Ok, I have a BIG problem. The day before yesterday, I installed two MaxiJet 900s in my 46 GAL. tank., about an hour later, my water was, and still is, VERY cloudy. At the same time the water got cloudy, my SKIMMER (remora) stopped working and it hasn't since.

Up until I installed the new powerheads, all the flow I had was from my HOT filter and skimmer water return. Is it possible that the powerheads are creating too much flow therefore stirring the sand/dust around hence the cloudy water?

What about the skimmer? why would it stop working and still not work?

I need some help please. Thank You.

UPDATE UPDATE!!!

I don't know if this has gotten to do anything with it, but I was takinga closer look at my tank, to see if I'd notice any dust, etc, but to my surprise....this TINY TINY white bugs are all over the tank, on the glass, rock, sand, they're the size of probably one quarter of a grain of salt, probably smaller...what are they?????!! could they be the culprites? I NEVE noticed them until now...two days after the powerheads were installed.....HELP.

Most likely you issues are due to the increased flow. How long has you tank been running? A couple months should develop some bio film on the substrate that will help lots. I know it did in my tank and I was using sugar fine sand which really blew around. How big is your sand grains? Even if it is bigger it coudl still be shifted a little and have finer dusty particles that are now in the mix.

I am not sure, but woudl guess this extra grit may be why your skimmer isn't producing also.

The tiny white bugs are mostly likely copepods or similar. They are a good thing to have. Do they look like this... Ocean Pods: FAQ (http://www.oceanpods.com/faq.html)

Fish, how long has your tank been up? Are the powerheads blowing the sand around? Were you in the habit of blowing debris off the rocks? If not with increased circulation this could now be in the water column and making it cloudy. Not to worry your corals will love it. I am thinking that there was some greasy manufacturing residue on the new powerheads and this has caused your skimmer to stop working. It too will pass. The little bugs are, as David said, most likely copepods and are a great food for fish and corals.

Carmiejo: My tank's been up for about 2 months now, it cycled about 2 weeks ago.I've never attempted to blow debris off the rocks, I did however noticed a bunch of debris being blown off the rocks when I first installed the powerheads while I was trying to adjust the water flow, now the powerheads are not blowing any debris off the rocks at all, they are pointing up, but too straight of course. I have noticed a bunch of settled dust/debris all over the tank now, but the cloudiness is still pretty bad.

One thing that is ODD, the copepods...they did not appear until today, 2 days after i installed the powerheads and the water got cloudy.......How long would you say the cloudiness will take to disappear?

I have no corals yet. I only have one yellow tail damsel fish, 5 blue leg hermit crabs, 1 emeral green crab and one snail. After the water got cloudy two days ago, I haven't seen the crabs at all, I've checked to see if they're dead, but nothing there.

BTW should I point the water head both in one direction? is two powerheads too much for a 46 GAL tank? not including the HOT filter and skimmer water return flow.

Also, why would the copepods appera after the powerhead and cloudy water? just a coincidence?

thanks for the help, I'll wait for your response.

Carmiejo: My tank's been up for about 2 months now, it cycled about 2 weeks ago.I've never attempted to blow debris off the rocks, I did however noticed a bunch of debris being blown off the rocks when I first installed the powerheads while I was trying to adjust the water flow, now the powerheads are not blowing any debris off the rocks at all, they are pointing up, but too straight of course. I have noticed a bunch of settled dust/debris all over the tank now, but the cloudiness is still pretty bad. You may want to do a water change and try to siphon some of it out.

One thing that is ODD, the copepods...they did not appear until today, 2 days after i installed the powerheads and the water got cloudy. Also, why would the copepods appera after the powerhead and cloudy water? just a coincidence?I think they were probably on the rocks, when the debris came blowing off they came with it and were in the water but are now settling on the glass........How long would you say the cloudiness will take to disappear? It will probably take the water a couple or 3 more days to totally clear up. I would make a habit of blowing the detritus off of the rocks every time you do a water change.



BTW should I point the water head both in one direction? is two powerheads too much for a 46 GAL tank? not including the HOT filter and skimmer water return flow.
thanks for the help, I'll wait for your response.I don't think that 2 MJ900's are too much at all. I would point them at each other. You want to have chaotic current, not a whirlpool. Surface agitation is good but I also try to make sure there are no dead spots in your tank. You want water moving across the sand bed but not moving the sand bed.