Cloudy Tank

[fishkers]

Okay so I have a fish tank that is cloudy. Its been cloudy and i've done a lot to figure out what is wrong. The water is fine; Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, Nitrate is 40 (smidge high), Alkalinity is 120, Total Hardness is 100, and pH is 7.4. Okay so I did all the testing that checks out okay. I reduced feeding and did gravel vacuuming but there wasn't much waste. The filter is operating at full capacity with fresh carbon. The temperature is 75 degrees. All it has in it is 2 zebra danios, 2 platys and a Chinese algae eater.

This tank was like this now for about 2 months. At first I thought it was just cycling thing so I let it go for the time being. Well my one zebra danio ended up getting dropsy which is caused usually by poor water quality. During this time I was doing water changes once a week. They don't really seem to help. So I cleaned the entire tank out, cleaned the gravel really well, and the tank really well. Put it all back together and it was clear for 3 days. Then it got cloudy again. I did water changes and it didn't help and now i'm here. I've done water changes, i've tested the water. I've reduced feeding and the tank is cycled according to my water stats.

So what could be going on???

 

[DevUK]

Is it sort of white cloudy, asin sedement from your gravel? If it is sediment, replace the carbon filter insert with one of the fine polyester ones.

It could also be an algae bloom. Do you have a picture of the tank?

 

[fishkers]

It is a white cloudy like its hazy. I don't think its gravel settling because I think that should have been settled for a while now but i'm not going to rule anything out now

I was reading about the algae bloom and bacterial blooms that might be it. I will get a picture in as soon as I can. I have one but the picture link has disappeared here on the reply and post section. So i will post a picture a.s.a.p.

 

[DevUK]

Do you have any stones in the aquarium?

 

[fishkers]

Yes there is stones in the aquarium

 

[england]

i suffered the same problem last month in my newish tank i had carbon in the filter i got told to remove carbon and add the white pollywool its like cotton wool of a type which u can buy at you lfs for a few £s or $s which ever applys to you....it polishs the water and beleive me it worked.......
you shouldnt be over stocked so id try this if i was you...not a instantly noticiable transfomation but it works...

 

[fishkers]

thanks for the suggestion, i will purchase one and give it a shot

 

[england]

soz double mail its just like when you buy cotton wo0l

 

[bigboy99]

I have the same in my tank it keeps the water clear

 

[indigo]

I have the same in my tank it keeps the water clear

what is the use of carbon in the tank? i've currently taken out the carbon while i am medicating for white spot, i've spoken to my lfs dude extensively recently and he mentioned that i shouldn't need to use carbon in my tank (just changed to gravel and have no plants) and i didn't get around to asking what else to use! i suspect he'll suggest these polishing pads.

in reply to the OT, i just spent the entire day scooping and syphoning stagnant sand out of my tank (long story - bad advice when i first set the tank up) and i bought a large bag of quite large pebble gravel, despite heavily rinsing over and over a bit at a time in a bucket with a hosepipe until the water ran clear, i still expected a little cloudiness from that for a few days, and i also kick started a filter after doing a hefty water change and removal of sand, and as expected i got a hazy bacterial bloom, this all cleared within 2-3 days though. maybe going over your gravel with a gravel cleaner would help? i also had a slight 'scum' floating on the water while it settled, confirming that it was from the gravel i guess. hope you get it sorted soon

 

[Miss Wiggle]

if the polishing pads don't work then it's most likely an algae/bacteria bloom, as your stats are fine best bet is to get a UV steriliser which should clear it up in no time

 

[fishkers]

well there has to be another way to do it because the polishing pad doesn't work and I can't afford a UV Sterilizer. Any other advice?

 

[Jazzyc]

well there has to be another way to do it because the polishing pad doesn't work and I can't afford a UV Sterilizer. Any other advice?

This one isnt expensive.... and I bought my Tetretec external filter from these guys so so they are legit....

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/9-Watt-Fish-R-Fun-In...1QQcmdZViewItem

There really isnt any other way... I had a green algea bloom and aftera while I did a 90% water change.... it was clear for 1 day then green again....

 

[Miss Wiggle]

there is another way, you need to wrok out exactly what is in inbalance in your tank and correct it, while your basic levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are fine there will be something off like your levels of trace chemicals, amount of plants, amount of lighting, Co2 in the water etc etc etc

so you can either get a uv steriliser, or you can have a very long drawn out process of testing and adjusting and spend much more money in the long run and correct whatever's wrong

 

[fishkers]

well i won't be buying a UV sterilizer its too costly unless someone wants to donate to the Fishkers needs money fund...

thanks Jazzyc for the idea, i'm in the U.S. and I don't think they will ship here and if they will shipping will probably cost a lot. But thanks, i will keep looking for some things.