Yet Another Problem With My Betta

[PrairieSunflower]

It wasn't cloudy while I was using it, just in the first minute or two while it settled.  But when I cleaned the film away... which I did after I emptied the water as not to stir in back into the water... then it clouded... is it normal for water to cloud after medication was removed?
 
I have a second filter but it is uncycled that I could add and dampen the flow and see if that helps clear the water.

 

[WILDER]

Another members having problems with cloudy water after removing antibiotics.
Why it happens I don't know.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Oh, then maybe that is normal.

 

[WILDER]

Scroll down to cloudy water,
http/aquariumlore.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/how-to-get-rid-of-cloudy-water.html

 

[PrairieSunflower]

It is the white looking cloudiness. 
 
 
So... should I be testing the nitrite then to anticipate a possible ammonia spike?  Just before my ammonia had gone down... is the idea that the bacteria could make it suddenly go up?

 

[WILDER]

That question is to scientific for me. Sorry.
Try and get your question answered in Tropical Discussion.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Too scientific for me too.
 
Anyhow... I put the little filter in in the counter direction of the regular filter and filled it with carbon to see what effect that has.

 

[WILDER]

Carbon should clear the water but it will remove medication.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

D'oh!  It will won't it!  Hopefully people will respond to my topic with some knowledge (just started it)... I'm not sure now if clearing the water or the antibiotics are the priority.

 

[WILDER]

There sugar in the med you are using as it has alot to do with your problem.
Send you the link by PM.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

No response to my cloudy water thread so far.  Anyhow... I panicked and changed the water AGAIN before bed as I was too paranoid he'd die in the night or something, even though the stats were still fine.
 
He is still fine this morning and I tested the water and it is still ammonia 0, nitrite 0, only my nitrates have dropped from 20 to 10.

 

[Meeresstille]

The way I understand it is that the bacteria that cause cloudy water are not the same bacteria that we call beneficial bacteria in the filter. The oxygen problem that these milky-water-causing bacteria cause can be counter-acted by increasing aeration of the water. If you have a HOB filter you only need to lower the water level, and the water falling from an increased height puts more oxygen in the water. You can also add an air-stone. Asides from their oxygen use these bacteria are harmless.
 
If your beneficial bacteria was hurt in the filter and you see an increase of Ammonia, then you will also see eventually an increase in Nitrite once the Ammonia-converting bacteria have caught up with the supply of Ammonia. The safest would be to treat the tank as you were doing a fish-in cycle and test frequently for either toxin so you can change the water when necessary.
 
Sorry if I sound rushed, just wanted to reply quickly before leaving to go to work.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Thank-you, all the reading on cloudy water can get confusing, it is nice to get a certain reply.
 
So far my water stats are fine, nearly out of ammonia testing though but I got a dispatch notice so that should be here tomorrow.  I do have plenty for testing the nitrites though.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

My tank has started to clear a bit this afternoon, maybe it will be looking clear by tomorrow morning.

 

[WILDER]

That's good news.
Hows the little trooper doing. Hope you don't mind me calling him that.