How do I get rid of smokey looking water in a freshwater fish tank?

Question

I currently just bought a 3 gal Marineland Eclipse 3 fish tank with the right size cartridge and bio wheel. My old tank didnt have that. About a week after I cleaned and treated the water and put my Tetras in the tank my water turned smokey, makes it hard to see the fish with out the light on. The fish move around fine in it still. I just don't know how to get rid of the smokey water color or what caused that being I have a newer tank I am not familiar with how to trouble shoot it or if I should start over?

Answer 1

You have to let a brand new tank cycle, which means letting the beneficial bacteria that normally live in your filter and on the decorations and gravel in the tank buildup.

These bacteria help break down fish waste and prevent the buildup of ammonia in your water.

Cloudy water in a new fish tank is perfectly normal and usually lasts for a couple of weeks. You do not want to do anything with the filter right now just let it run.

I know it's tempting to do massive water changes, or want to break down your tank and start over but don't do it. A 20 to 30% water change once a week is more than sufficient to keep your fish healthy.

In this case patience is definitely a virtue.

Lots of luck
E.

Answer 2

Rather than using chemicals, it would be best to find out what's causing the water not to be clear.

Did the water become smokey soon after you added the filter? Did you rinse the filter before you added it? (these put out a lot of carbon dust that will make your water look gray, but will clear up before too long).

Did you use filter material from your old tank to "seed" bacteria into your new one? If not, your tank is cycling (building up a population of beneficial bacteria). You'll have to keep an eye on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates and do some partial water changes before they get too high.

See this link if it doesn't sound like any of the possibilities I've mentioned already: http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm

Answer 3

is that this a clean tank? if so, then you definately've New Tank Syndrome, the place your ammonia stages are severe by way of fact the tank isn't carried out cycling. this means that there is not any longer a longtime colony of constructive micro organism, which breaks down poisonous ammonia into much less poisonous nitrite, which in turn breaks right down to even much less poisonous nitrate. This technique takes between 4 and six weeks to end, and it is not secure to maintain fish interior the tank till then. chemical components are close to to ineffective while coping with water circumstances, so different measures must be taken. First, in case you opt for for to cycle with fish, you ought to decrease your fish inhabitants to a million or 2. The ammonia that those fish produce will leap start up the micro organism growth with out overpowering the tank. in case you opt for for to do a fishless cycle, do away with all your fish, and upload a source of organic ammonia instead. Google "fishless tank cycle" for greater techniques. they additionally sell small packets of micro organism in maximum aquarium shops, which supply all you like with out wait time. If that's no longer a clean tank, then it must be a controversy with the two overfeeding or overpopulation. confirm you merely feed the fish as much as they could consume in under a minute, and scoop out something. to date as inhabitants, it relies upon on the fish. 2d question. Its desirable to alter 25% of the water on your tank a week. Its desirable to purchase a gravel vacuum, which will siphon the water, besides as clean the fish poop and different waste out of your substrate. confirm you place all water conditioning chemical components interior the hot water each and every time. additionally be sure the water temperature of the extra water is the comparable by way of fact the tank water. sturdy success!

Answer 4

I think you need to purchase water conditioner. Bring a water sample to a pet store - such as Petco or Pet Smart and they will check it for you or you can purchase a water testing kit for not too much $.
Good luck

Answer 5

Go to Walmart and buy a water clarifier. Watch the tank clear up before your very eyes. It's only $3.00

Answer 6

Get a new filter...Clean out the water...or call the pet store.