We have a 29 gallon tank with 2 algae eaters (6 inces each), a channel catfish (8 inches), 2 crayfish, & 10 feeders for our catfish. I personally know nothing about fish tanks and I want to know how to keep it from getting so cloudy right after we clean it. Please help.
2007-02-28 11:32:31 · 11 answers · asked by ness_n_ric831 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Your main problem is you have too much fish for that tank. The channel cat will completely outgrow the tank very soon so you should find a new home for it.
Just change about 25% of the water once a week and lower the amount of fish in the tank and you will be just fine. The water will clear up and not recloud.
MM
2007-02-28 12:18:40 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There could be a number of problems leading to your tank being cloudy and smelly.
All too often too many new fish owners make the same common mistakes. Did you wash your tank out properly prior to installing? Did you wash your gravel thru a strainer (and I don't mean just rinse it off)? These are the two leading cause for cloudy water.
Your tank is not cycled properly. See web page.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm
Your biggest issue now isn't the cloudy water; it's the ammonia spike that may be going on (if it hasn't already), followed by elevated nitrites. Both could result in the loss of some or all of your fish. I'd strongly recommend that you become familiar with the Nitrogen cycle, so you are aware of what will be happening in the upcoming weeks.
You should begin testing your water right away for ammonia and take appropriate steps to keep it below lethal levels. Hang in there; once you get your tank through the initial cycle the cloudy water problem will clear up
Do you or are you using a gravel siphon to clean the bottom when doing water changes? are you removing only 25% of the water? Did you rinse out your filter and pads prior to installing them? Is your filter adaquate for your tank size?
If you did not rinse the gravel well enough you can do one of two things, stir up the gravel in the tank really well. This will cause all the "dirt" particles to float in your tank. Keep the filter running and do a 20% water change. As long as your water "quality" is fine, do this every other day until the water is clear. Each time, be sure to rinse your filter out as well.
Adding an air your bubble want does nothing for the fish or the water. Dissolved O2 comes from the water itself moving. Bubblers move very little water there for add very little to no Dissolved O2 to your tank.
Do your water change every other day (I know pain in the butt) but if the tank would have been cycled properly in the beginning, this would not be happening now.
Good Luck
2007-03-04 00:10:03 · answer #2 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That sounds like a lot of fish - and a lot of messy fish at that - for that size tank. Algae eaters can actually be quite messy. They sound good - like they will eat algae and keep the tank cleaner - but if you have a good filter and don't have algae, they are just another big fish that eats the fish food and poops. I have a 60 gallon indoor pond with 5 comet goldfish (various sizes - 6-8 inches). I have a filter that is made to handle the load. I never have algae. The water is always clear. I clean the bottom of the "pond" at the same time as I change the filter, to get rid of excess food and poop that didn't get sucked into the filter.
Just make sure you have a big enough tank and filter and you shouldn't have a problem - oh, and don't overfeed.
2007-02-28 19:44:30 · answer #3 · answered by mmct21 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How do you get so many fish into such a small tank? That Channel Cat is gonna hit 2' if it doesn't die. The algae eaters I assume are Plecos. There gonna get to 18" or more if they don't die.
You are going to need a 150-180 gallon tank if the mature. Don't release these fish into the wild when you decide they are too much. That is illegal and devastating to local wildlife. Give them back to the fish store if you can't commit to their proper care.
2007-02-28 20:55:46 · answer #4 · answered by something_fishy 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are products for "clear water" "water conditioner" also be sure to check the ph balance if it's to acid or to saline. The kit is very simple to use. I think a better filter would be the best investment you have to many fish in such a small space and the urine is probably the problem. Ammonia. As soon as you can I would invest in a 50 gal. aquarium. You already far exceed the inches of fish for gallons of water necessary for a good enviroment.
2007-02-28 19:42:01 · answer #5 · answered by Faerie loue 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you use a gravel vacuum to help clean the tank?
If you have gravel at the bottom of the tank, when you're refilling the tank, maybe sediment from the gravel is causing some of the problem.
The filter should clear things up in a few days.
2007-02-28 19:40:38 · answer #6 · answered by Ella 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have too many fish in the tank. And, that channel catfish will turn into a monster a couple feet long.
2007-03-01 15:51:14 · answer #7 · answered by Overt Operative 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you may need more space for water and less fish. A good filter helps, but the most important thing for water quality is not putting too much in the tank to start out with.
2007-02-28 19:36:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Change the water every week, and clean the filter every month. I recommend you vaccum it every week because your fish tank is going to have serious crowding condition when you algae eaters grow.
2007-03-01 23:05:10 · answer #9 · answered by Shadow 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
To make the water changes and remove excess food, get a siphon vacuum from your local pet store. It will have a hose attached. Here is a page with small ones from a company that makes them so you know what to look for
http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?R=3059&Nav=1&N=0&Ntt=siphon+&sku=237906&familyID=13393&
every mounth change all the water in the tank
2007-02-28 19:43:51 · answer #10 · answered by animalhouser07 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋