Water Questions

[Newfishes]

I just set-up a new 10 gallon fish tank a month ago. We have zebra danios in there to condition the water. They are doing fine, however, my water is still cloudy. The only chemical I added was a water conditioner that is supposed to reduce the amount of water changes. It's kind of granular and yellow in color. I'm not sure of the name of it, but it put into the water two weeks ago. I still vacuum the gravel every weekend and do 25% water changes. Should I not put the conditioner in there? I use test strips from the pet store that test pH, nitrate, nitrite, water hardness, and alkalinity. I test the water weekly and get normal results according to the chart on the bottle. I don't know the numbers off the top of my head but will update my post later with them. I use distilled water because our local tap water is very hard. I used gravel from the pet store and it was rinsed several times before being put into the tank. It was clear up until about 3 weeks ago. Why is my water cloudy now?

 

[sumthin fishy]

What are "normal results"? Post your numbers. What kind of water conditioner did you use? Dechlorinator, biospira, prime? Also what kind of substrate do you have? Sand or gravel, and if gravel did you rinse it well before you put it in?

 

[Holly9937]

I used gravel from the pet store and it was rinsed several times before being put into the tank.

Does the stuff you used claim you only need to do water changes twice a year??!! I've seen the stuff, not a good thing to use!! You can't get around water changes if you want the tank to be healthy long term. Plus, how can you vacuum the gravel really well if you don't take out any water?!? I would do a water change now, it might help with the cloudiness. Is it green or white? The numbers from the test results will help alot

 

[Blueiz]

your tank is cycling and you are most liekely having a bacterial bloom that will subside in one to 2 weks, do yu have an ammonia test kit, if not you need to get one as soons as possible. Read the stickies on cycling, this will probably anwwer a bunch of your questions. I have a 20 gallon long that is cycling right now. It has been up and rinning for 2 weeks now and the water turned cloudy overnight, cant hardly see through it now even though I have done 50 % water changes daily since saturday. I am not concerned abut this because I know it will subside shortly, what concern me with the bacterail bloom is teh amount of ammonia/nitirites in the water. Happy fishkeeping!

 

[iamgroovy]

Plus, how can you vacuum the gravel really well if you don't take out any water?!?QUOTE]

Actually, I have a battery powered siphon than has a vacuum bag attachment. You can use it to vac without removing water. It's great for in between water changes.

 

[mooman]

Keep doing regular water changes, stop using the "yellow stuff" and switch to a prime or Dechlor. The cloudiness will clear up. Cutting down on feedings will speed this up.

 

[Holly9937]

Actually, I have a battery powered siphon than has a vacuum bag attachment. You can use it to vac without removing water. It's great for in between water changes.

I KNEW someone would say that !! I'm just assuming they have a reg. one, or are not doing it at all...But you're right, those are out there. The one I saw had really big mesh in the catch bag though, and I know for what I get out of my tanks that wouldn't help much!!