H20 Is Separated Like Oil & Water

[futurecanadian]

I set up a new 75 Gal tank and I have a few questions.

1) I am not sure if I set the overflow filter up correctly. I have the pump in place and on the tube where the water flows out of the pump and into the tank is a white valve with a piece of air hose connected to it. Do I hook the air hose to an air pump or does it just hang over the back and take in fresh air?

2) My water has literally separated. I am looking at the tank right now and it has two distinct water levels. The top is clear and the bottom is cloudy. The ring is separated by a ring of floating debris. IT looks crazy. What could make the water separate like oil and water?

Let me know if you have any ideas.

Thanks,

Shawn

[Grins]

On the first do you have a picture?

On the second, did you pre-mix the salt in a container and check to be sure it was mixed thorughly and not with any contaminates before using it?

[dolfans1]

Have you added salt to the water yet, and if so, how was it added? It sounds like you have a density gradient. The heavier salt water is at the bottom and the lighter fresh water is sitting on top. Get some water circulation going in the tank and it will mix everything.

As far as the pump, the hose with the valve is for injecting air into the outgoing water jet so that it forms bubbles. My preference is to keep the valve closed (or remove the tubing and valve completely), otherwise you have a lot of small bubbles floating around in the tank.