Cloudy water

D

ddier2020

Registered Member
Mar 16, 2005
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:shark: :help: hey guys, I know this might sound easy but I tryed everything I knew and icant solve it. my tank got really cloudy last week, at firt I thought it was a nitrate spike i waited, it did not go away, then I added that water clarifier, kept adding it and adding it. and the water? Still cloudy. I have a theory I think the water clrifier may be bonding with the tannins from the massive driftwood piece. any suggestions or solutions. I am running a tetra pf 500 and a magnum 350 in it.
 
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Is this a new set-up? If so, may be bacteria bloom. Or it could mean you didn't rinse something well enough before it went in the tank. Could you give more details? Size,filtration,tank age,actions up to now....?

Mark
 
well my tank has been set up for a while, umm I added some fish not that many. umm like I said i have that waterfall filter from tetra, the magnum has a water polishing filter on it. and that about it. my temp is always 86. you think it could be the driftwood coloring and the water clarifier mixing togheter? thank you
 
Not sure about the water clarifier. Don't use 'em. You can get rid of the tannins from the driftwood with frequent water changes or activated carbon. I use both with new driftwood. Some wood will tint the water like coffee in no time. Just remember, activated carbon has a finite life. Depending on the demands it seldom lasts more than a week. I tend to shy away from chemical
additives, except for Prime when I make my new water. That 86 temp. seems too high, unless you are keeping discus or some other hot-water fish. Even then, discus can get along quite well at 82 degrees. If 86 is not absolutely necessary I would lower the temp to 78-80. I keep my tanks at 78. Have you tested your water? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph? How large is the tank? Stocking density? If you added fish recently it may be a bloom. I would try some frequent water changes backed up by activated carbon. If it is a fine particulate some filter floss in your magnum might remove it.

Mark
 
Gradually lower the temperature to 80* (2* every 12 hours or so) and do a 20% waterchange vacuuming the gravel every day or second day until this clears up. Lowering the temperature will slow down the bacteria division and the waterchanges will starve them.
 
I have the water that high cus i had ick, I am doing that thermal solution. I have nothing but discus and angels so they can handle it. after my water went clody my tank got ick then some fish died. it was a disaster. then ten years I have been keeping tanks its never happened to me. oh and how do you guys rinse carbon. I can sit there rinsing it for ten minutes and it still leaks carbon dust.
 
Some brands of carbon are mostly dust. I use Kent's. Just flush with dechlorinated water for a couple minutes.If the water coming off of the carbon is still slightly dark, that's ok. Not black, slightly discolored. Your filter may have been overloaded when you added fish, causing an ammonia spike and bacteria bloom which could have stressed the fish, weakening them enough to contract ich. Nevermind that 78 degree suggestion. Your discus will be happier, warmer, around 82-84. I'd get the angels out of there at the first opportunity. Angels will elbow the discus out of the way at feeding time.
Discus feed like my wife shops. Slow. They tend to pick at their food. I've seen one of mine watch a bloodworm on the bottom for a full minute before she eats it. rrkss gave you some good advice on the water changes. Hang in there.

Mark
 
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