Cloudy Tank LFS told me because of low Nitrates or Nitrites

HCL113083 · New member Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 19

Hey all-
My tank has been cloudy for 3 weeks now. I went to the LFS and they did a water test and told me it was because I have low Nitrates or Nitrites (I forget which now). They told me to add Biozyme to the tank daily for a week and then bring back a water sample. Well, it is now time for me to bring in my third water sample and my tank is still cloudy. My fish are fine and in fact I now have fry. It is a 45 gallon tank with 9 fish and 7 fry. It had a fishless cycle for 1 month and has been established for 2 months. The LFS said that it is just slow to cycle and that anyday now it should clear up since I am using the biozyme. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing since it is getting kind of old and I just want a clear tank again. I would appriciate any feedback. THANKS!!!

Alen · Member Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Santa Rosa

I had been struggling to get my tank to clear up as well. My tank had a white cloudyness to it for about 3 weeks and I couldn't get it to got away. I brought a sample to my lfs and they told me that my water looked fine and that it was probibly just a bacterial bloom that would go away in a coulpe of days. Well it never cleared up!! Last night I got the idea to check the impeller and the intake tube to my filter and clean them off. Immediately when restarting the filter I noticed that the suction of the filter had gone up and the bio wheels were spinning a lot faster. This morning I looked a my tank and it was CLEAR!!!!! It was clearer than it had ever been. All it was the whole time was the filter needed to be cleaned so that it could get up to full speed again. I'm sooooo happy!!!!

HCL113083 · New member Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 19

Thanks! I just cleaned both of my filters. I hadn't done so in 2 weeks. Hopefully I will have the same luck you did. I want to add in a pictus cat and a male betta to the tank, but I want to wait until it clears up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Alen · Member Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Santa Rosa

GOOD LUCK!!!

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

HCL113083 · New member Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 19

If it is a bacterial bloom then why would I add the biozyme? They told me my tank just hasn't cycled yet. What should I do with the possible bacterial bloom. Slowly, very slowly, it is starting to clear...it looks much better today, even though it is still cloudy.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

I would just wait and it should clear on its own.

I know some people disagree with me, but based on a biological standpoint, most of those "bacteria/instant cycle in a bottle" products are worthless. Unless they're kept refrigerated, by the time the consumer gets it all the bacteria is dead and won't do anything to help cycle a tank. To my knowledge, Biospira is the only one that is kept refrigerated and even then it has a short shelf life. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money on the Biozyme.

-Chelle