Let's beat a dead horse!!

J

jec0995

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Nov 10, 2005
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Ok, I know you've all answered this many times but my situation seems slightly different. ;)

Lets start at the beginning. 29 gallon tank of 3 years starts leaking. So, I get a 75 gallon. :hang: I transfer all my gravel, filters, live plants and decor into the new tank. I also added sand as a substrate. I get the plants and fish in there and the tank looks great. I thought it would cycle and it never did. Ammonia and Nitrites at 0 and nitrate at 10. My live plants were doing great.

Now, the holidays come and I go to my parent's home for a week. I had some friends feed the fish when I was gone...they had strict directions about how much. I didn't even allow them to mess with flake food. Just frozen bloodworms and shrimp pellets (things easily measured). I come back on Jan 1st and the tank is cloudy white and there are some diatoms growing on the glass. I've always had some diatoms...no big deal. :D

11 days and 3 40% water changes later...the tank is cloudier. Now, because it's fully planted, I can't tell if its green cloudy or white cloudy. How do you know? Sounds funny but if I look long ways through the tank where the light shines through...it's definitely white cloudy. If I look in the upper corners where the light doesn't directly shine through...it looks green. That could just be a reflection from all the plants though. :confused: :confused: :confused:

So, looking down through the water from the top...no green to be seen. Filter material...no green to be seen. Clear glass of water...no green to be seen. :confused:

Also, during all of this my filter decided to become noisy so I upgraded to a fluval 404 and kept my bio-balls from the previous filter. So I'm thinking bacterial bloom. No big deal...patience is the name of the game. However, my ammonia and nitrite have remained at 0ppm. Wouldn't there be some ammonia? Nitrate is 10 ppm and pH=7.0.

Sorry the post is so long but I figured I'd fully explain myself. As long as the ammonia and nitrite stay at zero I'm not that concerned...just looks bad. Actually, my fish seem more active (clown loaches)...I think because they can't see me as well. Yesterday, I couldn't see more than halfway through the tank. I've always used the same water during water changes so there's no reason to think it's particulates. No new decor. Should i still be doing water changes with no ammonia? I need advise. Thanks in advance.

Jimmy
 
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Well the first step is to find out white or green cloudy. Start with taking a sample of water out in a clear glass cup and holding it next to some white paper. That should tell you.

Green of course being algae and white being bacteria. Neither is harmful but they are unsightly and their cause may be a concern (though is generally just an indication of overfeeding).

Bacterial bloom wouldn't show an increase in ammonia or nitrite as the bloom means there is too much bacteria. What out for the levels though as the bacteria dies off.
 
To me it does not matter much whether the bloom is algae or just free-swimming bacteria. Either case results from excess nutrients. If you have access to a diatom filter, it will clear it quickly, and that paired with water changes will both reduce the nutrient load. Water changes alone may not help. If it is algae, blackout should help, if bacterial it likely will not.

Keep the mechanical filter media well and frequently rinsed, as nurient export is important here.

For future reference (locking the barn door after the dead horse is gone) even with professional sitters, I pre-measure all foods. ;)
 
With sand in the tank I would suggest adding a prefilter to the fluval, just a piece of Aquaclear sponge media cut to fit over the intake will work wonders.
 
Even though you gave explicit instructions, I would not be surprised if your friends overfed. Most fish always look hungry and will beg for more food. Many non-fishkeepers will think they are underfed and give in.
 
First off...thanks for all the help. :hang:

Now, I held a glass up to the light and it was definitely white. Not green. Also, th filter floss is white and not green. I would expect the filter floss to be at least slightly green if it was algae. No?? :confused:

When I did a water change 3 days ago the tank was a little clearer. However, it was much worse last night. When i left for work this morning it looked a little better. I could see farther through it. I'm thinking of just letting it sit for a few days and not touching it other than to test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

I certaintly don't have access to a diatom filter and in no way would want to buy one. Thanks for the suggestion though. That wouldn't solve the problem...only mask it. Right??

I really don't think it was excess feeding although hard to know for sure.

So, lets go with bacterial bloom for now. I've ruled out algae...I think!! Will doing water changes prolong the cloudiness or should it help get rid of it? I've heard the name of the game with bacterial blooms is to wait them out. Is this good advise? Thanks again for all your help. :D

Jimmy
 
Water changes, reduced feeding (every other day for now will do) and waiting is the best thing right now.
 
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