water cloudiness

[star2one]

I have a 30 gal. tank stocked which I've had now for about 2 months. I had a Underwater Gravel Filter, but removed it about a week ago. I use a vacuum and did about a 50 water change. I clean my tank weekly using a vacuum. (filters) I have (1) 30 gal. carbon filter and one 5 - 10 gal filter that I use for as a bio-filter.
(Stock) 2 coury catfish, 1 albino catfish, 5 guppies, 2 pleco's, 1 black knife, 5 Platies, 2 zebra danios, 5 black widow tetras. I have 1 large conche shell, 6 oyster shells which I use for a cave, all sterilized and one plant.

I take my water to LFS to be tested, nitrates and nitrites were high before I removed the UGF. I need a "buffer" so I bought that.

The water is still clouding up, I shouldn't be overstocked (?) and I'me turning enough water.

I believe it is a bacteria bloom? Please help if you can, and please don't tell me the shells are the problem unless you have personal experience, I did alot of research before using them. Thanks in advance.

[heat]

From my expereince when you show nitrites in the water it means your tank hasn't finished cycling or for some reason is cycling again. The removal of the UGF may well have thrown the tank into another cycle. With a two month old tank it's very possible that it wasn't fully finished cycling when the UGF was pulled.
Did the LFS also test for ammonia?

How does the water test out now after you pulled the UGF?

[125gJoe]

I know for sure that a diatom filter will clean it up, and fast. I had problems with cloudy water that just would not go away and the diatom filter did the job. It's useful right after a water change too.

http://jonahsaquarium.com/filterdiatom.htm

I use the Vortex XL on my 125 gallon, you may need the D-1, unless you plan to get a larger tank at some time, get the XL...

[happychem]

A diatom filter could be useful, but I think that heat id'ed the issue.

How long was the tank running with the UGF before it was pulled? Did you add the other 2 filters before pulling it or at the same time? With an UGF your main nitrifying colonies are in your substrate, with all the other types, they're in the filter media.

Basically you've got to re-establish your nitrifier colonies. The good news is that you've already got some in your gravel. Keep up with the water changes.

The water cloudiness is just an issue of your tank being thrown off equilibrium. Cycle or no. When I changed the substrate in my 10g, as gradual as I was about it, I still got a little bit of a bacterial bloom in the water. It will go away on its own when your tank comes back to level.

What do you mean by you 'needed a "buffer" '?

[star2one]

Filters were added at the same time. The UGF was the only filter removed. The amonia level is 0 everytime I test. Haven't had a change to get back to the LFS yet, but will this week.

Should I do water changes or use my vacuum? Or should I do nothing and let it work itself out?

The "Buffers" according the LFS should be fine with a product the sold me (pH 7.0 Seachem, Neutral Regulator) It supposed to remove chlorine, chloramine and ammonia.

[star2one]

I also just purchased a Penguin 330 Dual Bio Wheel Aquarium Filter N. Anybody had experience this?

[happychem]

Don't be too alarmed. Basically you've just upset the balance in your tank and it needs to reestablish. You stirred up a lot of junk when removing the UGF plates, so it'll just take a little while to settle. Keep up with water changes and monitor NH3 and NO2 to be on the safe side. If either of those start to increase, change more water more often.

Don't use the pH 7.0 stuff, it'll only make your pH bounce around unless your tank's equilibrium pH is already 7, get it?

[star2one]

I also just purchased a Penguin 330 Dual Bio Wheel Aquarium Filter N. Anybody had experience this?