Fixed the problem...

[TheDuck]

Well, for some reason my tank had an amonia level that was off the charts. We ended up draining the whole tank, rinsing off the substrate and refilling it with tripple reverse ozmosis (I think... it's really pure) water. Tank is crystal clear and has a few pieces of live rock.

Whew!

[Tangster]

I'd have to step back and rethink this one .. How long had this tank been running ? and as for crystal clear ? I'd wait a few days to see if the cycle does not restart again.. Good luck But i think you shot yourself in the foot ? I have never rinsed any thing from a new substrate myself it what many purchase as Purple up or any coralline additive . Its just the needed element in their dust form..

[TheDuck]

The tank was running for about two weeks and never cleared up. Every lfs owner we spoke to was baffled as to what our problem was, so we started over and really rinsed out the crushed coral substrate and the other "decorative" shells and bleached choral until the rinse water became clear. That was some really smelly stuff!

With the new water, it's been running for four days and everything is progressing nicely.