My flippin TANK WILL NOT CLEAR!!!

[theblueprint]

This time its my bowfront, and I have already completely emptied it, cleaned the gravel, filled it back up, and let the tank cycle now for about 2 weeks and it is still murky, it wont get crystal clear again...i have NO clue what to do...I've tried everything...someone please help...i not having this problem with my 55 gal, the water in there is beautiful, but this tank which gets the same water will not stay CLEAR, or even get clear for that matter...what do I do?

[Dangerdoll]

it's in an established cycle already or are you beginning the cycle?

[DeRo316]

Next time you do a water change move some water from your 55 to the bowfront then wait a few days it should clear up.

[rbell219]

Activated carbon will polish the water. You don't have to leave it in long term if you don't like using it. If it is really bad (and depending on your budget) you can buy or rent a Diatom Filter. They use diatomaceous earth powder to filter out the smallest prticles---i saw one sell on eBay used for about 60 bucks. My lfs rents one.....

http://www.diatomfilter.com/

[Lisa01]

when you took out all the water and scrubbed everthing down it sounds like you started your cycle again......try taking the filter pad out of the clear tank and put it one the cloudy tank...this should speed up your cycle and clear it up

[theblueprint]

but wont that mess up my good tank???? and i already have carbon in the filter....

[rbell219]

but wont that mess up my good tank???? and i already have carbon in the filter....

Swapping the filters won't hurt--it's not the cause. How new is the carbon? The life of carbon isn't very long---a month I think? someone correct me.....
You say the water is murky--is it cloudy, green, brown---- What is your total filter rate (gallons per hour) including power heads, etc?--------give us some more details.

[theblueprint]

Its the Aquaclear 110, for tanks up to 110 Gallons....and the water is just cloudy....the carbon pack is also new from when i first started the cycle....

[rbell219]

when you took out all the water and scrubbed everthing down it sounds like you started your cycle again......try taking the filter pad out of the clear tank and put it one the cloudy tank...this should speed up your cycle and clear it up

I agree - just give it some more time. When I changed my substrate it took about a month to be crystal clear again.

[daveedka]

Put some water in a clear glass jar and set it on a clean sheet of white paper. look through the water at the paper and see what color the water is.
Dave

[BV77]

http://www.fishaholics.org/articles.php?ArtId=12 this should explain the cloudiness in your tank

[theblueprint]

this isnt a NEW aquarium...

[rbell219]

this isnt a NEW aquarium...
But you said you completely emptied it and cleaned everything. You eliminated most if not all of your bacteria and therefore started all over--hence "new"

[Dangerdoll]

with all the bacteria (as rbel suggests) cleaned off all surfaces in the tank, the bacteria that has bloomed now (the cloudiness in the tank) is simply trying to re-establish itself on the surfaces under the water. Once the bacteria is established to take care of where ever they settle, your tank will clear on it's own. The continuing of replacing filter pads/cartridges, cleaning things off, is only further disturbing the colonies that need to establish themselves. Leave the tank alone and let things settle on their own. It might not take 2 days or 2 weeks..... the most important thing is to have patience.

[theblueprint]

The Cycle Began The Week Before Thanksgiving....i Think A Month Is Showing A Bit Of Patience....

[Dangerdoll]

the cycle began then..... is it stabilized? A cycle can go more than 6 weeks.... give or take. Mine went 6 on the nose. It's taking the bacteria time to settle..... I still say give it time and leave things alone as far as trying to clear that. How did you cycle the tank if it's been completed?

[rbell219]

She's not being mean :) I know a month seems like a long time, but you are creating a false ecosystem and growing millions of tiny little bacteria. Give it another month. Do water changes every week--20%-30% and see how it goes. Try not to look at it a lot every day (i'm guilty of that when waiting for something to happen or grow). It might be getting so slightly better that you can't notice. Check it once a day around the same time. If it helps take a picture and compare the pictures. Put the lens flat against the glass and shoot across the tank long ways. If it's not getting worse then that's good.

If it's really bugging you, look into the Vortex Diatom filter.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7731805960&fromMakeTrack=true
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vortex-Diatom-D-1-Aquarium-Tank-Filter-Innerspace-NEW_W0QQitemZ7731028813QQcategoryZ3212QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Algone supposedly clears up water too although I don't like using stuff like that. I have heard it works though.

You could use RO/DI water to fill up after water changes.

[daveedka]

Find out if the water is green or not. if it is green then do a 3 day blackout. if it isn't green, then look for another cause. You will not know if it's green until you put some water in a glass and hold it against a piece of white paper. If it is green it will not go away with water changes or normal filtration. Blackouts or specialty filters will be needed. Blackout are of course cheaper up front, and require less maintenance.
Dave

[Tightdog1]

What kind of filters are you using?
The Aquaclear 110 is a filte rthat is rated for 60-110, not 110 staright up. 110 would be for a tank that is very under populated with a small bio-load. Since you have a tank of all africans, and most african tanks are over crowded to begin with, you may need more filters. 1 just may not be enough, i know for my 55g, i have to have 2 filters on it, 1 canister rated for 60g and a HOB filter rated for 55g also.

Maybe try using micon filter pads in the AC, from your local lfs, i think normal ones are 10 micron and they also have 5 and 2 i think, start with the 10, and work your way down to 5 or so. that should filter out all the stuff that may be causing the cloudiness if its not your bacteria and cycle.

[gerry123451]

Goto the pet store and get you abottle of CYCLE. Add 1 cap full for every 10 gallons of water in your tank. And then leave it alone . And in 2 days it will Clear up with out fail. Turn the lith off at nigth. and dont over feed your fish. Good luck.

[theblueprint]

Goto the pet store and get you abottle of CYCLE. Add 1 cap full for every 10 gallons of water in your tank. And then leave it alone . And in 2 days it will Clear up with out fail. Turn the lith off at nigth. and dont over feed your fish. Good luck.


ive done that....im at a loss...and the water is NOT green its just cloudy.....

[daveedka]

Just for clarification, Cyle is snake oil, and will do nothing but hurt the situation.
Dave

[Cylon]

Go to a store that specializes in fish. See if they have a diotome filter. rent it and run it. Only takes maybe 20 minutes. This will strip everything out of your tanks water. It can even strip out sickness. The water will be crystal clear. It even clears up an algie bloom. The secreat is the diotome earth. It traps everyting. Try not to breath this up.

The Con is not only does it strip out the bad bact it takes out the good. Buy a bottle of cycle and start treating the water.

I own one of these filters. it's amazing.
You can take a bucket of water out of the tank put the sick fish in it treat the fish and run the filter in the tank and no more bad bact left. after 20 minutes of treatment put the fish back. I still have white cillicone on my tanks. Never stained blue.

[theblueprint]

none of my lfs rent them....

[thomas marshall]

i no y cause ther roughly 120 us dollars

[Cylon]

to rent?
I rented for 20 before I bought mine.

[rbell219]

If it's really bugging you, look into the Vortex Diatom filter.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7731805960&fromMakeTrack=true
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vortex-Diatom-D-1-Aquarium-Tank-Filter-Innerspace-NEW_W0QQitemZ7731028813QQcategoryZ3212QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


here's two on ebay for cheap

[gerry123451]

[B]Just for clarification, Cyle is snake oil, and will do nothing but hurt the situation.
Dave

Thats bull if used properly and refrigerated it keeps the LIVE BACTRIA. Which is essential for the tank. I've had a tank for 18 years and I do not believe putting chemical in to your tank. I do however believe in using CYCLE, MELAFIX, & PIMAFIX.

150H gal tank

8 - 6" DISCUS 2 - 5" Black Angels 2 - 4" Gold Angles 2 - 1 1/2" Blue rams
1 - 8" Black ghost Knife 1 - 6" Black ghost Knife 1 - 6" Bala Shark
2 - 5" Pectus Cats 1 - 1" Panda Cory Cat 1 - 8" Eclispe Cat
1 - 6" Chocolate Pleco
2 RENE Filstar Cansiter filter 600gph ea
1 Tetra Tec 500
3 300 Watt Heaters
My Tank is kept at 85. PH 6.5
And the only Fish I've Lost Since using Cycle . IS When I Moved Across State Lines. So THAT SNAKE OIL WORKS FOR ME.

[gerry123451]

This time its my bowfront, and I have already completely emptied it, cleaned the gravel, filled it back up, and let the tank cycle now for about 2 weeks and it is still murky, it wont get crystal clear again...i have NO clue what to do...I've tried everything...someone please help...i not having this problem with my 55 gal, the water in there is beautiful, but this tank which gets the same water will not stay CLEAR, or even get clear for that matter...what do I do?



What Type of filtration do you have.

[rbell219]

What Type of filtration do you have.
fltration is noted earlier on

Blueprint---what's the status---is it looking better?

[theblueprint]

fltration is noted earlier on

Blueprint---what's the status---is it looking better?


AS A MATTER OF FACT...IT IS!!! FINALLY IT IS NEARING CRYSTAL CLEAR...FEW MORE DAYS AND IT WILL BE COMPLETELY RESTOCKED

[Dangerdoll]

what was it that did it, blue?

[theblueprint]

what was it that did it, blue?


*SIGHS*....PATIENCE

[Dangerdoll]

;)