Hi guys I am new to saltwater tanks and need some help =)
 

So my little brother had some things happen to him and couldn't take care of his saltwater tank. It was at my parents house and I knew my parents couldn't handle it. So I just got a 55g saltwater tank kind of handed to me until my brother is able to take control of the tank again. I read a few things and talked to a local pet shop guy who knew alot about the saltwater fish, plants,etc. I got help from my girlfriends mother who knew alot about freshwater and brackish. We were able to move the tank 30 miles and get it going again with no deaths so far after 4 days. My problem is I don't know why my water started getting cloudy all of a sudden. I talk to the guy at the pet shop and he told me that the bacteria isn't breaking down the waste yet give it a few days. My question is when I moved the tank he had the temp at 77 or 78 and also had 3 bags of something in the buttom of the filter. The guy at the store told me to remove the bags that they would take things from the water that the tank needs. The bags were carbon and I can't remember the name of the other 2 bags but they were the same thing. I am just stuck on what to do. The plants were open and looked really well the first few days then today they are more closed up. I have some pics: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...um/blueguy.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...album/tank.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...clamshroom.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...um/filter2.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...lbum/coral.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...um/theblob.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/IMG_0341.jpg

I know I have 2 tangs, goby, anemone, damsel, 2 brittle stars and 1 clam

I would say that its an algea bloom.

Thanks for the reply. The water has cleared up and the tank is looking pretty good. I do have another question :D How do I know if I have enough water flow?

On my 120gal I have a sump pump that pumps 1200gals/hr and 3 maxi-jet 1200 that pumps 295gal/hr. so I have 2085gal/hr of water flow in my tank. For your 55 I would go with something like 2 maxijet 1200 PH's

Yes it could be an algae bloom.

Water flow, a couple of powerheads like USMC said. On my 55g I have two Maxi-Jet 900s.

FYI- those are actually corals, not plants. In the third pic that is a ricordea mushroom on the left. On the last pic those brown buttons are palythoas & a few mushrooms.

What about a skimmer? How much would I bennifit from the skimmer? Thanks again for the replys guys I think I was driving the guy at the local pet shop crazy.

Skimmer, immensely. Don't buy the first $100 piece of garbage that comes along. You'll just be $100 lighter. Think more along $200-$2,000 and just do it right the first time, ASM or Euroreef on a budget or H&S or Deltec if money is no object.

Did he give you any advice on how to take care of those corals? because they done look very healthy(Thats what it looks like from the picks)
If its your decition i think you should take out those bio-balls and just put a skimmer in the sump.

You would benefit a lot from a skimmer. Though as Caferacermike said don't buy the first cheap piece you see. The only cheap skimmer I can vouch for are the Coralife Super Skimmers. I think mine works absolutely great & there is a mod out there to do on it that makes the bubble production insane.

No I didn't get to ask him about the coral, I know they don't look that great but they do look better then they did. Whats the best way to get them looking better? Thanks again guys for all the help