Cloudy question

[fivestarfish]

I have been raising fish for a long time in several different locations. I have never had this problem like this before. My tank is more then a year old. I do frequent water changes, I replace my carbon filter on time if not early, I have tried Acurel F and a product that is supposed to attach to the cloudy stuff and form solids that I vaccum up (I hate to use chemicals, but I was frustrated), I did have a few too many babies but they all have homes now thanks to this wonderful website. My tank does get some sun light, so I have wondered if it is some kind of algae bloom. The tank is cloudy before and after water changes. I have started to wonder if it is my water. Is there something the state could put in the water that would make it cloudy? Am I missing something else? I have tested all of my levels, I have no ammonia, not nitrites, some nitrates. My pH is okay with good buffers. My water hardness is right on. I really want a crystal clean tank and I just can't make it happen. Can anyone help?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Look through some of the other posts and topics. Others have asked the same question and are given some pretty good answers.

What I've read in these posts are things like waiting for the water to clear of its own accord or putting carbon in the tank.

Hope this helped.

 

[fivestarfish]

Thanks for the help. I looked at everything I could find on the topic, and I think I covered most of the possibilities. I have waited over a year for it to clear and I add new carbon more often then I need to according to instructions. Have you seen a particular topic I should look for? Thanks for your help, hopefully I'll figure out what is going on soon. Fish are incredibly healthy, so it can't be too bad.

 

[pondfreak4365]

How long does it take for the water to clear after a water change? How do you vacuum your gravel...ie: the whole tank or partial? I have experienced cloudiness after over-vacuuming the gravel. When someone here told me to only vacuum maybe 1/3 to 1/2 during each water change, I was able to avoid the 'bacteria bloom' cloudiness that I had been causing. Now, 2 hours after a water change, the tank is settled. To further clarify the water, I drop a little sack with 2-3 tablespoons (for a 75 gallon tank) of activated charcoal into the filter, just so that the water runs through it, and I remove it after a couple days.


I hope this helps!

 

[sandyd]

I can relate to you alot, i had the same exact problem with my 55 gallon. I have 8 tanks in all and they are all crystal clear, but my 55 was very cloudy. I tried everything to clear it, but nothing worked at all. Was making me nuts, but i finally now have it clear. I was using filter cartridges made by top fin, and it just would not clear for me. I finally after trying everything else, went back to whisper brand filters. I took my entire hang on back filter off the tank, and washed it all out again like new, added the new filter cartridges in, and witin 24 hours it was clear. I dont want to put down on top fin brand, but i personally will stay with the Whisper brand from now on. I dont know if this could help you, but it helped me. Good luck and let us know.
Sandy

 

[smb]

I was thinking it might be filtration and saw sandyd's post and makes me think so even more.

What filter/s do you have? I was wondering how many times it turns your tank an hour.

 

[Debo]

I had the same problem and straightened it out by adding an extender to my filter pipe intake. It seems that the water was not being sucked up from the very bottom and that was causing me problems. I also have an internal spong filter in addition to my aqua clear filter.
Five Star-I saw your tank and it looks GREAT. You really think it's cloudy? Get an extender and try that.......................Or you can come to my house and get some mountain well water!!!
PS-The babies are thriving! Thanks.
Deb

 

[Moe]

I was having bacteria booms in the tank all the time in the beginning because I was messing with the gravel too much during cleaning and water changes. Not I only clean one third of the gravel a week. That way two thirds of it is untouched during weekly water changes. It made all the difference. If you try everything and nothing helps you could get a diatom filter. You use them once in a while for water polishing. They are not an every day filter. Here's a link if you want to check them out.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...&Np=1&N=0&Nty=1
I would only invest in one of these if you exhaust all your other options.

 

[Eelzor]

I had never had such problem, but recently I changed the water, and usually after about 1 day it clears up - it still hasn't. I'll have to give it a little longer i guess for now.

 

[fivestarfish]

Thanks everyone for your help. What a great place to come with questions! I have an aquaclear 300 for a 45 gallon tank. I always buy bigger then I need just to turn over more water. I do usually clean half of the gravel at a time. It never settles, no matter how long I wait. In a year I have never seen it crystal clear. I am thinking about adding an extra charcol filter, right now I have a sponge, a charcol, and an ammonia. Does anyone else have any ideas? Has anyone else had problems with aqua clear?

 

[gadazobe]

right now I have a sponge, a charcol, and an ammonia

What do you mean by an ammonia? Do you keep something in the filter to keep ammonia levels down? If so, why? A mature tank should be able to cope with ammonia without any extra help.

 

[fivestarfish]

I use an ammonia filter because I have found that my tank sometimes can work hard right before babies find homes, so I like to make sure the ammonia levels don't spike. I also have snails and live plants, so there can be natural ebbs and flows that I can help with by using an ammonia filter. I don't think it does any harm, but if I am wrong, please let me know.

 

[gadazobe]

How big is the tank. If you're not letting any ammonia stay in the water, then no nitrite is formed and further along the line - no nitrate, and no beneficial bacteria. Do you have any nitrate readings? I hope so coz for one, the plants need it and for two, if there is no nitrate at all, I'm doubtful that your tank has ever cycled, even if it is a year old.

 

[fivestarfish]

Great question and thank you for being so helpful! My nitrates are actually too high according to two different test kits, but my nitrites and ammonia are perfect. I haven't worried about high nitrates much because all the info says that it isn't so bad. I put a second carbon filter in today and I am crossing my fingers that it helps. Thanks again!

 

[gadazobe]

I'm glad that's sorted, for the moment I was worried. Nitrates in high quantities are not so good for your fish and if they're not being used up by the plants, then the only solution is water changes. As you already do regular changes, your cloudiness is most probably bacteria bloom caused by cleaning just a little too well. Hope it clears up soon.