Cloudy Tank / Fish Panting

[BCEagle21]

Hello all,

I have a new tank - a 5 gallon Top Fin "Retreat". 1 Betta, 3 neon tetras, and a Platy.

Yesterday, I added a heater to bring the tank up to tropical temps. Went to bed and everything was fine. Clear water, happy fish. This morning I woke up to a cloudy tank with the tetras and platy "panting", having a voracious appetite, and hanging out near the surface. Betta seems normal.

Here is what I got from testing:
GH: 120
KH: 120
PH - 7.5
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 80

I don't have a thermometer (going to get one today), but I read elsewhere it may be an issue with the heater not working and over heating the tank. So I've removed the heater, and will see if that resolves the issue. The cloudiness is interesting - you can almost see the particulate clouds wafting around the tanks. In order to balance the Ammonia, I added a bottle of bacteria for new tanks a couple days ago. Is the cloudiness due to algae bloom maybe?

I would also note that there is little aeration at the top. This tank has a glass cover, and the filter return is below water on this model.

Do you think it is an issue of Oxygen level in the water? How should I fix?

Thanks in advance for help!

 

[Demeter32]

The cloudyness is likely due to a bacteria bloom as algae would be green. Your nitrates are way too high. A major water change is needed to get it down to 20 or less. I'd do two 75% water changes back to back for starters. Do you have a way to test for ammonia? If so, do that before the water changes.

How new is this tank? Did you cycle it before adding the fish?

Also you have some stocking issues. Neons need a 20gal min and a proper group of 6+. Platties also need a 20gal minimum and prefer groups as well. As for the betta, I wouldn't be surprised if the other fish pick at the betta or vise versa. A 5gal is the perfect size for a single betta and maybe a few snails and shrimp, that's it.

 

[BCEagle21]

THANK YOU!!
I'm a novice, and so still learning. I did exactly as you said (which matched what PetCo said, after I frantically went to them). Aquarium is back to normal. Still a tad cloudy, but fish are not gasping.
I tested for Ammonia, and there was a trace amount. So likely that was the culprit. I did the water changes, added water conditioner, and API Ammo Lock. That seems to have fixed it for now.

With regards to the Nitrates, how best to bring those down? Also any issues with the PH or water hardness? I bought fixes for those as well.

Agreed on the stocking issue. I'll move the smaller fix to another aquarium.

 

[Demeter32]

For nitrates, water changes will remove them as well. Unless you have nitrates in your water source that is. If so, I can't help you there, the only thing I know that removed nitrates are live plants. Which is why planted tanks are more stable in the long run.

Also any issues with the PH or water hardness? I bought fixes for those as well.

Do you mean you bought something to change the pH and/or hardness? If so, I wouldn't add it. Things that change your pH are not a good thing. If a pH swing occurs you will have more issues very soon. A stable pH is far better than trying to add pH altering chemicals. Besides, your pH is perfectly fine at 7.5.

 

[BCEagle21]

Thanks again for your help solving this crisis! I really appreciate it!
Will avoid the other two unless there is a swing. Otherwise tank is back to normal. Phew!
Looks like the remaining cloudiness has cleared up as well.

 

[BCEagle21]

OK the issue has returned the past two days (including today) and I'm at my wit's end. Yesterday the issue came back - all the fishes looking bad and hanging out near the top of the tank panting (except for Betta).
Per above, I did 75% water change yesterday and had removed the Platy. Issue resolved, again. So I thought the issue might be aeration, so I decreased the water level to make the filter return into a fountain in order to solve that issue. Over night it became VERY cold here, so I added the heater back into the tank. This AM (Wednesday), we are back to the same problem. Tetras are hanging out at the top of the tank gasping again, and look worse for the wear. I've attached a picture of the behavior.

Tank readings are currently thus:
GH - 180
KH - 80
PH - 7.5
NO2 - 1
NO3 - 20
Ammonia NH3/NH4 - About 0.25 ppm*
Temperature: 76.2

Before the water change yesterday the readings were:
GH - 180
KH - 120
PH - 7.5
NO2 - 3 ppm
NO3 - 20 ppm
Ammonia NH3/NH4 - 1 ppm (!!)*

*Yesterday and today (and even Monday) I had given the tank a heavy dose of API Ammo Lock, which should have neutralized the toxicity of the Ammonia, even though it will still test present. On initial set-up and with each water change I've also used Aqueon Water Conditioner.

So I've ruled out aeration as the cause, I think. Previously, it would seem that Nitrites were the issue (yesterday they were 3 ppm before the w/c). Today it looks like there is 1-ish ppm. I say "ish" because the reading is either "0" or "1" so I'm rounding up.

Possible issues:
(1) Nitrites still an issue. If so, do I just water change indefinitely until the nitrogen cycle is set? The tetra's symptoms seem to return every 12 hours or so.
(2) Tetras are stressed due to temp fluctuation.
(3) Tetras are stressed due to not enough numbers to schoal.
(4) API Ammo Lock is not doing it's job enough to de-toxify the Ammonia

I'm leaning against #2 and #3 simply because the Tetras go back to normal as if nothing happened as soon as I do a water change.

Thanks in advance for help!

 

[Demeter32]

(1) Nitrites still an issue. If so, do I just water change indefinitely until the nitrogen cycle is set?

Yes, you must do water changes till the tank has cycled. Doing a 50% water change every day is needed IMO. Shouldn't be too hard as it is a little tank. You do not want any ammonia or nitrites. Ammo lock is only a temporary fix. If I remember correctly the effects wear off over time and the ammonia becomes toxic once more. The best way to remove it is with water changes.

As for the neons, they were not the best choice on your part. Neons are known to not do so hot in newer tanks, even if they are cycled. They also need to be in a bigger tank and have a bigger school but being in lower numbers should never cause the fish to gasp at the surface like that. I honestly suggest you return the neons to the pet store or give them to someone who has an established tank with neons already in it. The way things are going now it's looking pretty bad for them.

 

[NickAu]

Over night it became VERY cold here, so I added the heater back into the tank.

Set the heater to 80F put it in the tank and leave it there.

*Yesterday and today (and even Monday) I had given the tank a heavy dose of API Ammo Lock,

What do you mean by heavy dose? In a 5 gallon you should not add more than 2.5 milliliters.

AMMO-LOCK does not remove ammonia; it converts it to a non toxic form. After using AMMO-LOCK, your aquarium water will still test positive as most tests cant tell the difference between ammonia and ammonium

I added a bottle of bacteria

You added a bottle?


Ok here what you need to do.
Put the heater back in the tank set it to 80F and leave it alone.

Water changes,
Do a 60% water change now, then do 50% every day for the next few weeks till your tank stabilities.

Rehome the Tetras and Platy you tank is not big enough.

What water conditioner do you use? Ammo Lock is not a water conditioner because it don't deal with chlorine.