What Happened?

[JeffSantucci]

I just finished setting up a new tank where i'm going to put live plants into it. Now i've been a fish guy for a while, but i've only recently experimented with live plants, that why it's in the newbie forum.

Anyway, i set it all up the other day and the water is crystal clear. So last night i went to my fish retailer and got some basic, "easy to take care of" plants, which already fit the specs of my tank.

Ok, so when i went to bed last night, the tank was as clear as glass and i didn't have time to check it this morning before i went to work so i don't know how it was then, but when i came home from work 20 minutes ago, it is really cloudy :sad ?

What's going on? What am i doing wrong :rant: ? Why all of a sudden is there so much oxygen in the tank? Could i be using too powerful of a filter? Does that make a difference? I know the specs, PH, Hardness, Etc. are all perfect for this type of plant, and i know the tank is set up correctly, but i haven't got a clue as to why this is happening?

Thanks for all your help in advanced and please feel free to ask me any information you need to figure this out.

-Jeff-

[OrionGirl]

It's been cloudy for less than 24 hours? Sounds like maybe something was released when you disturbed the substrate to put in the plant, and bacteria are now having a field day consuming whatever was exposed. Should clear up shortly, and is only indirectly related to the introduction of the plant.

[JeffSantucci]

So if it isn't cleared up in a day or so, i should start worrying?

And thanks for such a quick response, i expected to wait a day or two before i heard anything regarding this. HA HA, by they, if you are right, it would have cleared up itself.

-Jeff-

[OrionGirl]

Actually, it may take more than a day or two. But, as long as there isn't a spike in ammonia, cloudiness is really not a problem, it's just unattractive. If you notice behavior changes in the fish, than you need to determine if the bloom is depleting O2 levels, but otherwise, leaving it be is usually the best advice. Most of the time, it will clear up on it's own. In rare occassions, something does need to be done, but IMO, it's best to try the nothing approach first.

[Jay]

I’m a little confused. The tank has only been up for a few days? There are fish and plants in the tank? What is the substrate? What are the water parameters? What is the light and filtration?

If this is an un-cycled tank then you have a whole lot of things going on that are going to be difficult for you to control. I agree with Orion Girl (don’t make any more adjustments right now). I would test frequently for ammonia and be prepared to do 50% water changes as needed.

I also agree that under the circumstances, if I understand correctly, that this tank is only a few days old, that the cloudy water may be around for a while.

You need to deal with stabilizing your tank first, then the cloudy water.

[ckeck]

When I first set up my 20 gallon tank, my tank was cloudy for about a week. It eventually just disappeared and is fine now.

Don't worry and don't put any chemicals in it. Sometimes it just needs to settle down.

Tank 20 gals – long 30” x 12” x 12”
PH : 7.8
Co2 = 8
Ammonia: 0.0 mg/l
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: .05
Hardness: (GH): 25 ppm
Akalinity (KH): 200 ppm
Filter: HOB Whisper Power Filter with BIO Bag and Bio Foam, Model 20
Co2 System
Light: SmartPac 65W Fluorescent Lamp
1 Aerator
Gravel: Pebble Gravel with Pure Laterite mixed in
Heater: Temp in tank 72-74 degrees
1 Rock Cave and 1 fake Driftwood
Lava Rock
Fish: 8 neon tetras
1 male / 2 Female Black Phantom Tetras
2 male fancy Phantom Tetras
1 silver hatchet Tetra
3 UPD Catfish
1 Ornate Cory Cat
1 Green Cory Cat
Plants: 1 onion plant, 1 Anacharis, 7 Java Plants, 1 Wisteria and 1 Cryptocoryne Spiralis