55 Gallon white cloudy water and Fish are dead

[teckcar13]

I have had my tank set up for about 4 weeks now and everything was perfect. I then had the water turn white about 2 days ago and went to the pet store where they gave me BIOZYME because I dont have many fish in the tank yet. The water has cleaned up a bit but I have had for expensive fish die on me. Can anyone help me with what I can do before I lose another fish?

Thanks so much

 

[Cory Keeper]

Sounds like it is not cycled, so here is what you do. Get an API test tube kit (or equivilent, but it HAS to be tubes) and remove your fish, preferably take them back to the pet store or give them away (its the best thing at this moment) and get some straight ammonia (pure, non-sudsing), if pure ammonia is not availible (like me) add some food, and it doesn't have to be much, just one algea wafer is enough to send ammonia above your test charts (like 12 PPM or higher). Add the ammonia (or food) so that you have 3-4 PPM of ammonia what will happen is some bacteria will start growing that will convert the toxic ammonia into Nitrites, which is a little less toxic but still toxic. You should see it in about two weeks. However your cycle is still not done, Nitrites are then broken down into NiTRATES which far less harmful, but still toxic if allowed to reach above 40 PPM. If you absolutly have to have fish in your tank, talk to someone else, because its alot more troublesome.

 

[Marinemom]

Sounds like you are not fully cycled and the cloudy water could be a bacterial bloom which means the good bacteria that is trying to grow in the tank has not figured out where it will be the most beneficial in your aquarium. Eventually it will figure out where it will serve in the best interest of the tank but until that happens you will have a mess on your hands. I would take the fish back and do a fishless cycle. It is way easier on you since you can let the levels get as high as they need to before it bottoms out and cycles itself. In the meantime no fish will be harmed in the process. Cycling with fish even with fish that are considered hardy enough to withstand the rigors of cycling is very hard on the fish and will cause permanant damage to the fish such as ammonia burn and will shorten the life of the fish. If I were you I would read the stickeys on fishless cycling at the top of the page and you will be way a head of the game.

Marinemom

 

[xzionx]

i have a 2 day old 10g tank, it suddenly decided to have cloudy water too.

 

[Ruben Tolon]

i have a 2 day old 10g tank, it suddenly decided to have cloudy water too.

Read the sticky about cycling, it will answer your questions.

 

[silentskream]

here's the cycling thread, it should answer most of your questions, if not, come back and ask some more!
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598

 

[beefsteak]

Yes, your tank is not cycled. The cloudy water you see is actually free-floating bacteria and would have cleared up on its own. If you have any questions after reading the cycling topic let us know.

 

[jm1212]

you may have also put to many fish in the tank to fast.

while you are fishless cycling, keep the ammoina under 5ppm. levels higher than 6ppm can stall the cycle.