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this is my first time doing saltwater as you may guess from the topic line. i set the tank up, got sand and water in, but the water looks milky. in freshwater i understand this to be a bacterial bloom. but i dont know if that is water this is? if it is im wondering how becuase i dont have any thing other than sand and water and some salt. lastly i was wondering could this be a bacteria from the live sand i put in?

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Most likely it's just particles that were in the sand. It will probably settle out in a day or two.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I also just started in saltwater and still cycling my tank. I added crushed coral and sand, but didn't think to wash the two before I put them in.. turned out to be a big mistake. It managed to turn the water milky, enough to not see your hand an inch or two inside the water. After 5-6 water changes over a few days it started to be somewhat clear and it did settle out in between, making the top of the stealth heaters white. It was probably from the crushed coral more than the sand, but the same is probably the case. You can either wait for it to settle out or siphon out the suspended particles with water changes. I waited to add the salt, so you may want to just let it settle and see how that goes. Either way good luck and welcome to "the dark side" of fishkeeping.

What does that mean, Bob? "Till the cows come home." Where have the cows been?

The very fine particles that are causing the water to be milky are beneficial to the tank and criteers that will inhabit the sand if you add live rock/live sand. The fine particles are also great for bacteria growth.

The milky look will go away rather quickly once bacteria starts to grow and they start to attach to the fine particles and will "hold" it down.

No worries my friend, you havent messed up

well it has settled down now, after i put the sand in also put a powerhead in. i wasnt paying attention to where it was aimed. (down at the sand) which was probably kicking up more particles

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

As the guys stated you`ll be OK. It`s just sand particles. Good Luck

sorry i didnt check back sooner, but it did clear up, now i have some live rock and 2 damsels

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

What kind of damsels did you get?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

one yellowbelly blue damsel and a 3 line damsel

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Sounds like you've set yourself up for an aggressive tank. I hope that is what you planned.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Have you cycled your tank yet?

its still cycling. im nervous though, i think i may have made a big mistake. just a thought post setup is the weight. i know its one of those thing that you are suposed to have planned out in the beggining when you are picking out equipment. the floor in the room has a crawl space underneath and im afraid that my tank may just be too big! its a 75gal. with 10gallons in a rubbermade tote, as a makeshift sump till i get more money. i have larger sump planned out, for the furture. anyone have any suggestion what i should do? i was gonna go below in the morning and see what the support looks like.

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"