Put on New Filter, Still have Cloudy water

[CaptnDan]

City Water, actually NEW ORLEANS city water, which probably isn't fit for any living animal......(just a reality of post Katrina life)

True. But it isn't much better here either, and we don't have an excuse. City water in most places is a lot like hot dogs. The less you know about what's in it, the happier you'll be.

I just made a quick phone call to one of my counterparts in your area, he said that New Orleans does use Chloramine, so you want to be sure that your dechlor additive takes care of that as well, not just chlorine. Otherwise, you will be increasing your ammonia levels when you do a water change.

 

[MichaelC427]

Thanks CapnDan, and everyone else for your useful tips, I have a lot of work today tonight...and wow, the test kit at PetSmart was actually twice as much as the online price....wow

 

[MichaelC427]

When I got home from work yesterday, almost like magic, my tank was considerably clearer than it has been in the past few weeks, still not crystal clear, but certainly clear/clear-er than it has been, should I just let the filter continue working? or should I still do the 50%+ water change?

 

[SirWired]

When I got home from work yesterday, almost like magic, my tank was considerably clearer than it has been in the past few weeks, still not crystal clear, but certainly clear/clear-er than it has been, should I just let the filter continue working? or should I still do the 50%+ water change?

You REALLY need to get a good test kit and take action based on what it says. The clarity of the water is really not a good indicator. Fish can thive in water so cloudy you can't see the fish, and can die in water that is crystal clear.

SirWired

 

[MichaelC427]

I thought I posted my API Master Test Kit Results yesterday, in any case, the results were as follows
Ph 7.5
Amonia 0.0
Nitrate 5.0
Nitrite 5.0

 

[SirWired]

I thought I posted my API Master Test Kit Results yesterday, in any case, the results were as follows
Ph 7.5
Amonia 0.0
Nitrate 5.0
Nitrite 5.0

You need to perform at least one, or even better, two LARGE water changes. Two 75% changes, one in the morning, one in the evening, would not be excessive here. Make sure you roughly match temps and of course treat for chlorine/chloramine with each change if you have city water. The Nitrites should be below 1ppm for healthy fish.

SirWired