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Posts: 3
From:Alexander Ar, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-24-2003 11:07 AM         

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I have a ten gallon fish tank that Igot a couple weeks ago because my old one sprung a leak. I had to put my fish in before I could give the tank time to run for 24 hours. I used botteled drinking water from walmart. Well my tank went cloudy about a week ago and I changed the filter to see if that would help and it didn't. Can anyone help me? I don't know what to do. Thank you for your time and have a great day. )

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Posts: 92
From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-24-2003 01:23 PM         

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Just from the little bit I read, you didn't let your tank cycle and now you're probably having an overabundance of helpful bacteria. It'll most likely clear up in about a week or so.

How many fish do you have?

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Posts: 9
From:Grand rapids mi us
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-24-2003 02:14 PM         

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Did u put the rocks from the old tank in the new one without cleaning them? If u did then when u poured in the water it might have stired up all the old filth stuck to the rocks and made it cloudy. Try draining all the water and cleaning it tank rocks and all, then let the new water sit for a day. Your filter might need new pads if they are to dirty.

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Posts: 11
From:
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-24-2003 02:16 PM         

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What i want to know is; IS IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP ONE FIVE INCH RED TAIL SHARK ALONE IN A FIVE GALLON TANK? I have two posts up but no one answers them.

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Posts: 40
From:Surrey, B.C., Canada
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-24-2003 03:18 PM         

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You're probably having a bacterial bloom. It will clear up in about a week

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Posts: 3
From:Alexander Ar, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-24-2003 03:38 PM         

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I got new rocks and I rinsed them until the water ran clear. I only have 3 fish in the tank. As for the question about the shark, I can't help yau I have only had luck keeping goldfish alive so I have desided to not get any other kinda fish. )

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Posts: 65
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-24-2003 05:34 PM         

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Hi NatalieLynn,

The way I'm reading this is you changed tanks and then after a period of time the water went cloudy. The tank hasn't cycled and what you're seeing is probably do to ammonia spikes - which could be harmful. Have you tested ammonia, nitrite levels? You may have to do more regular water changes if these are high until bacteria/contaminant levels balance themselves and the tank clears.

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Posts: 429
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 11-24-2003 07:48 PM         

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Hi NatalieLyn77, The cloudiness is from the tank starting to go through it's cycle. Fish give off waste in the form of ammonia. Bacteria builds up around the waste in the gravel and converts the ammonia into nitrites. Secondary bacteria builds up and converts the nitrites to nitrates. This process when it is unhampered takes about 6 to 7 weeks. Disturbing the bacterial filter by cleaning or water changes can cause the cycle to hang. It is best to let the cycle complete before doing water changes. You can expect the ammonia to peak between 2 and 3 weeks. After the ammonia peak you will see the ammonia start to decline and nitrite levels increase. The nitrites should peak between the 5th and 6th week. At this point the nitrites should start to decline and nitrates should start to increase. I normally recommend waiting one more week at this point before doing any water changes so that the bacterial filter is well established. Hope this helps you to understand the cycle process.

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