Cloudy/Greenish water

[Calusa]

Ok, I've been trying to solve this problem forever, to no avail. I even did a huge water change yesterday, and it's still ugly. It's an opaque green/white cloudiness...

Could it be that the filters need changing?
What steps can I take to try to correct it otherwise?

Sorry, I have no parameters...

 

[smb]

Sounds like you might have an algea bloom. Caused from excessive nutrients.

Water changes alone won't help much at all since the algea spores are already present in the water you use to refill the tank, in most cases.

Turning the light off doesn't really help either since the algea will photosynthesize at night and consume even more oxygen.

Try a water change/gravel clean, feed sparingly and clean your filters a lot more often while you try to get rid of it.

 

[Calusa]

Thanks for the input, SMB. It could very well be an algae bloom.. but it's never ending, and the tank gets absolutely no natural sunlight- it's in the basement... so I'm not sure if that changes anything or not.

PS:
I'm out of the Cleveland area as well... I spend lotsa time at RMS, the super fish store!!

 

[smb]

Thanks for the input, SMB. It could very well be an algae bloom.. but it's never ending, and the tank gets absolutely no natural sunlight- it's in the basement... so I'm not sure if that changes anything or not.

PS:
I'm out of the Cleveland area as well... I spend lotsa time at RMS, the super fish store!!

It's more from excessive nutrients in your tank.

RMS? Hey that's really cool. That's where I go too. I go to the one on Engle road in Middleburg Hts. Which one of them do you go to?

 

[Calusa]

Are you referring to maybe I over-feed? I probably don't feed even as often as I should... but the fish look healthy, so I must be doing something right.

We usually go to the RMS in Willoughby, on Robinhood Drive... I've always wanted to check the rest out, and almost got to, when they shipped the prairie dogs around, then monkey pox hit, and it's been a mess ever since.

 

[smb]

Then I'm not sure what it might be then. Hopefully someone else will know and can lend us a hand.

The one in Middleburg is huge compared to the other 2 from what I've been told. It's massive. You should go there when you get a chance.

I haven't been to the one you frequent but used to go to the Strongsville store quite a bit.

 

[MamaFish]

Do not mean to hijack the thread, but I have family that lives in Fairview Pk. I haven't been up that way since I was 17, but I do miss it a lot!

 

[Calusa]

update... we used the pool kit to test fishy water... and I'll just say it's.. high.

Would that have any bearing on the cloudiness?

 

[smb]

I know you are going to really get mad at me here, but please, before you do, just know I am only asking this because I care and want to help you.

I honestly think it's because of excess nutrients in your tank.

How often do you change water/gravel clean?

Please don't be mad at me for asking.

 

[Calusa]

Why would I get mad? I'm asking for help.. and you're offering it. I see no reason to get mad.

I haven't been cleaning gravel and changing water regularly due to hectic schedules *smacks own hand, bad fish mommy!*

So I'll go through another vaccuming tomorrow, if and when I find time, and then refil it..

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[smb]

Why would I get mad? I'm asking for help.. and you're offering it. I see no reason to get mad.

I haven't been cleaning gravel and changing water regularly due to hectic schedules *smacks own hand, bad fish mommy!*

So I'll go through another vaccuming tomorrow, if and when I find time, and then refil it..

Thanks again for your assistance. 

OK, well then you have excess nutrients.

You bad fish mommy!

LOL, don't worry. We all have done that and will do that at some time or another, no matter what.


No matter how little you feed, if the husbandry practices aren't kept on schedule, this is what will happen.

I would do a water change/gravel clean of 35% twice a week the next 2 weeks and then for the next 2-3 weeks do a 35% WC/GC once a week and your problem should be solved if you keep to a regular schedule of wc/gc.

To let you know that this isn't overkill, I've been in the hobby for 27 years and have had over 344 tanks at one time in my peak and still changed the water for all those tanks and all those years at least once a week in all those tanks and I always over filtrate every one of my tanks. I haven't had a water problem or lost a fish in 25+ years.

Edit: So please just for a month try what I suggested.

 

[Calusa]

well, I do believe my tank is in good hands as long as I have you to keep me in shape!

344 tanks, eh? (to quote my Canadian friends...) and I do believe you qualify to win an "obsessed" award

You seriously haven't killed a fish in 25 years?

And I'll begin your perscription for a clean tank as soon as possible!

 

[smb]

well, I do believe my tank is in good hands as long as I have you to keep me in shape!

344 tanks, eh? (to quote my Canadian friends...) and I do believe you qualify to win an "obsessed" award

You seriously haven't killed a fish in 25 years?

And I'll begin your perscription for a clean tank as soon as possible!

I haven't killed a fish when it comes to water parameters in 25 years.

I've tried many of fish to get along with my other cichlids and they died many a times.

I have a flowerhorn that killed a couple piranha and a Midas twice his size because he wanted the tank to himself. So, I shoudn't say I haven't killed a fish in over 25 years, I guess, because if it wasn't for me, they would still be alive.

But I've kept Piranhas for almost 20 years and cichlids for 27 years and haven't lost any fish other than attacks from other fish.

I've lost more than probably any of you tho in my first 2 years to make us all even tho.

 

[Braddah]

dang smb...i dont feel as bad now but i hate when i lose fish even if it is unexplained...(lost a rasbora last night all parameters are normal....???) but 25 years thats crazy awsome....

 

[smb]

dang smb...i dont feel as bad now but i hate when i lose fish even if it is unexplained...(lost a rasbora last night all parameters are normal....???) but 25 years thats crazy awsome....

Yea, sometimes we all lose fish and it's unexplained.

I think the most contibutable factor to unexplained deaths are due to intestinal problems that we can't see, but in time, we all can just tell what disease is which.