cloudy tank, please help.?

Question

I have a 55 gallon tank. My husband and I are keeping Koi in it. we have 13 (small ones). We both know that they are crap machines, But we've tried everything. It's not bacterial bloom because it isn't white, or algea because it isn't green, the water is an orange yellow color. We've also used a water clarifier "Clarity" but that hasn't worked either.

I have a 55 gallon tank. My husband and I are keeping Koi in it. we have 13 (small ones). We both know that they are crap machines, But we've tried everything. It's not bacterial bloom because it isn't white, or algea because it isn't green, the water is an orange yellow color. We've also used a water clarifier "Clarity" but that hasn't worked either.

to people who say Koi shouldn't be put in a tank you are wrong, I don't think you understood when I said that they small (they are litterally 2-3inches long and are TOO young to be put in an outdoor pond) and a 55 gallon tank is perfectly large enough to support them. (also Koi, like most Goldfish will only grow to the size of their enclosure, unlike Oscars and Pacu... but that's another story)

I've also done a little more research, apparently the "Clarity" we've been using is made it tint the water Orange/Yellow, it isn't excess waste.

so If you have anymore advice. please feel free.

Answer 1

Orange/yellow is a fairly common color for tanks with excess fish waste. The only way to get rid of it is to conduct more water changes more often. Using activated charcoal and/or zeolite might help a little, but you'll have to remove them if you ever medicate the tank, and you'll have to replace them regularly.

An organge/brown color may occur if you have decorated the aquarium with driftwood. It comes from the tannins, and is totally natural. It should go away after several water changes. Boiling the driftwood and changing the water in the pot might get rid of it if that's what this is.

Answer 2

You don't say how big the koi are or how long you have had the tank set up.

Usually cloudy water is due to overfeeding if the tank has been set up for a few months. If you have just set it up, then it is part of the nitrogen cycle and will clear on its' own after a week or so. The color suggests too much food. Does the water smell?

Every tank needs to grow beneficial bacteria to help with converting the ammonia produced by fish waste and uneaten food decaying. This process is called "cycling" and takes about three to five weeks depending on the size of the tank.

A 55 gallon tank would be OK to grow some koi up in, but as soon as they reach 5-6 inches you need to put them into a pond or huge tank (think 250-450 gallons). Koi and goldfish are both filthy creatures that create a lot of debris as you know.

You seem to know more than the average questioner here in "answers," but I must ask if you are doing regular (weekly) partial (25-30%) water changes? That is the most important thing you can do to keep your tank clean and healthy, especially with koi/goldfish.

Email me if you would like to discuss further. Don't forget to enter your email address two times in the site to confirm it so you can receive answers back by email.

I am sorry, it is not true that fish will only grow to the size of their tank. The only reason fish do not reach their full adult size is because of the water conditions they are forced to live in being very poor. This is caused by not doing regular water changes combined with poor diet. This is a common misconception told and retold by inexperienced aquarists.

Answer 3

The orange yellow color is because the tank is filthy with that many koi in it, even though they are only 2-3 inches that is too many. Since it doesn't sound like you will do anything about all those fish the only thing you can do is more frequent water changes and take out more every time. I hope they are only in the tank for the winter and when spring comes they will go out to a very large pond, 3500+ gallons. And actually you are wrong, goldfish or any other fish for that matter do not grow to the size of the tank they are in, at least not in a healthy way. They become stunted which will eventually kill them since their organs never stop growing and they become more and more cramped until the fish dies from it.

Answer 4

A 55 gallon tank can not even support 1 koi, much less 13. They grow over 2 feet long and need a pond. And for 13 you will need a VERY large pond. I would take tose koi back ASAP and get 4-5 fancy goldfish instead.

Answer 5

depends on what filter type you have there are 3
mechanical
biological
or an underground filter or a combonation of all
mechanical-is just a filter that moves water and screens it through some type of filter
biological-can be a sponge or a spiner wheel the spiner wheel would be in mechancal the sponge would sit in a corner either would take a week to kick in but they create bennificail bacteria
that breaks down the dirty water
underground filters are very effective also they suck the dirty water through the gravel and push it up tubes in the tank with or withour charcoal or carbon tops on the filters
adding chemicals will not do crap without a good filter system
you can contact me if you have any other questions
good luck

Answer 6

Please listen to those users urging you to trade in your koi or to put them in a BIG pond. This is the right and humane thing to do. That orange yellow color is a definite warning sign that the waste is piling up. And if you knew that they would expel a lot of waste before hand why in god's name would you ever consider putting them in a small tank???

Answer 7

I also have a 55 gallon tank I have had it for about 8 years and i love it right now i have goldfish and koi as well and the only thing i have found that will keep it clean it accu clear made by API it only takes a very little bit of it and overnight it will clear up just about any amount of cloudiness.. alot of wal marts carry it ours doesnt... i ordered mine online at amazon.com $4 something a bottle and it WORKS.

Answer 8

you'll nicely be over feeding. Left over nutrition motives risky micro organism that consumes oxygen. Oder is likewise led to with the help of micro organism. (now to not be wondered with helpful micro organism) hence pass that chemical. develop your filter out length. Feeder fish nor any fish are necessary to initiate algae. mild is (the extra mild the extra & swifter algae boom). you also would have presented to many fish to rapidly in the experience that they are gold fish feeders as they have a tendency to be "dirty" with the help of nature. also known rule a million" of fish in line with gal. of water. I take you recommend DE-CHLORINATOR not chlorine chemical substances as chlorine kills fish. If the water were left see you later as you reported chlorine remover does not be necessary. Chlorine would deplete interior 40 8 hours at prevalent room temperature. In new tanks because no helpful bacterial have not started stepped forward a shocking intro of that many fish ought to extremely initiate clouding with little filtration. The aeration is help finished save it going. Given about 5days with a lot less nutrition the tank might want to sparkling up. you need to apply a chemical like "sparkling" that motives "dirt" molecules to bond and be filtered out extra extremely or sink to the bottom, besides the indisputable fact that it may sparkling with out it. decrease decrease back to a million or 2 pinches an afternoon and make confident they devour it in decrease than 5 minutes. positioned your money right into a significantly better filter out and purchase chemical substances basically at the same time as nessary. do not sparkling the tank & filter out at the same time. in case you do your eliminating all the helpful micro organism immediately and also you need to initiate the approach over once extra. sparkling one or the different wait 5-7days and then sparkling the different. you received't favor to purchase starter em-zines. Do use declorinator at the same time as doing water adjustments or addind fish beforehand 40 8 hrs. until eventually you've nicely water.

Answer 9

KOI DO NOT BELONG IN A TANK!

they need a pond. the yellow water is waste.
you need to get them out of that tank or they will die.

get a couple of fancies if you want tank pets.

Answer 10

try a diatom filter that cleans anything