Chemistry Question

[Hereford]

I am struggling with 'haze' in my 10g community tank. I have lost several young healthy fish (2 platy, 1 danio and a pleco) in the last two weeks. As of now I have six neon, three platy and two cory surviving. Tank chemistry is fine. Please don't say "you are overstocked". I have been fighting this haze for three weeks with daily 30-50% water changes (please don't tell me to cut back, its is the last weapon in my arsenal). No matter what I do, the water gets 'foggy' within hours.

Today I bought (out of desperation) three gallons of distilled water and one of "purified". I was suprised to find that the distilled water showed pH of 6.0 or less. If I remember my high school chemistry lesson, pure distliled water should read exactly 7.0. (but it has been awhile since then) I haven't put this in the tank yet. Can anyone explain?... Help?... Sympathize?...

Thank y'all

 

[Omega]

You're overstocked. Or at least you were before the deaths. Plecos can grow well over a foot long.

If I'm not mistaken distilled water won't give you a proper reading pH with test kits.

What are your water perameters? How old's the tank? Have you tried carbon?

 

[infidsg35]

Im going through the same thing now. Do you have a complete water test kit? Do you have real plants?

You need to know what's in your water and what you are putting into your water. Test the water for PH, GH, KH, NitrAtes, Nitrites, Ammonia. Not only test your tank water but test your tap water. Also when adding new water what chem's do you add to the water?

What about you filters? What kind? What media?

What is you maintenance? While doing all these water changes did you siphen gravel too? Did you clean out your filter while doing the changes?

We need a little more info on what your doing and whats in your water..

Sometimes the more you do the worse off you are. So my advice is:

1. Get us Tank and Tap water test results
2. Give us some equipment lists
3. How do you do you maintenance

There are ALOT of GREAT people that can REALY REALY help with that info...

 

[Galaxie]

What is you maintenance? While doing all these water changes did you siphen gravel too? Did you clean out your filter while doing the changes?

50% daily seems excessive if your water is cloudy, but all other param.'s are fine.

What sort of lighting do you have (wattage & time turned on) ?

What are you using to dechlorinate your tap water ?

What color is the hazy water? White, green, other ?