PDA

View Full Version : Cloudy Water While Cycling



MU1348
01-06-2004, 12:05 PM
I started a fishless cycle last week on a 10g aquarium. I do not have any gravel or filter media to seed the bacteria bed the only thing used to seed was stress zyme that came with the aquarium. I heard that stress zyme was useless, but that was the only seeding material I could get my hands on.

A couple of days ago my water started getting cloudy. I searched a little on past threads and most seemed to think this was a bacteria (not the good kind) bloom. The water I used was straight from the tap with new pea gravel substrate, new plastic plants, and a new fake (plastic) driftwood root. I read on past threads that the water will clear as the bacteria run out of 'food'

If this cloudiness is a bacterial bloom, and since I used tap water in a brand new setup......will I have this bloom everytime I do a water change?

The ammonia used was 29% concentration used to make blueprints (little dab will do ya to get 5ppm on 10g). The ammonia is clear and non foaming.

Should I do any water changes while fishless cycling or since no fish in the aquarium should I leave it be?

The pH reading from the aquarium is around 7.9 and my tap water pH is 7.4. Is this normal for there to be such a difference between the two? The gravel I used was not supposed to alter the pH. What are you're guesses on my pH changing??

Grassguy
01-06-2004, 12:15 PM
No, you will not get this bloom every time you do a water change.

General consensus is that a water change is not necessary during a fishless cycle, but it won't hurt you either. You may want to start doing regular water changes to get into the habit though. Sometimes habits are good things.:D

MU1348
01-06-2004, 12:30 PM
When adding new water for a water change will I not also be adding more bad bacteria food??

JSchmidt
01-06-2004, 1:13 PM
The bloom is caused by an imbalance in the populations of normal microorganisms that inhabit the tank. As the tank matures, the populations become balanced and you shouldn't have the blooms. It will not recur every time you change your water. The best course of action is to do nothing. As the populations come into balance, the water will clear naturally.

HTH,
Jim

MU1348
01-06-2004, 3:40 PM
I'm glad that everything is normal!! I was worried that I would be battling funk forever.

Any idea's why the pH would be so different between the tap water and aquarium water when I'm not doing anything to consciously raise the pH?