I think I made a mistake by stocking my tank too fast with fish. The ammonia and nitrite levels are all o.k., but the water is cloudy, which makes me think I might have killed the beneficial bacteria inadvertently? There is a large piece of bogwood in the tank which stains the water a nice yellow color, so it might be partly that, but it seems overly cloudy. My question is, is it possible to do too many water changes? (it was like 30% every other day a while ago) or is it better to clean the filters only? If the tank has to be recycled, should I do nothing until the biofilter returns? I've been doing weekly water changes and putting in small amounts of AmQuel lately to try and get rid of the cloudiness, to no effect.
2006-11-07 18:33:45 · 3 answers · asked by kaputt_18 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Well, not sure how long the tank's been set up. I'm gonna guess it's a newer tank. Takes a few weeks for a tank to cycle. Get a test kit, or have your pet store test a water sample. When you're ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrites 0 ppm, and showing some nitrates(want them to stay under 20 ppm) then your tank is cycled.
If you're cycling the tank with fish, you'll want to do small daily water changes so the fish can have a chance to survive. I'd say 20% water at most. It'll prolong the cycle a bit, but better for the fish. After the tank cycles, you'll want to get into a routine of weekly water changes of about 20-25%.
About once a month when you do a water change, take the filter out and rinse it in the bucket of fish water. Scrape the gunk off (I just use my hand), and reuse it(this will keep some of the bacteria on it). After a few months you'll need to completely replace it. Don't use tap water, the chlorine will kill the bacteria on it.
Stay away from the AmQuel, haven't heard very good things about it. Use this product called Prime by Seachem when you do water changes. Removes chlorine & chloramines from tap water, and detoxifies nitrite, ammonia, and nitrates to a harmless form, but still allows the tank to cycle.
The cloudy water is a bacterial bloom, common to new set up tanks. It'll go away in a few days. Just do those water changes and keep testing with the test kit.
2006-11-07 19:08:35 · answer #1 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you have is a bacterial bloom. It usually lasts about 3 days. Stop the water changes. By not allowing the bacteria to level off you are creating new blooms. Leave the tank alone for a week at least or 2. If the cloudiness persists, you have a problem. Keep the tank around 80 degrees. If its still cloudy after 2 weeks, do a 30 percent partial and wait for the bloom again, continue partials once a month. It will level off. bacteria know what they are doing.'
be sure you are not overfeeding
2006-11-08 02:45:49 · answer #2 · answered by hipichick777 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yea
2006-11-08 03:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by Jr 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋