Cloudy Water

Total n00b and I am on over load. I Just started my 24 Nano cube. I just mixed and filled my tank. I only have 20lbs of live sand and 6lbs of live rock. Need to get more live rock.

I put in the protein in and started the heater. The tank has been on and going for 2 full days and water is still cloudy. My levels are ehh.. I am going to redo them tonight. and will post the numbers. I know my KH level i can't get. I did the test and after 26 drops of the solution still didn't turn yellow. My Ph was 7.8 so seemed a tad low. UGH. I read and read just feel like I am screwing stuff up. Looking for someone to hold my hand.

 

Don't worry about it. It takes days for the water to clear up after adding the live sand. It may take a week depending on what types of filters you have running. All that cloudiness in your tank is minute sand that is rich in surface area. It will bring benefit to your tank in the long run. Just let it settle.

 

Thanks pgreef. Is there anything i should not do during this process? I am keeping my tank at 75 degrees and I am just letting it run. I will check the levels i guess about every two days. I just want to make sure I do this correctly.

 

] I know my KH level i can't get. I did the test and after 26 drops of the solution still didn't turn yellow.
Adding more solution is just wasting reagent.
If you can not get a reading then repeat the test later.

 

Just retested levels here are my results. What should I do next?
Cal - 420
PH - 7.8
Phosphate -.50
Nitrate - 20

I am using the API reef master test kit.

 

Let it sit a few days and settle in--then re-test

 

Ok. Thanks. I think I need to add some salt as well. Tested it and it was right under 1.022

 

I run mine at 1.022 Fish and live rock only.No corals yet--Leave the salt alone for 24hrs and re-test, it is always high for the first 24 until mixed well and oxygenated--Also if you are new at this make sure no air bubbles are on your pointer arm when testing--this will give you a false high reading. especially on a new meter--flick the meter a few times to knock off the air bubbles--this happens less as the meter gets older

 

get some flow in there and put in a small HOB filter, guarantee it be clear in 24 hours
or you can run some chemi pure elite as well.
the skimming is not necessary yet

 

chemi pure elite is a great product. i live by it and its good for 6months. your skimmer prob wont work very well until you get bio load on the tank. try to find some nutrisea water its great for startup.