cloudy water prob

[cinlnk]

Hi Guys,
Here I am on week three of my new SW tank..... Everything was going great until Today, Got home from work and the tank was cloudy. I have been checking the parameters and I was on the downside of my nitrite spike. Now this I have 3 hermit crabs in there for cycling....
here are my numbers:

15 gal tank
SG 1.025
Sal. 34
pH 8.2
am .10
nitrite 2.0
nitrate 10 ppm
Temp 79
Tank has been cycling now for 16 days......
what do ya'll think it could be?

 

[wayne]

Bacterial bloom. Skim it out. <If you don't have a skimmer do some large water changes.

Know that setups like this , that are basically freshwater setups with salt added, are typically horribly unstable. I see no mention of live rock, live sand or how much water movement, filtration you have.

 

[cinlnk]

Ok, I have 13 lbs live rock.
2 HOB filters
2 powerheads
20 lbs live sand
The water movement or turnover rate is about 300 gph, with the powerheads and filters.
Since it is in the middle of the cycle, wouldnt a water change set me back a few days? And start the process all over again?

 

[Lorna]

No, the nitrifying bacteria are not in the water per se but are all over the substrate and surfaces.......that is why live rock/sand and all help speed the cycle....more area for the bacteria to accumulate