Cloudy water

[clutterydrawer]

"I didn't want to go overboard on my first go"

bigger tanks are far easier to maintain actually, they leave you more margin for error and are generally more stable

but anyway

I think the way to resolve it is to keep an eye on the levels and do water changes whenever necessary, although moving stock would help if you were desperate. Make sure you move that catfish out before he gets stunted though - I guess he should be ok for now if he's only 5cm but he'll need a good sized tank to get to his 15cm adult length.

 

[tintin]

Another 25% water change last night. Also cleaned the filter sponges (in the water I removed from the tank.) The gourami seemed to be more active and appeared to be checking out the gravel for food for the first time in ages but I held off on giving a feed.

Did a feed this morning. Still no interest from gourami who clearly still has swim bladder disease and spends most of the time resting at tht top of the tank. Catfish is still hiding in his spot (vertically.) Cant be sure what activity there is when I go to bed but during the day he rarely moves.

Test results this morning:

ph - 7.3
ammonia - 0 ppm
nitrite - 0 ppm
nitrate - 40 ppm

 

[Phantom Thief]

Seems to be going well. However, i would try to reduce the nitrate levels.

P.T.

 

[tintin]

Actually, Tallulah the gourami seems to have perked up a lot this morning. Nothing like the appetite she had a week ago but she has eaten a little. The swim bladder also seems to be getting better as she's spending less time on the surface.

Is water changing the only way to get nitrates down?

Can I also ask what product you use to add to the tap water at each change? I use 'Stress Coat'. Is there anything better?

TT.

 

[clutterydrawer]

Actually, Tallulah the gourami seems to have perked up a lot this morning. Nothing like the appetite she had a week ago but she has eaten a little. The swim bladder also seems to be getting better as she's spending less time on the surface.

Is water changing the only way to get nitrates down?

Can I also ask what product you use to add to the tap water at each change? I use 'Stress Coat'. Is there anything better?

TT.

I'm not sure what stress coat is. Is it a dechlorinator?

Anything that removes chlorine AND chloramine will be sufficient.

 

[tstenback]

Yes the only way other than chemicals to bring down the nitrates is by water changes. HTH

 

[tintin]

Ok. Well nitrate level has gone down slightly but still not at zero yet so but I plan to continue to 25% daily water changes this week.

How often should I hoover the gravel? Should that be daily also?

TT.

 

[MRshouty]

I didn't read all of the post so if someone else said this. I'm sorry for drilling it on and on.

Your fish have stress because you changed alot in there environment, the new gravel, the background, they like plants (i'm assuming they're reaL) but putting your hand in to add the plants may upset them.

Also if you removed the old gravel you could have gotten rid of helpful bacteria.

 

[tstenback]

Ok. Well nitrate level has gone down slightly but still not at zero yet so but I plan to continue to 25% daily water changes this week.

How often should I hoover the gravel? Should that be daily also?

TT.

Hoover the bottom when you do water changes. You may never get a zero reading for nitrAtes no matter how many water changes you do. As long as it is 20 or below you should be fine.

 

[tintin]

Cool. I was hoovering every day. Just waned to make sure that im not doing more harm than good.

Plan to get a larger tank tommorrow and begin cycling it. Don't think i'll ever get the nitrates any lower in the tank I have now with the number of fish inside it.

TT.

 

[clutterydrawer]

You could always try some plants, if there's space...Since I added plants my nitrates have been at zero

Bigger tank is always a good plan though