Will my Eco-Complete EVER clear up?

aknif

aknif

...maybe the Dingo ate your baby!!
Dec 27, 2004
285
0
0
Denver, CO
I have a new 135g that I'm trying to get up and running for a Malawi tank. I bought 150# of Eco-Complete for African Cichilds 3 weeks ago. I rinsed the HE!! out of it before I put it in the tank... but my water is STILL cloudy 3 weeks later... and after multiple large water changes with extensive gravel vacuuming.

What is up with this stuff?? Will my water EVER be clear?

Any suggestions?
 
The bag said to rinse it until the water was no longer milky and only cloudy, which is what I did.

I believe you're thinking about eco-complete for planted tanks, not eco-complete for Africans. Two very different products.
 
I agree, you're not supposed to rinse it.

If it's a newly setup tank a bio filter needs to establish itself. If you added any decor from an already established tank it could be a bacteria bloom. No substrate should make your water cloudy for three days, except maybe laterite or flourite.
 
If i'm not supposed to rinse it, then why does the bag say specifically to rinse it until the water runs from milky to just cloudy? :huh: I have been reading online and apparently there are two forms of eco-complete for africans. One does say that rinsing is not needed and that the gravel comes "packed in a conditioning solution for immediate use". That is NOT the product I bought. Mine came just like normal gravel, dry, in a plastic bag. And the bag said to rinse it until the water runs cloudy. And yes, it was Carib Sea Eco Complete for African Cichlids. So I'm at a loss here.

It is a newly set up tank, there is nothing in it but water and the eco-complete. No decor, no fish, no heaters or anything else. (I have been waiting for the cloudyness to clear before doing anything else) I have two old top fin 60 filters running on it, but the cloudyness of the water does not clear through the filters. It's cloudy, but it's not particulate that would get caught in the filters. Just looks like someone poured a couple cups of Milk into the tank.

Should I add ammonia and start a fishless cycle? Does the tank need a simulated bioload to clear the water?
 
Silly Silly Kas..... ;) I've done about 7 or 8 90% water changes including 2 back to back yesterday.... all the while gravel vaccing. And it looks worse today than it did before I started yesterday.

I've put some charcoal in my filter bags today, as was suggested by someone in the chats... so we'll see if that helps.

I also planned to put 2 filstar xp3's on the tank, once I got the water cleared up, but it was suggested that I get them on the tank now and get some good filtration going with charcoal too. So i'll be placing a large Big Als order soon.

Hopefully that will help!
 
good work Sis! will be keeping my fingers crossed.....and keep away from the yogurt and skim milk!!! LOL

;)
 
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