Member

Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-14-2004 07:25 PM         

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My fish tank has been very cloudy for about a week now. All the levels (nitrate, pH, amonia, etc) are normal. I have been putting drops in it that are supposed to clear it up. But it isn't helping. I have also changed the carbon and the sponge in my filter. It is a freshwater tank set at 78. Please help I am sure my fishies are stressed.

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Posts: 199
From:El Paso, Texas
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-14-2004 07:39 PM         

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Tell us about the size of the tank, how long it has been running, how many fishes are in there, and what type of filter you run.
Oh, how often do you change the water and do you vacuum the gravel.
I know these are a bunch of questions, but it will help everyone give you a better answer!

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-14-2004 08:04 PM         

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Size of the tank = 45g
It has been running 3 months
There are 5 fishes in there
I can't remember the brand of the filter, but it is for a 40g tank.
I add water after water changes and when the water level seems low.
I change the water and vacuum the gravel every month.

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Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-14-2004 09:15 PM         

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What kind of fish and how big are they?

-Chelle

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Posts: 16
From:san francisco, ca, usa
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-14-2004 09:59 PM         

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try changing the water about 25% every week, if you dont have time try doing every two week. The filter should be able to pump water twice the size of your tank.

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-15-2004 05:24 AM         

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I think I may go and buy a new filter. I changed it before the weekend and it is already dirty. I may buy one that will pump more water. For fish I have a rainbow shark (4"), 2 tiger barbs (1" each), a rainbow bosemani (5") and a flaming dwarf gourami (3"). Thanks all for you help!

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Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-15-2004 08:23 AM         

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"I changed it before the weekend and it is already dirty"...

Are you actually puting a brand new one in place? This could be contributing to your problem. When cleaning your filter, just give the sponge a couple of squeezes in a pail of tank water to rinse it off. Replacing it with a new sponge or rinsing it under chlorinated tap water will kill all of the beneficial bacteria that have built up on it and your tank will begin to cycle again.

Also, what are the actual values of your readings. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0 ppm (on standard aquarium testers) and nitrate should be below 20 ppm. Generally PH won't create cloudiness unless there is a PH swing that creates a precipitate.

The drops are at best a temporary cure and at worst harmful to the aquarium environment.

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-15-2004 10:47 AM         

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Yes I am adding a new sponge and carbon during alternative months (one month carbon next month sponge). That is what I was told to do so I have been doing it that way for over 3 years. I've never had this problem before. My pH is 6.8 and my ammonia (0ppm) and nitrate (<20ppm)are where they should be too. Last water change I did was a 10% water change (I do those monthly). I can't seem to find a good way to do a 25% change since I don't have anywhere for 10-12 gallons of water to acclimate before I add it (that's why I only do 10%). I was thinking of buying a filter that would work for a bigger tank, but I really don't know. I have kept smaller tanks before (10-20g), but never a 45g and this is the first time it has clouded like this.

Also, my pH was low a few weeks ago so I added pH up. Don't know if that helps with any solutions on what I should do. This problem has only been going of for almost a week though.

[This message has been edited by HCL113083 (edited 03-15-2004).]

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Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-15-2004 12:55 PM         

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The sponge can become clogged, but it doesn't need replaced like the activated charcoal. Just squeeze the sponge in the pail of tank water after a water change to remove the excess. You can tell if the sponge is becoming clogged because the filter (if it's a HOB) will back-up and overflow the intake chamber. The charcoal needs replaced because it becomes chemically inert, but the sponge is only a media for the bacteria to live on.

With an undersized filter, there is very little current and food debris etc. will settle readily to the bottom where it will build up. You should pick up a 2nd filter and a powerhead might not hurt either. Get another 40G filter, and you'll probably be OK.

For water changes, just change a 5 gallon pail twice a week instead of 10 gallons once a week. Also, many people with larger tanks add water directly from the tap (you can buy siphons that hook to the tap) and add the chlorine remover directly to the tank at the same time.

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-15-2004 01:12 PM         

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Thanks katanas_edge for your help I will pick up a larger filter tomorrow. Hopefully that will help!!!!

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Posts: 90
From:Surrey, B.C., Canada
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 03-15-2004 02:58 PM         

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Does anyone else think the couldyness could be a bacterial bloom?

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Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 03-16-2004 12:42 AM         

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Hi t_h_e_s_a_c_k, I really suspect a bacterial bloom. Knowing how frequently reagents go bad, and the fact that only 10% of the water is being changed once a month, I would suspect faulty readings. I can understand his difficulty with larger water changes, but he could do more frequent 10% water changes like every other week. I believe if he did that he would see a definate improvement in his tank. But again, this is my OPINION.

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-16-2004 07:55 AM         

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Okay so if it is a bacterial bloom what should I do to fix it. I am going out today to get a larger filter what else should I do? How can I do a change bigger then 10%? Where do you put all that water to acclimate?? It said earlier in this post I could do it straight from the tap, but wouldn't that cause ICK because the temperatures wouldn't be the same? If I did do it straight from the tap then what should I use to get the Cl out? Sorry for all the questions.

Also I did a 10% change on Sat. and I will do another today....should I just continue doing that?

[This message has been edited by HCL113083 (edited 03-16-2004).]

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Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-16-2004 08:25 AM         

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Ok, maybe I'm gonna get in trouble with you all here but oh well . I've never actually "acclimated" the water I add to the tank. I feel the temp of the water in the aquarium and adjust the temperature of the tap to match it as close as possible. I fill a couple giant pots and make trips back and forth from the tank. When I've finished filling I get my bottle of "Aqua Safe" and put in however much I need for the water change I did.

There are tons of brands of dechlorinator and I know most tank kits come with it. And for the record: I've never had Ich in any of my fish tanks unless I bought a fish with it. Good luck.

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Posts: 199
From:El Paso, Texas
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-17-2004 07:17 AM         

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I agree with tina1, acclimating is over-rated
and there is not enough time in the day to do this. I own 8 tanks and I would need a swimming pool full of water that was just acclimating. The water change is like opening the windows to a stuffy room for your fish. Do it often, and at least 25 percent. Do it a five gallon bucket at a time. Or you could buy a python system!
Take care.

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Posts: 57
From:Boston
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-18-2004 08:00 AM         

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This is what I have been doing. I have a 10g tank set up that I treat, have a filter and heather in it etc. I use that tank to do the water changes in the 45g tank and my betta tanks, etc. It has worked fine for me so far. I tried no doing this and all my fish came down with ICK and this site informed me it was because I didn't let the water acclimate. Therefore I am very careful now. Anyways, not that that is the problem here or why I started writing this reply. I wanted to lt you all know my tank is becoming a little clearer each water change that I do (I am doing it every other day). Thanks for all your help and please don't hesitate to add in other thoughts because it is very helpful and reassuring.

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