Cloudy Fish Tank!!!?

Question

So i have had my fish tank for about three weeks now and it has about 5 fish in it. I havent had big problems untill two days ago. I used Kordon Amquel plus because there was some ammonia in the tank and nitrite. I also used Doc Wellfish's aquarium water conditioning kit. The water started to get a bit cloudy but i wasnt to worried about it untill this morning when i woke up. The water is verry verry cloudy and i tried to do a 25% water change but it didnt work. The fish seem to be breathing verry hard so if any one can help me and let me know what i should do???? I was wondering if i should do another water change?

Answer 1

Cloudy water is one of two things.

If the water is green then it is an algae bloom. Algae blooms are caused by too much light and too many nutrients in the water. They are relatively easily cleared up by reducing the lighting, especially direct sunlight, and by lower the nutrients in the water. Reducing the lighting is easy. Simply shut off the light on the tank and only run it for 8-10 hours a day. You should also ensure that your tank isn't getting any direct sunlight as this will cause you algae problems, either as a green bloom or simply algae on the tank and ornaments. You lower the nutrients by doing more frequent and larger water changes and by feeding less. Fish should be fed only what they can eat entirely in 5-10 seconds. Any uneaten food should be netted out of the tank to prevent it from breaking down.

If the water is white then it is a bacterial bloom. These are caused exclusively by too many nutrients in the tank. To clear the water you will need to increase the frequency and size of your water changes, and decrease the feeding. Fish should be fed only what they can eat entirely in 5-10 seconds. Any uneaten food should be netted out of the tank to prevent it from breaking down.

Neither cloudy water situation is particularly harmful to your fish but are a symptom of a greater underlying problem that must be resolved.

One way to clear the cloudy water immediately is through the use of a micron or diatom filter. This will pull out the particles that cause the cloudiness, but it WILL NOT resolve the problem that caused the particles to be there. This is a short term fix and needs to be used in conjuction with the above fixes.

Answer 2

You may be over feeding. Left over food causes harmful bacteria that consumes oxygen. Oder also is caused by bacteria. (not to be confused with beneficial bacteria) therefore skip that chemical. Increase your filter size. Feeder fish nor any fish are necessary to start algae. Light is (the more light the more & faster algae growth). You also may have introduced to many fish to quickly IF they are gold fish feeders as they tend to be "dirty" by nature. Also general rule 1" of fish per gal. of water. I take you mean DE-CHLORINATOR not chlorine chemicals as chlorine kills fish. If the water were left as long as you stated chlorine remover would not be necessary. Chlorine would dissipate within 48 hours at normal room temperature. In new tanks because no beneficial bacterial have yet developed a sudden intro of that many fish could easily start clouding with little filtration. The aeration is help full keep it going. Given about 5days with less food the tank should clear up. You could use a chemical like "CLEAR" that causes "dirt" molecules to bond and be filtered out more easily or sink to the bottom, but it should clear without it. Cut back to 1 or 2 pinches a day and make sure they consume it in less than 5 minutes. Put your money into a better filter and buy chemicals only when nessary. Don't clean the tank & filter at the same time. If you do your getting rid of all the beneficial bacteria at once and you will have to start the process over once more. Clean one or the other wait 5-7days and then clean the other. You won't need to buy starter em-zines. Do use declorinator when doing water changes or addind fish before 48 hrs. unless you have well water.

Answer 3

turning the light off for a day or two can slow down the growth of some bacteria. You should give this a try before doing anymore water changes. (this will slow down your fish's metabolism as well.) And feed your fish the minimum amount of food they need to survive. Feeding your fish less should lower the ammonia. The more stuff you add to the tank the worst it will get. Try to just leave your tank alone it hasn't matured yet. The bacteria is your good bacteria by changing the water your multiplying them thus increasing the nitrite level in your tank.

Answer 4

You could try another water change, but it will just cause more stress to the fish. I would go out and get some chlor-X chlorine remover, it works very well. Instead of using nitrite and amonia removers, get rid of the poo and food covering the floor, you can complete this by getting a gravel vacuum for like 10 bucks. If you don't have a filter, get one it is an essential part of keeping your water clean, clear, and as healthy as possible for your fish to live it. Good luck.

Answer 5

get a new fish tank and new water it could also be the water in the rocks i have over 50 fish in an aquarium and they r fine with out a filter system and make sure the water has a low level of salt Sulfur,and rust drinking water u buy at a store is good.

Answer 6

You need a filter if you do not have one. If you do, either clean it (change it) or get a more effective one. The fish are not getting enough oxygen.

Answer 7

you need a filtration system, it cycles the water and keeps the balances in line, theyre low cost, walmart carrys them, they go by the size per gallon of your tank....

Answer 8

Do another water change. If it doesn't work, something is definitely wrong.

Answer 9

It is a bacteria bloom. Did you cycle your tank? read this http://bryce.t31g3n.googlepages.com/cyclinganaquarium

Also make sure you change water regularly. http://bryce.t31g3n.googlepages.com/cleaningandmaintaintingandaquarium

Answer 10

do a water change or change filter cartriges