Tank Cloudy

[Rickster]

Hi,

I have set up my tank in its "cycling" process using the products I got with the tank,ie filter start etc. However the tank seems cloudy now compared to when it first started. I had this problem before so emptied tank, cleaned gravel (which is red) and noticed a lot of dye coming off gravel, to the point where you can see original stone colour? Anyway put back into tank, and all was fine, until yesterday when it started to cloud up. I did the change on Monday, i am thinking it may be the gravel, would it be better to get natural gravel with no colouring dye? I have seen many people on here changing to sand, and I have to say I like the look of that, but is sand ok for most standard fish? How do I get rid of the current cloudiness, or do I need to start again? If I start again I think I will use the add and wait method I have read on here and add the ammonia instead, whats everyones thoughts on the above?


Thanks

 

[Corleone]

Do you have fish in the tank? If not, then it's probably just grit out of the gravel. If dye is coming off the gravel, I'd get rid of it. I've heard of colored gravel losing its color over years, but not days, so it can't be good. The grit can be removed by water changes and rinsing the gravel, but with the dye coming off the gravel, you can't tell what that might do to things living in the water.

The cycling products that come with many starter kits are junk. There's only a handful of semi-reliable products of the like, and they require refrigeration. A very few unrefrigerated ones have very short shelf lives with some chance to work, but in general, never trust them in replacement of a cycle.

Anyway, if you don't have fish, definitely go to the add-and-wait cycle method, as without an ammonia source, even a theoretical 100% effective brand of bottled cycling product will die off anyway.

 

[Rickster]

Do you have fish in the tank? If not, then it's probably just grit out of the gravel. If dye is coming off the gravel, I'd get rid of it. I've heard of colored gravel losing its color over years, but not days, so it can't be good. The grit can be removed by water changes and rinsing the gravel, but with the dye coming off the gravel, you can't tell what that might do to things living in the water.

The cycling products that come with many starter kits are junk. There's only a handful of semi-reliable products of the like, and they require refrigeration. A very few unrefrigerated ones have very short shelf lives with some chance to work, but in general, never trust them in replacement of a cycle.

Anyway, if you don't have fish, definitely go to the add-and-wait cycle method, as without an ammonia source, even a theoretical 100% effective brand of bottled cycling product will die off anyway.

Thanks for the reply, in terms of suitable replacements, should I go for normal gravel, or is sand a good go? Looks as though it may be harder to clean? Do fish prefer sand as I would have though thats there natural enviroment? By the way there are no fish in the tank, I will be very patient and wait till all is well before they go in for a swim!

 

[DjLeethul]

Use sand. I find it it easier to maintain than gravel due to the fact that you can visibly see the poo and uneaten food on the top and wont find its way underneath (as with gravel). Just make sure that you rinse the sand before you introduce it to your aquarium.

 

[waterdrop]

Well Rickster, you asked for everyone's thoughts so I'm going to give you mine. They're just opinions, so you don't have to do any of them. Personally I would take advantage of it still being very early in the game and I'd get that painted gravel out of there and chuck it! Then I think its up to you to just make a personal decision between natural gravel or sand. Either one is acceptable from the aquarist point of view and each has various advantages and disadvantages. Some cories and other fish will like the sand better. The sand is indeed a little harder to rinse, takes longer to do it, but its doable. The sand probably takes a little more practice to learn how to "gravel-clean" it without it going out with the water. I think there are threads on using playsand as your sand if you decide on that.

I'd also listen to Corleone's advice and just chuck any extra bottled stuff except conditioner. Just re-read the rdd1952 article and the other pinned ones and get down to basics. You'll need a good testing kit right off. You'll need the right kind of ammonia. You'll need to start a logbook and keep careful records and notes. Take your tap water stats and post them up here and just report in detail all the stuff you're doing and the members will let you know if and when you're getting off course.

~~waterdrop~~