My tank is still cloudy and I cant figure out why. I do the water changes regularly and have carbon in my filter. One thing that I was told (not sure if its true) is that since I have a new tank I have been cleaning my filter out every couple days and that is not allowing it to clear up. I used the water clear stuff and it does not help. I had a 55 gallon and upgraded to the 125 and am new to the canister filter. I was also told by someone that the frozen food is doing it. I am not over feeding them. Its not really bad but enough to notice but its been about 2 weeks now. Thanks
Help! My tank wont clear up.
- Thread starter cmccurdy106
- Start date
Any pics, what filter, and all other info is needed, just saying, usually those clarifiers don't do anything, they kind of do actually, but the stuff is still there, NOT removed, they just bundle it up into larger particles so it looks clearer
How exactly are you cleaning out the filters?
Did you transfer over the media from the old filters?
Did you transfer over the media from the old filters?
Two weeks on media in a canister filter is just baby time. It's not cycled unless you put in the media from an older established filter.
Any of the larger canisters should only need cleaning every couple of months.
As to other issues, what kind and number of fish, and what kind of frozen foods?
Any of the larger canisters should only need cleaning every couple of months.
As to other issues, what kind and number of fish, and what kind of frozen foods?
My filter is the Filstar XP3. The filter has the three layers so I have a blue bonded filter pad in the bottom then an ammonia pad, fluval biomax in the middle layer, then another blue bonded pad followed by my carbon in a media bag. Not sure if it is supposed to be like that but im new to the canister setup so Im trying to learn. I have replaced the filters once but I have mainly just been rinsing them in hot water to clean them then cold and put them back in. I bought the tank used and the guy said the biomax was almost new so I just rinsed it in hot water. I will replace if you think I should. I never knew that about the water clarify stuff. It just masks the problem instead of fixing it.... I replaced the carbon with new and only used the biomax used when I setup the tank. My fix are all happy and doing great. I test the water for nitrate, ammonia and ph every other day and its perfect. I have 2 swordtails (I got them to cycle the tank then I got attached to them) 4 Dwarf gouramis, 3 angels, 2 Red lined sharks, african featherfinned catfish, chinese algue eater, 2 clown loachs, 2 silver dollars, a betta (not by my choice), reticulated hillstream loach, and last is my 4 inch baby fire eel. Almost all are babies except for one silver dollar and the chinese algue eater. The Betta is also almost three.
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Washing the filter media in tap water exposes the bacteria to chemicals (namely chlorine/chloramine) added to prevent them from existing in our water supply...have you tested for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate? Would be a good idea to see where you are at and if you need to recycle.
If you rinsed them in water that's not treated with water conditioner, that will kill any bacteria present almost immediately. You should remove a little water from the tank (assuming your treating it before putting it in the tank), and rinse the filter in it. Never let the filters dry out either.
I have not tested for nitrite. I always treat the water in a five gallon bucket and then put it in the tank. I ise water conditioner and salt.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
you want to remove the 'ammonia pad', since it will remove the ammonia and the bacteria that you need to build up in your filter and in your tank need ammonia to survive. a filter is best when there is tons of surface area for bacteria to populate on.
leave your filter alone unless you see reduced flow coming out. i have a rena xp4 and i only clean it every few months now, and that's with two big fish in the tank making some big poops! my media is configured with sponges in the bottom two trays, biomax completely filling the third tray, and polyester batting in the top tray. works wonderfully.
your tank is still experiencing a bacterial bloom, and trying to establish itself. rinsing the filter media in tap water has set you back but all is not lost, just keep doing those water changes when you see any reading other than zero for ammonia and nitrite, and use Prime for your dechlorinator (it converts ammonia to ammonium, which is harmless to fish, for a 24 hour period after dosing).
leave your filter alone unless you see reduced flow coming out. i have a rena xp4 and i only clean it every few months now, and that's with two big fish in the tank making some big poops! my media is configured with sponges in the bottom two trays, biomax completely filling the third tray, and polyester batting in the top tray. works wonderfully.
your tank is still experiencing a bacterial bloom, and trying to establish itself. rinsing the filter media in tap water has set you back but all is not lost, just keep doing those water changes when you see any reading other than zero for ammonia and nitrite, and use Prime for your dechlorinator (it converts ammonia to ammonium, which is harmless to fish, for a 24 hour period after dosing).