hi all can sum one help me ive had a cold water tank set up for about 3 months and have 5 gold fish in it. and the tank is 44 gallon with aqua one cf1000 filter and a under gravel filter and the problem is the water keeps going cloudy. cud sum help me out:crazy:
help please
- Thread starter leehardy9
- Start date
:welcome: to AC. You've chosen the best place to ask for help!
We need some more information before we can work out what the problem is. What kind of goldfish are they? What substrate do you have? Do you know what your parameters are? Do you have lights, and if so how strong, and how long do you leave them on for? I'm sure there's other stuff we need to know but off the top of my head I can't think of it.
We need some more information before we can work out what the problem is. What kind of goldfish are they? What substrate do you have? Do you know what your parameters are? Do you have lights, and if so how strong, and how long do you leave them on for? I'm sure there's other stuff we need to know but off the top of my head I can't think of it.
If you haven't invested in any testing supplies for the water, there are some parameters that would really help with diagnosis. (Namely Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate levels). These are especially important on a new or recently changed tank, and definitely increase your chances of long-term fish health. I'd recommend an API freshwater test kit.
Is it a white cloudy?
Tanks that are still establishing themselves are prone to bacterial blooms. The water test results can change rapidly during this time and possibly become harmful in a hurry, so having a way to do your own testing is still a big plus.
Tanks that are still establishing themselves are prone to bacterial blooms. The water test results can change rapidly during this time and possibly become harmful in a hurry, so having a way to do your own testing is still a big plus.
My guess would be bacterial bloom. Beneficial bacterial are multiplying in large numbers, which clouds the water temporarily.
- Be careful of oxygen levels crashing in the tank. The bacteria consume it, and might begin to suffocate the fish. (They may hover at the top gasping if this is the case). A bubbler is a good stopgap.
- If and when you are able to get your own test numbers, you can make sure the "cycle" in the tank isn't becoming harmful to the fish. Though the growth of different bacteria: Ammonia (bad) becomes Nitrite (worse), which becomes Nitrate (relatively safe at normal levels, removed by plants or water changes). Since the water is consistently cloudy, it seems the bacterial are trying to catch up somewhere.
- If there is any possibility of extra food or waste (or worse, dead fish) being trapped in the gravel or under ornaments, it may be a good time for cleaning/vacuuming. Disturbing the gravel too much may upset the biological filtration, but it can't just be left in filth either. Undergravel filters can be a a bit of a maintenance challenge in general.
- Be careful of oxygen levels crashing in the tank. The bacteria consume it, and might begin to suffocate the fish. (They may hover at the top gasping if this is the case). A bubbler is a good stopgap.
- If and when you are able to get your own test numbers, you can make sure the "cycle" in the tank isn't becoming harmful to the fish. Though the growth of different bacteria: Ammonia (bad) becomes Nitrite (worse), which becomes Nitrate (relatively safe at normal levels, removed by plants or water changes). Since the water is consistently cloudy, it seems the bacterial are trying to catch up somewhere.
- If there is any possibility of extra food or waste (or worse, dead fish) being trapped in the gravel or under ornaments, it may be a good time for cleaning/vacuuming. Disturbing the gravel too much may upset the biological filtration, but it can't just be left in filth either. Undergravel filters can be a a bit of a maintenance challenge in general.
I agree with what everyone else said, but also, you're tank is overstocked and that is contributing to the problem. What type of goldfish do you have? If you have fancies than it's less overstocked. 5 fancy goldfish need atleast a 75 gallon tank, 5 single-tailed goldies need atleast a 100 gallon tank.
Also, :welcome: to AC!
Also, :welcome: to AC!