flameangel1]

reefland,,

He (aj2001) added a BTA and was getting it to feed, plus did a back to back 25% water change, on a 3 month old tank that had just finished cycling .
This would have created a bacterial bloom.

No- definately not with a normal water changes.
Just under the circumstances he had and the best thing is to let it alone and not do anymore water changes for a week or so to let things settle.
(imo)

Maybe I did not make that clear enough in my former post ??

 

[aj2001]

Judy and Rich<
Thanx for the advice, The water had been crystal clear until this..
:lol: It makes perfect sense,I did a 10% or so water change, and when I noticed a little cloudiness, I overreacted and did another 10% Only leading to worsen the situation by causing the bacteria to compansate more.
Its already subsided a lot,......just need to relax more and let nature take its course.
Thanx again to all who responded.
Aj

 

[danmhippo]

I did not see it in the original post, but what are you using for water change and top-off? RODI or straight tap?

 

[aj2001]

Hippo,
RO from my local reef shop from the begining,along w/ instant ocean.
Aj