Poop be gone...in a cloud?

[MrParker]

Hey so the other day my sand bottom was covered in a lot of tiny little otto poops. They keep the tank clean. But then a couple days later, all the poop was gone, and the tank started to get cloudy (only looks cloudy from the side)
and i did a test, ammonia was pretty much 0 nitrite = 0 nitrates = 5 ppm.

The other factor to consider... could it be an algae bloom? if there was a window that could be reflecting some indirect sunlight into the tank?

The tank specs are in my signature (the 45 gal)

 

[bmoraski]

when i had an algae problem it was a combination of sun hitting tank and leaving lights on to long. when the sun shifts keep an eye on how it comes in your windows. it messed me all up.i adjusted blinds and was good to go.
good luck

 

[MrParker]

well the problem is, my tank is in the garage. The main problem i think was the window in the garage, i put some cardboard over it for now, but then it fell down, and I think the constant glow of sunlight coming in through the open parts is the culprit.

But my other concern/question is, if it IS in the garage, and maybe 4 times a day the garage door is opened to move the car in or out. That momentary indirect sunlight wouldnt really have a significant effect on the tank would it?

 

[bmoraski]

i dont think so. but if the door was open for a few hours then maybe, but i wouldnt worry about a few minutes here and there.