Follow up fish tank question:My levels are back to good and fish appear well again but still cloudy.Now what?

Question

Thanks to everyone with your help on my prev. question.I had a bit of a problem when I over cleaned my 25 gallon freshwater tank and threw my levels off by removing good bacteria from the system, I knew I made a mistake when two days after the clean my water was cloudier than ever.I then tested my water and it was slightly high in amonia levels and a little high on the pH scale. I added some salt to the water per an experienced person at the pet stores suggestion and it neutralized my levels.Also, my fish are no longer hanging out toward the surface of the water, everything is back to normal but my water is still pretty cloudy.I first read that I should do water changes every few days until it clears and then was told that I do not want to do more water changes until the good bacteria can build back up,which seems to make sense. What do u guys think?Thanks in advance for any advice,I really appreciate everyone sharing their "wealths of knowledge" w/this relatively novice fish-keeper.

Answer 1

The most likely cause of cloudy water is a bacteria bloom. Since you over cleaned the tank the bacteria have to repopulate the tank. While this doesn't look very nice its not harmful to the fish at all. This has happened a couple of times in my tank and it cleared itself up in a couple of days. I would avoid the chemicals to put in your tank and clear up the water. Unnecessary chemicals could have an unknown effect on your tank. One thing that I did do is clean my filter, I don't know if it helped or not but it might have. Just make sure you clean it out in take water and not new water so you don't kill the bacteria all over again. Put just enough water in a container to rinse off the filter and swish it around.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Change the water don't mess with your filter for a while. Wait a few weeks before you give it a good cleaning. Change water when ammonia reaches over .50 ppm or Nitrite over .50 ppm. When NitrAtes show up the tank is completely cycled. Feed lightly until this happens. The cloudyness could be coming from all the new free floating good bacteria. Keep testing the water to be sure. Good luck and go get a book on fish keeping. By the way you will learn the people at the pet store do not always know what they are talking about. You really have to learn on your own. I've killed many fish on the advice of an "experienced" pet store person. Look for goldfish experts on the net. Sometimes you can look up these people who clean other people's tanks for a living and they will usually give good advice for your area. Good luck.

Answer 3

I suggest, if you havent already got it in your filter,that you buy a bag of carbon for aquariems.Just put a small layer in between the filter fluff.When you clean the filter,keep the carbon and put it back in.There are a lot of great articles on the internrt you could check out as well. You sound like you are doing a great job any way.You will learn as you go along.You don't say how many fish you have but yer I,d say once it clears you will be in business.Are you on tap water or tank water.?I"m on tank water and that makes it way easier. because the ph level has never been an issue.Plus there are no chemicles to worry about.

Answer 4

Partial water changes 10 to 20% daily for a few days until clear then weekly after that. The best water is "aged water" but you don't want fish swimming around in their own urine.

Most fish can tolerate small changes in water chemistry but adding salt to correct a bacteria bloom (cloudy) is generally unwise as the fish are stressed already. Apparently you have no fish which would be adversely affected by the salt. Salt is good for most fish but death to some.

Answer 5

Let your tank run. DO NOT do any more water changes...this is adding to the cloud problem. Right now the cloud problem isn't your main concern, it is keeping the water quality. Keep an on the quality and the tank will clear on its own. Do your normal water changes, remember do not remove more than 25% of your tanks water.

Since you've had problems with the system, I would test your water every three days, starting with two hours after you have done a water change.

I am not sure if you are changing every week or every two weeks. Usually every two weeks is just fine.

Good luck and let us know how it is going.

Answer 6

The known goldfish you're procuring are feeder goldfish that have been shipped to the keep in a bag with 500 to a minimum of one thousand fish crammed jointly. they're under pressure and purchased to be eaten via different fish. this is not any longer your fault that they are loss of life in some days. purchase your self a heater and a thermometer and a few colourful tropical fish. shop the tank at seventy 8 - eighty tiers fahrenheit and feed them tropical fish food flakes. Your tank is possibly cycled via now so which you will possibly desire to no longer might desire to do lots. once you do a water substitute, the recent water might desire to be dealt with with a water conditioner in the previous you place it into the tank. some human beings positioned the faucet water into the tank and then upload the water conditioner. it relatively isn't the proper thank you to do a water substitute. go away the carbon in the clear out for a minimum of the subsequent six months. If the water circulate in the process the clear out slows down, you may wash the carbon yet then positioned it back into the clear out. in case you have not got a cover with a mild on your tank, you will possibly desire to purchase your self an entire hood with a fluorescent mild fixture outfitted into it. it is going to shop the fish from leaping out and it is generally much less annoying to have fun with watching your fish as they improve and improve their person coloring.

Answer 7

That is the exact same thing that happened to me! What i did to cure my "fishy dilemma" was that i used this stuff called "crystal clear." It works REALLY well, but it takes a few days for it to work. It doesn't look like it could clear anything because it is brown and gross! Ewwww! But it works well. Also to get the good bacteria back go to a local pet store and ask if you could take a handful sized amount of rocks from one of their tanks. This works. Hope I helped!~Katie

Answer 8

the cloudy is a bacteria bloom that loves fresh water so giving it fresh water just prolongs it. as long as your levels are good ignore it. if ammonia or nitrites start spiking do a partial water change. it should be gone within a week. you don't have any bacteria buildup to save right now so don't worry about it. usually when it clears you will get an ammonia spike so be ready for that.

Answer 9

You need a better filtration system.. Do not keep changing your water.. It is stressful for the fish..

Answer 10

I use this stuff called "Brite and Clear" I got from the local Aquarium/pet store and it will clear it up overnight. Just follow directions and not add too much. Good luck!