What Am I Doing Wrong?

[SecretlyaZombie]

Hello, I have a nearly 4 month old 160 litre aquarium with an interpet filter holding 7 tiger barbs and 6 cory catfish. Problem is, my water becomes unclear so quickly. I cycled the aquarium and added all the fish gradually, 3 or 4 at a time and carry out a 20% water change every week. I have since moved the corydoras into a new tank as it were difficult to feed them whilst with the tigers.

This was the tank when I first added fish after it were cycled.

This happened quite suddenly about a month after the first picture. You can just about make out fish in there! ): I did some research and I believed it were green algae so I followed one of the methods online, keeping it in complete darkness for 4 days. However, I had read that green algae should go within a week and this hadn't but I thouhgt it were worth a try. Ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels all seemed ok.

When I looked at the tank after 4 days, it was quite clear, but it wasn't staying clear and in days it gradually got worse, but not as bad as in the second image.

I think it's something I'm doing wrong, and i'm not blaming the filter, but does anyone have experience with the one i'm using? It's an interpet internal power filter, P4.

I'm embarresed to show people it when they come round and I was so proud of it when I first had it set up as it were my first ever tank. ): I would love a crystal clear tank again! And I want my tigers to be happy!

Thanks for any help!

 

[D1s]

Did you wash the substrate? I would of thought it would of cleared in four months but just a thought

 

[SecretlyaZombie]

Did you wash the substrate? I would of thought it would of cleared in four months but just a thought

no I did not, is that a likely reason? I didn't think I needed to as I got it from a pet shop. ):

 

[Noahs ark6]

hi, this is a bit of topic, but where did you get the wood on the far right? i love it

 

[ez_101]

Did you wash the substrate? I would of thought it would of cleared in four months but just a thought

no I did not, is that a likely reason? I didn't think I needed to as I got it from a pet shop. ):

I Also got mine from a pet shop but it needed a very good rinse!! could be dust kicked up from the sand when cleaning!

 

[SecretlyaZombie]

Did you wash the substrate? I would of thought it would of cleared in four months but just a thought

no I did not, is that a likely reason? I didn't think I needed to as I got it from a pet shop. ):

I Also got mine from a pet shop but it needed a very good rinse!! could be dust kicked up from the sand when cleaning!

Thanks but I don't believe that it is because when I added the water to the sand, the sand settled quickly and was fine for about a month with no sign of dust. I don't know though, ):

 

[ez_101]

Did you wash the substrate? I would of thought it would of cleared in four months but just a thought

no I did not, is that a likely reason? I didn't think I needed to as I got it from a pet shop. ):

I Also got mine from a pet shop but it needed a very good rinse!! could be dust kicked up from the sand when cleaning!

Thanks but I don't believe that it is because when I added the water to the sand, the sand settled quickly and was fine for about a month with no sign of dust. I don't know though, ):

True, but when you unsettle it when doing a water change it could bring up dust particals from under the top surface.

Or you may have a bacteria bloom!?

 

[D1s]

The sand i got needed cleaning and that came from my local aquarium shop. They have a type of volcanic style substrate in there and they told me that after washing it it still took another five weeks before the filter managed to clear it up.

If its not a bacteria bloom then just stir a small area of the substrate and see how much cloudy sediment appears.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

A way to check if its the sand is to put some very fine filter wool in your filter or use cotton wool like I did and after 2 days my water was crystal, if that doesn't work it could be a bacteria problem.

 

[dasmall1]

Did you get rid of the corys before or after that pic? They love to kick up sand.

 

[ian]

A way to check if its the sand is to put some very fine filter wool in your filter or use cotton wool like I did and after 2 days my water was crystal, if that doesn't work it could be a bacteria problem.

I agree with this^^^

 

[SecretlyaZombie]

A way to check if its the sand is to put some very fine filter wool in your filter or use cotton wool like I did and after 2 days my water was crystal, if that doesn't work it could be a bacteria problem.

Done this, three days later, the water is still pretty murky. thanks anyway, i'm thinking bacteria problem then but I don't know how to get around it. I'm positive it's not the sand which is the issue.

And yeah, cories were removed before 2nd photo. They're were only tiny also.

Also, one of the tiger barbs isn't eating anything, it's been atleast days I've noticed. He's a lot smaller than the others and not interested at all in food. Including blood worms. );

 

[ez_101]

Might be a mini cycle?

Are you doing daily water changes?

 

[creeker]

What do you feed your fish, how often, and how long does it take for them to consume all the food? Is any food getting to the bottom? That sure looks like a bacterial bloom from here. There must be something feeding it. I must add tank looks very nice in the first pic!