Cloudy tank water

[Symon_B]

Hi all.

I recently received a 56 litre tank (24"x12"x12") as a present, which came as part of a "starter kit".

The tank was set up, filled with the appropriate amount of gravel, a piece of bog wood and a couple of lava rocks.

When the tank was first filled, the water was crystal clear, and as per the instructions 10ml of Stresscoat was added to de chlorinate the water.

Since this time, the water has heated up and gone cloudy.

I tried cleaning the gravel again, along with the other decoration and refilled the tank, but the same problem has happened again.

Does anyone have any reasons why this has happened or how to stop and reverse the process?

Thanks in advance

Symon

 

[Jo1980]

Hi Simon,

Whenever I move the gravel in my tank the water goes cloudy, then settles down after a while.... I cleaned my gravel, but it would seem there are minute bits of dust and things that will never be totally gone!

Hope this helps.

Jo.

 

[Symon_B]

Thanks Jo

I guess it's just a case of sit and wait then!

 

[paulthegreat]

Before putting the gravel in I usually wash it several times in batches. I put about two kilos in a bucket and fill the bucket with water and scrub it by hand then drain off the water and repeat untill it gets clear and repeat with the rest of the gravel. Most all gravel will have a lot of dust in it and used gravel will even have the gunk from the last use. HTH

 

[Symon_B]

I was the gravel 3 or 4 times in total but if it doesn't clear in the next couple of days, I think I will have to get scrubbing

Would it help if the filter and pump were switched off?

Symon

 

[paulthegreat]

Did you wash the lava rocks and bogwood as well? The bogwood should be soaked in a bucket for several days with water changes and then scrubbed. The wood may have some hardend mud on it. I have not used lava rock yet but I would guess that soaking and washing would help as well. If you have not put in fish yet then start over and give it all a good scrub and reclean the tank as well. Better to get things clean before you lose fish. If you are planning a fishless cycle see the posted articles for some good advice. Good luck.HTH

 

[Symon_B]

The bog wood and lava rock were washed and scrubbed on purchase and again when I stared over the first time.

No fish have yet been added to the tank, so if there are no improvements in the next couple of days I will start over again.

Symon