problem with first water in 125g tank

[cjg11780]

Hello To All:

This is my first post and here is my problem. I am beginning to setup a 125g mini reef tank. I added the water (conditioned) and the instant sea mix. About a week later, the water became cloudy and hasn't changed since( over a week now). I read that I should not have had the tank lights on during the mixing process, but I did use my lights. I think that is what has caused my problem. Yesterday, I tried a 20g water change but it did not help. Should I empty the whole tank and start over? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

That usually will happen. What kind of salt did you use?? How are you moving the water around?? Is there Sand in the bottom?? Usually answering these questions will help us figure out whats going on. Dont change any more water its just wasting salt at this point

 

[Anonymous]

I added the water (conditioned) and the instant sea mix

It sounds like you are using Instant Ocean salt. As with all the other salt mix, it suppose to provide you with all the necessary ions, so you don't need to add anything else to the water other than the salt. So what did you add to "condition" the water? If you added dechlorator, it was fine, but if you add unnessary buffer, the buffer might interfere with the IO salt and cause the white cloudy water. Ususally it is not harmful, and there is no need to do water change other than wait and add some live rock/ live sand even before the water is totally clear.

The light has nothing to do with it, but give us more info about what conditioning you did, and we go from there....

 

[Anonymous]

Your water could also be Hard...and the gravel..That is also a possible cause...No matter how hard you wash it or what the container says, it could still cloud the water..Even sand...Adding any other additives like a buffer, like Dave said, will also do it...Give it a couple days...see what happens


8)

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah and what supaboy says..
DONT CHANGE THE WATER...Cloudiness is a common occurance in both salt and freshwater tanks when first setting up...