2007-04-23 06:52:36 · 10 answers · asked by lottie200322 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
i dont have any fish in the tank yet i have just set up yesterday with water, i have cleaned everything though.
2007-04-23 07:12:30 · update #1
Is the cloudiness just coming from the filter, and is the filter new? If you've just added carbon or zeolite (like white rocks) it may have just had some dust in it - you should rinse these before putting them in the tank.
If this is a tank that's only been set up for about a week, your water may be cloudy - this is natural and is called cycling. Your tank needs some bacteria to convert the ammonia your fish are producing into nitrite and nitrate. Since ammonia and nitrite are toxic to your fish, this is something you want to happen. The "cloud" is actually the bacteria that are reproducing very quickly.
If your tank has been set up for longer than a few months, if you've used medication or any kind of chemical treatment recently, it may have killed the bacteria in your tank, and they're just starting to reproduce again. It could also be that your filter pad is clogging and it's time to rinse it (use a container of tank water, not tap water, or you'll destroy any bacteria living on the filter pad), or it may just be time to buy a new pad if the current one has been rinsed too many times and there are gaps that are letting particles get through.
ADDITION: Did you rinse the gravel before adding it to the tank? Gravel often is dusty. Also, some water companies use phosphates to preserve their pipes - this can cause cloudiness. If your filter doesn't remove the cloudiness, try adding a phosphate pad to your filter.
2007-04-23 07:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are several possibilities here. It could be the type or amount of food you're feeding the fish. You may need to do a 50% water change to see if that makes a difference. You may also need to change the carbon filter more often. Try dismantling your filter to detect the problem and then clean each component with white distilled vinegar, excluding mesh carbon filters and bio-wheels, if applicable. Be sure to rinse each part thoroughly before running it in the aqarium. If that doesn't work, it may be the type of water from your tap. Most pet stores sell drops or tablets that help clear up cloudy water. Be sure to read the directions thoroughly and don't over-do it. Also, be cautious about trying too many remedies in a short period of time. A larger aquarium (50+ gallons) can more easily recover from a mistake, but a small tank requires more cautious steps when addressing a problem. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals sells a good water testing kit that's easy to use with straight forward guidance. Good luck!
2007-04-23 07:07:02 · answer #2 · answered by Bob W 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I had the same problem and the filter was the source. It looked like someone poured milk in the water it was so bad, and eventually killed one fish.
I dumped the water, changed the filter (but rinsed it before putting it in the tank) and everything went back to normal.
I also started adding Ammo-Carb (freshwater tanks) to the filter. It's activated carbon and removes ammonia from the water. My filter had a re-close-able top and I put a couple teaspoon fulls into it and my water has been crystal clear for a while.
I was having to do at least a 50% water change per week because the water was so cloudy, which may have been from over feeding.
2007-04-23 08:12:43 · answer #3 · answered by Ella 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hi there, u need to clean the filter to do this you must take a bit of the water out of the fish tank and clean it in that so it keeps on the bactiria on it. then put frsh water back into the tank to top it up
hope this helps :)
2007-04-23 06:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by hayley s 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you just change the media in it? ie carbon, sponge, ammonia remover? Or maybe it needs to be changed. Id probably do a pH test, and if it's normal, look for water clear tabs, they look like alkaseltzer. You also could be over feeding if you smell ammonia. There could be plenty of reasons, but either way, don't let it go unnoticed.
2007-04-23 06:59:13 · answer #5 · answered by Stephen J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Possibly because the filter itself needs cleaning. They have to be cleaned regularly (possibly once a week) to keep them working effectively
2007-04-23 07:00:18 · answer #6 · answered by Paul B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
filter media needs replaced
most of the clowdy water is from pad(foam, sponge)water polisher
but if thats bad the rest of the media is shot too
2007-04-23 07:14:20 · answer #7 · answered by Adam T 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
clean filter change quarter of water should help
2007-04-23 08:06:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
do you have a filter pad? lol...
maybe you're missing the carbon...
2007-04-23 07:56:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it needs cleaning
2007-04-23 06:59:27 · answer #10 · answered by jazmine 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋