Cloudy Water

[Celura]

I added Sushi to his new home last night and used 70% his old water (which was changed about a week ago), and 30% new treated bottled spring water. I used a few drops of AmQuel and NovAqua and just a couple small pieces of salt. I added the plants and then when the water was the right temp, added Sushi.

He seems to be happy and frolicking all through the ferns. However, the water just looks murky. Any ideas?

Thanks a bunch!

[OrionGirl]

If you used new gravel, did you rinse it? Could be dust from the gravel that will settle out shortly. If it lasts more than about 48 hours, get a sample in a white cup--if there's a green tinge, it's an algae bloom. If no green, could be a bacteria bloom.

There was no reason to use the old water--it just imported wastes into the new tank--the beneficial bacteria are not free floating in the water column. I'd do some water changes to get closer to all new water, and see what develops.

[TKOS]

If you are using bottled spring water then there really isn't a reason to treat it with dechlorinator and Amquel (which removes ammonia doesn't it?). That water is free of those. Those are great if you are treating tapwater.

[Celura]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
If you used new gravel, did you rinse it? Could be dust from the gravel that will settle out shortly. If it lasts more than about 48 hours, get a sample in a white cup--if there's a green tinge, it's an algae bloom. If no green, could be a bacteria bloom.

There was no reason to use the old water--it just imported wastes into the new tank--the beneficial bacteria are not free floating in the water column. I'd do some water changes to get closer to all new water, and see what develops.

I used gravel from a Betta bowl I had prior and rinsed it very very VERY well. It's not gravel so much as those "chipped glass" sort of bottom stones.

I did a lot of research and I was told to do water changes gradually over the next week or more, since he was in distilled water to begin with. Is this incorrect?

[shewlett]

Jenny, you are spot on with the gradual water changes.

[OrionGirl]

It depends on the parameters of the water source. If they will result in a huge shift in pH, then small, daily changes will be better than a large one. If the new water has a chemistry that is similar to existing conditions, there is no reason to delay the water changes.

[shewlett]

I don't believe Jenny has any test kits so to be safe gradual water changes are in order. Since the fish has been kept in distilled water and is now going to tap (well?) water the water parameters are going to be different. Patience is a virtue.

[Celura]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
It depends on the parameters of the water source. If they will result in a huge shift in pH, then small, daily changes will be better than a large one. If the new water has a chemistry that is similar to existing conditions, there is no reason to delay the water changes.

There was a huge difference in PH between the two types of water, as shown with my test kit yesterday. The distilled was very low, and the spring very high. Therefore that just told me I needed to change it gradually as directed prior so not to send my Sushi into fishie shock.

I love that little guy. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[jread]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
If the new water has a chemistry that is similar to existing conditions, there is no reason to delay the water changes.

Old water = distilled

New water = not distilled

That's a major chemistry difference.

[Celura]

Yes, major difference. The old was closer to 6.2-6.4. The spring water was in the 8's. :shake:

[TKOS]

Is your bottled spring water actually mineral water?

[Celura]

So can anyone help with some insight on the cloudiness? His old water wasn't that dirty at all. I just wonder if there's something I should be doing that I haven't.

[Celura]

Originally posted by TKOS
Is your bottled spring water actually mineral water?

I use Zephyrhills bottled spring water. Here's the water content breakdown from their website:

[OrionGirl]

Distilled water has a neutral pH and is low in harndess--the major difference between distilled and 'other' water is the other dissolved organics and KH. Without testing, it is silly to say the 2 are far apart.

However--I never indicated that water changes should be huge and dramatic, but rather indicated that I would do changes to replace the old water--no mention of a recommended time line.

:rolleyes:

[TKOS]

Ummm. The label says ph of 7.3 and you say your tests show it to be in the 8's. That is quite a difference. Either they are wrong or your test kit is faulty.

[Celura]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
Distilled water has a neutral pH and is low in harndess--the major difference between distilled and 'other' water is the other dissolved organics and KH. Without testing, it is silly to say the 2 are far apart.

However--I never indicated that water changes should be huge and dramatic, but rather indicated that I would do changes to replace the old water--no mention of a recommended time line.

:rolleyes:

But you said earlier not to use the old water at all, so what other avenue would you suggest that would have been less "dramatic"?

Most of you had also said stay away from chemically altering the PH, so I don't know what else could have been done to ensure an easy transition without using old water or chemically altering the new with PH up/down (which a lot of you seem against).

So now I'm really confused...

[OrionGirl]

Same as the acclimation process that should be used when purchasing a fish--keep the fish in the bag water, gradually add a cup of 'new' water every 15-20 minutes. Once you've doubled the original volume of water, remove half of it and repeat. Complete the process 3 times total, and then net the fish and move just the fish into the tank.

[Celura]

I see. It's been years since I've bought a fish in a bag.

[OrionGirl]

Fish bought in a bag, bucket, cup--all purchases should be introduced this way.

[Celura]

So anyway...

Ok group, what about the cloudiness?

[OrionGirl]

Once more--white or green?

White is more likely, given the age. There are numerous bacteria that reside in our aquariums. Normally they are just one small part of the system, and numbers are kept low by other bacteria and micro fauna. Every now and then, this balance gets out of whack, or the food for one type is much larger than before. Until the normal balance is restored, the free floating guys will cloud the water. It should wear itself out in a week or so, as the food source declines and the consumers catch up.

[Celura]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
Once more--white or green?

White is more likely, given the age. There are numerous bacteria that reside in our aquariums. Normally they are just one small part of the system, and numbers are kept low by other bacteria and micro fauna. Every now and then, this balance gets out of whack, or the food for one type is much larger than before. Until the normal balance is restored, the free floating guys will cloud the water. It should wear itself out in a week or so, as the food source declines and the consumers catch up.

When I arrive home from work this evening and am able to execute said test, I will let you know.

Apparently in asking you to clarify your answers, you became irritated. You must have patience with those who don't know as much about a subject as another may. We're all given different gifts in this life naturally, and others we add along the way are obtained by research and discovery.

Is this how your website normally welcomes newcomers looking for help? :rolleyes:

[shewlett]

Jenny, gradual changes are to be preferred as I stated previously. Blending the old water with the new is not a catastrophe since I'm assuming you were diligent with your water changes in the old bowl (distilled water). I would like to point out that there is more to water than simply pH. It is quite likely that the hardness levels were different between the two types of water, all the more reason to go slowly. If you are unhappy with the pH try another brand of bottled spring water and test that. In this area Poland Springs bottled water tests consistently to 6.8 pH. As always, when adjusting a water parameter do it slowly over several days to minimize stress.

As to the cloudiness, if it doesn't start disappearing in a few days then try partial water changes.

Which pH test kit are you using? If your pH is truly in the 8's then that is too high. The Wardley's Junior pH test kit works well for me (liquid test).

[Celura]

Originally posted by shewlett
Jenny, gradual changes are to be preferred as I stated previously. Blending the old water with the new is not a catastrophe since I'm assuming you were diligent with your water changes in the old bowl (distilled water). I would like to point out that there is more to water than simply pH. It is quite likely that the hardness levels were different between the two types of water, all the more reason to go slowly. If you are unhappy with the pH try another brand of bottled spring water and test that. In this area Poland Springs bottled water tests consistently to 6.8 pH. As always, when adjusting a water parameter do it slowly over several days to minimize stress.

As to the cloudiness, if it doesn't start disappearing in a few days then try partial water changes.

Which pH test kit are you using? If your pH is truly in the 8's then that is too high. The Wardley's Junior pH test kit works well for me (liquid test).

Thank you, I appreciate your thorough response. :)

I will attach a pic of the PH kit I bought, which is a liquid kit. I tested everything in the house last night before I dared to proceed. I tested his current water, new distilled water, the new spring water and my tap water. (My tap water comes from a well through a water softener, which I'm just not comfortable using for many reasons.) All came back with different PH readings.

The spring was very high, and very dark blue. That indicated on the chart I was provided in the kit high 7's to 8's. As dark as it was, I made an educated guess at 8 as the colour was much darker than what was on the guide provided. His current water tested a pale yellow-green, much lighter PH. I didn't feel comfortable just shoving him into the new water, and so I put him into a mixture of old and new. I also bought a digital thermometer and made sure the new water was at the right temperature before I added him. Believe me, I read everything I could find before I did the switch and had I not believed I was doing the right thing by Sushi, I would not have done it.

I will say he seemed happier and more active this morning when I left for work. I suppose I will do another water change soon at about 50% or so and see where that gets me. I need to change his gravel anyhow.

Thanks again. :)

[OrionGirl]

Nope, being contradicted with information from another source--and then being expected to tell you which is right and which is wrong--results in shorter answers. Using a variety of sources is fine, but I don't offer advice that I don't follow myself. If someone else does things differently, fine, but I can't and won't choose between two options for someone else. Nor can I explain or justify someone else's methods.

You kept bringing up the cloudy water, without any acknowledgement of my initial question. So, I asked again. Sorry if you interpret that as me being short--tone is hard to convey on these pages, and I seldom intend anything negative. On the few occassions when I am annoyed...I doubt anyone has every had to wonder if I was ticked. I'm pretty blunt about that. :D