Hello, ive read many post regarding this issue. Its always states algae as the culprit. A little history:
This 75 Gallon tank was set up in another apt (2 blocks away).. The water was crystal clear at all times, algae would grow only after neglected water changes and extended lighting periods.
When i moved, i didnt set up the tank for 3 days, i later found out that most of the beneficial bacteria probably died and so the tank needed to cycle all over again.. After a few days the water was getting increasingly cloudy, so cloudy that you could not see the back of the tank. It was the whitish / milky cloudy. I assumed this was the cycle and let it go on. for about 3 weeks, finally i called the local pet-co and was told maybe i need to change the filter carbon, i went and bought more.. this did not solve the problem.. Finally i bought "Accu-Clear" water clearer.. It cleared the water to pristine quality in about an hour. I thought my problems were over, but slowly but surely it gets cloudy to the point of 0 visibility.
When doing the most recent gravel vacuum / water change, i noticed severe green layers on the substrate, and heavily inside the filter mesh. I rinsed all this away, did a 50% water change, completely vacuumed the gravel, and still no clear water. I then bought new filter carbon from fluval instead of 3rd party carbon. Did another water change, and still cloudy / merky / green water and filter media.
I feel ive tried everything, this tank was up for about 2 years in my other apt without any problems.
a few statistics:
Water temperature heated to constant 80F
Aquarium is near a window, but with blinds shut all the time.
Tank Light uses a dusk / dawn outdoor timer. On at dusk, off at dawn
I dont believe this to be an algae problem for the following reasons:
1) algae tends to grow on surfaces like the glass and ornaments before clouding the water.. No such algae exist
2) the tank light was left off for two weeks (bulb blew) still green . .
3) Fish are fed once every four days.
4) Tank was on the same light cycle and had much more direct sunlight in my other apt.
Tank has 7 fish for 75 gallons
Despite these problems, no fish have died (except for when the tank recycled killing many fishies :sad
I should also note that this is a rear facing window that gets little sunlight anyway, and the blinds are always shut. You would not know it was daytime unless you looked out the window.
please help
This 75 Gallon tank was set up in another apt (2 blocks away).. The water was crystal clear at all times, algae would grow only after neglected water changes and extended lighting periods.
When i moved, i didnt set up the tank for 3 days, i later found out that most of the beneficial bacteria probably died and so the tank needed to cycle all over again.. After a few days the water was getting increasingly cloudy, so cloudy that you could not see the back of the tank. It was the whitish / milky cloudy. I assumed this was the cycle and let it go on. for about 3 weeks, finally i called the local pet-co and was told maybe i need to change the filter carbon, i went and bought more.. this did not solve the problem.. Finally i bought "Accu-Clear" water clearer.. It cleared the water to pristine quality in about an hour. I thought my problems were over, but slowly but surely it gets cloudy to the point of 0 visibility.
When doing the most recent gravel vacuum / water change, i noticed severe green layers on the substrate, and heavily inside the filter mesh. I rinsed all this away, did a 50% water change, completely vacuumed the gravel, and still no clear water. I then bought new filter carbon from fluval instead of 3rd party carbon. Did another water change, and still cloudy / merky / green water and filter media.
I feel ive tried everything, this tank was up for about 2 years in my other apt without any problems.
a few statistics:
Water temperature heated to constant 80F
Aquarium is near a window, but with blinds shut all the time.
Tank Light uses a dusk / dawn outdoor timer. On at dusk, off at dawn
I dont believe this to be an algae problem for the following reasons:
1) algae tends to grow on surfaces like the glass and ornaments before clouding the water.. No such algae exist
2) the tank light was left off for two weeks (bulb blew) still green . .
3) Fish are fed once every four days.
4) Tank was on the same light cycle and had much more direct sunlight in my other apt.
Tank has 7 fish for 75 gallons
Despite these problems, no fish have died (except for when the tank recycled killing many fishies :sad
I should also note that this is a rear facing window that gets little sunlight anyway, and the blinds are always shut. You would not know it was daytime unless you looked out the window.
please help
