I started a saltwater tank a few days ago and my water is still cloudy why is this????

Answer 1

Did you use sand on the bottom ??? if so it could take about a week to clear up.
make sure that you have at least 2 powerheads running in the tank at all times.
You can speed things up a bit by adding any type of mechanical filter with a foam pad or floss.
I have a small canister filter that I use only for that purpose(Setting up new tanks) and it works great.
After the tank clears up I remove it, clean it, and put it away for the next one.
Start adding hermit crabs, snails, and a hardy cheep$$ clown fish after about a week and a half.
I find using a clown to cycle the tank better only because I hate trying to catch those junkfish Damsils to bring back to the store.
At least with a clown you may want to keep it.
I use a small tomato clown to do the job and I still have every one of them in different tanks.
Good luck and WELCOME TO SALT WATER
DON'T RUSH MOTHER NATURE.

Answer 2

There could be a number of reasons for cloudiness. If you used the shell or curshed coral substrate, did you rinse it before you added it to the tank? If not, you're water will be cloudy for a while - there's a lot of dust from the shell/coral rubbing together. Even if you did rinse it, it may take 3-4 days to clear up. You can tell (somewhat) if this is the cause because the "dust" will settle and can be "stirred up" again. Your options here are just to wait for your filter to remove the dust, or to turn off all filters and powerheads (only if there are no fish or invertebrates in the tank), wait for the dust to settle, then use a gravel vaccuum to siphon the dust into a clean 5 gallon bucket. If you wait for the dust to settle to the bottom of the bucket, you can them use a cup to put the "clean" water on top back into your tank (will save on salt if you already have the water mixed!).

The other possibility is that you've already added a few fish to your tank before the tank has cycled. The cycling process is used to provide the beneficial bacteria needed to break down the fish food and wastes to convert the ammonia these generate (toxic) to nitrites (also toxic), then to nitrates (okay in small amounts). You need to do this even if you are using live rock in your tank - the best way to monitor the process is by using a saltwater test kit that will test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. Here's a website that will give you some additional info on the process: http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

You shouldn't add more than one hardy fish until the ammonia and nitrites are = 0. Most people like to (or are told to) use damsels for the process if you use a fish to do the cycling. While damsels are hardy and cheap, most are also highly territorial, so you will need to remove them after the tank cycles or they will harrass (and possibly kill) every other fish you try to put in. I've had other saltwater hobbyists in my area tell me how their damsels have killed lionfish (venomous species!) in their tanks. You can also acclimate a molly or guppy to saltwater (keep in a smaller tank - I use a 2.5 gallon) and add 1 tsp or Tbsp of salt every few hours till the level reaches the salinity of seawater. These fish are peaceful enough to keep in your tank.

Once the tank has cycled completely (ammonia & nitrites = 0), you can add fish at the rate of 1-2 every other week. Inverts tend not to be as hardy, so I'd wait before adding anything other than some nassarius snails or hermit crabs if you want these. Most inverts should wait till about 6 months after cycling to be added.

Here's a good resource for some basic info on saltwater: http://www.fishlore.com/SaltwaterBeginners.htm

Good luck with the tank & welcome to the hobby/addiction!

Answer 3

well, i don't have a fish tank myself but i have a cousin that does. i decided not to get one especially a saltwater tank from all the frustration she has. cloudy water sounds like your PH is off. it could also be just dirty water. saltwater fish are very delicate so be careful changing water or ph levels. my cousin has spent over 500 dollars on fish and half of them have died as a result of ph imbalance. good luck.

Answer 4

You need to give any tank at least a week for this to clear up.

Answer 5

Not enough bacteria. You actually want some bacteria to help the tank become cleaner. Or, you clean it too much. How often do you clean it?

Answer 6

you need to check the chemical in it...I took mine to the place that I got my fish and they ran a test on it an told me just what I needed to do

Answer 7

I wish I knew then I could fix mine