cloudy water!!!@

ok first off i should start by saying that i got a used set up. 55 gal with a 20 gal sump and skimmer. i cleaned it but maybe not well enough. now i have it up and running with the water levels in the tank and sump where i want them and the salinity is actually spot on. but its been two days and the water is still coudy, although it is getting better. i tested the water for ph 8.4, amonia 1.5 mg/L, and nitrite 5.0 mg/ L. is this normal and if not what should i do any advice would be very appreciated.

 

Ammonia is high but if you are starting your cycle it is OK. Just let the cycle finish ammonia and nitrite at or very near zero and your nitrates at or below the level they are at now. The cloudiness will clear. You could run your water thru some filter floss to help remove some of the suspend matter.

Welcome to 3reef.

 

ok,all good how old is your setup? and what do you wish to keep?did you rinse your substrate or is it from the old setup? my last new tank had new dry sand and i did not rinse it and my tank was cloud9 for 2 weeks or more but went away soon after, so it well settle.do you have fish in your tank now?

 

i dont have any fish at all .. iv just set it up and want it to cycle before i put anything live in. the guy had the whole set up a few years. i used his live rock (which was no longer live as it had been drained for a few months) i just rinsed it before i put it in. i bought new "live" sand from the pet store. as far as fish i am not exactly sure yet. but it will be a reef tank eventually.