crazie.eddie
Fish Addict
Nitrates is not a bad thing, since they're the final product of the nitrogen cycle (Fish waste -> Ammonia -> NitrITEs -> NitrATEs) Any amounts of ammonia or nitrITEs is bad. If ammonia or nitrITEs levels are up, perform another water (15%) water change and maybe a lite gravel cleaning.
You mentioned murkey water...is this cloudy, almost white in appearance or greenish. If it's white, then it's a bacterial bloom. It's not good to have it, since it's a sign of high ammonia, but it's not necessarily that bad. It will eventually clear up once the tank stablizes. If it's green, it's an algae bloom, but no need to worry about this at this time.
Just don't add any more fish until your water parameters stablize with 0 for both ammonia and nitrITEs. Once they do, wait another week JUST to make sure. Then slowly add another 10% of fish. Wait another week or 2 until the tank stablizes again. repeat the process until your tank is fully stocked.
If the ammonia and/or nitrITEs don't seem to ever go down, then I woud suggest to add another filter or replace your current filter with a larger one.
You mentioned murkey water...is this cloudy, almost white in appearance or greenish. If it's white, then it's a bacterial bloom. It's not good to have it, since it's a sign of high ammonia, but it's not necessarily that bad. It will eventually clear up once the tank stablizes. If it's green, it's an algae bloom, but no need to worry about this at this time.
Just don't add any more fish until your water parameters stablize with 0 for both ammonia and nitrITEs. Once they do, wait another week JUST to make sure. Then slowly add another 10% of fish. Wait another week or 2 until the tank stablizes again. repeat the process until your tank is fully stocked.
If the ammonia and/or nitrITEs don't seem to ever go down, then I woud suggest to add another filter or replace your current filter with a larger one.
