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[Byron Amazonas]

I might try getting one RCS just to see if it would work, wouldn't hurt. I'm going to check out some beneficial bacteria, my tank is starting to clear up but it might be a good idea to have some on hand just in case I have another spike and/or bloom.

The bottled bacterial supplements (which is what I am assuming you are referring to) will not do much for cloudiness. Can't hurt (though it may make it worse initially) but I wouldn't waste the money. Bacterial blooms can occur from time to time; I tend to see them after I clean the canister filters, and of course in new tanks or ones that have had the substrate changed making them "new" again. Sometimes water changes help a bit, sometimes they too make it worse. There are organics in tap water and when this is added to the tank with a bacterial bloom, the bacteria may multiply even faster to feed on the organics. Best to let it sort itself out. I have had tanks clear in a day or two, up to several weeks. Just remember that the biology is establishing and settling, and once this occurs things will be much easier to maintain.

I have gravel in my tank right now would it be a goo idea to switch to sand? I kinda like the look of it and that could be enough to change it. Why not try a little sand in part of my tank?

It's up to you. If you intend substrate fish like corys, loaches, substrate feeders, etc, sand is much better. I now have sand in 5 tanks (I changed these all over during the past 2 years) and fine gravel in one. I used Quikrete Play and, very inexpensive and quite authentic in appearance.

Different substrate materials generally do not work. First, they will mix unless you somehow have them divided with a permanent divider attached by silicone. Sand being finer will move to the bottom and gravel on top if they mix. Second issue is appearance; different substrates will give the impression of a smaller space, whereas a uniform substrate expands the space visually.

 

[jpappy789]

Might be a bit risky to remove all the substrate given how new the tank is...some of the nitrifiers are likely residing in your gravel, so you don't want to disturb your cycle too much. If you really want to try sand, maybe do it a little bit at a time. At the same time, it may be best to just handle one thing at a time...let the bloom settle out, and then maybe think about the substrate. Just a precaution so that too many things aren't happening all at once, if that makes sense.

By "beneficial bacteria" are you referring to a bacteria-in-a-bottle product?

 

[Addlewood]

I guess now is just waiting

 

[Addlewood]

while I was at petco I saw that they had good sized ghost shrimp for 50 cents so I got two to try for the bottom level and my other fish took to them great. Every fish took a look at them. The shrimp have been exploring the tank all afternoon. I found some sea shells and put them in the tank and I'm hoping that the calcium from the shells can help my snail with it's shell. My snail has a weak area at the opening of it's shell, I think she is growing.

Thanks for putting up with me and helping. Even though I have had some fish in smaller tanks I had never been too involved with having fish and now that I started back up I'm really excited and want to have a great tank with many different types of aquatic life! I'll take a picture of my tank when this bloom has passed.

 

[Addlewood]

here is a picture of my tank, I decided on black sand and I still have a bloom going on.
I can only find one of my shrimp, I guess it's hiding.

 

[Byron Amazonas]

here is a picture of my tank, I decided on black sand and I still have a bloom going on.
I can only find one of my shrimp, I guess it's hiding.

This is to be expected (the cloudiness I mean) in a new setup. I usually do a water change (half the volume) the following day, but otherwise leave it to settle on its own. Floating plants can help.

 

[Addlewood]

I put the rest of the tank starter in the tank today which should help speed things up a little.

 

[Addlewood]

ghost shrimp seems to be real characters. If I sit in front of the tank and they notice me one of them will come to the front and stare at me and when I had my hand in the tank to fix the sand one tried to climb up my arm. I love those guys, they are so fun to watch

 

[FishFanMan]

Yeah I enjoy watching them snatching large pellets away from cories. Ghost shrimps seem to more intelligent than cories. My cories can't see nor smell well at all.

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[Addlewood]

I hate waiting for my tank to clear up! I needed to feel like I was doing something to help clear it so I put some floss in the filter pump's intake and just before the filter. I also picked up a full spectrum tube, the colours of the fish don't pop like they did with the old light but I believe that this will help with the plants. Like I said before I hate not being able to do something to help the tank!