Clouded Water/Adding Carbon

[duddi]

Here is what happened. I have a power filter with two filter cartridiges. I decided to take them out since I had heard that they can become nitrate factories. Well when I turned the filter back on of course it clouded up my water with a bunch of gunk (should have cleaned the unit first, I know now). Anyway I loaded the filter with live rock rubble and using it for water flow.

Anyway I thought my tank would clear up after a while but it hasn't. Any ideas about adding carbon and the process of doing so? Never done it before since I had the carbon in the cartridges.

 

[roka64]

Is it just funk moving around or actually color of the water? The carbon will make the water look clear, but will only trap the gunk.

 

[duddi]

The gunk went to the bottom and I scooped most of it up. The water is what is cloudy(nothing floating around in the water).

 

[roka64]

Are you cycling your tank? If so, it could be a diatom bloom. Can you get a pic?

 

[duddi]

The gunk went to the bottom and I scooped most of it up. The water is what is cloudy(nothing floating around in the water).

 

[roka64]

Can you tell us more about your tank? If you update "my info" with your tank size/equipment/critters, we will be able to help a lot easier.

 

[duddi]

No I'm not cycling, my tank was perfectly clear before I removed the cartriges from the filter. My parameters are also good. I guess I shouldn't say gunk, my water looks more whitish than anything. Just wondering if I should add carbon to clear up and how to do it.

 

[roka64]

I would just buy the cartridge and run it for a week to see if it clears up. What kind of substrate do you have?

 

[duddi]

I have a 55 gallon tank
I have live sand(40lbs).
I just got home with my new 10lb (35 total lbs) live rock and added it to the tank.
I took the rubble out of the filter and replaced the cartridges. I think this should fix the problem.
I'm not sure how to update my info?

 

[roka64]

I'm not sure how to update my info?

It's on the home page under:
Update your Profile