I just got a new tank and filter along with 5 goldfish(yesterday) This morning the water in the tank was very very cloudy. I cleaned and changed the water this morning, and by 10pm, the same thing, very cloudy water. What can i do to irradicate this problem?
2007-07-16 18:57:56 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Your tank is cycling - this is a process every new tank goes through, and it will take 3-6 weeks to clear.
Your fish are producing ammonia as part of their wastes, and this is toxic to your fish. In a tank that's been running for several months, the ammonia will be converted by bacteria in your tank to nitrite (also toxic), then to nitrate, which is nontoxic in moderate amounts. Your tank just doesn't have enough of the bacteria yet, so they are multiplying (this is what appears to be the cloudiness). If you keep trying to clean the tank, you'll only make the process take longer. Instead of doing a complete cleaning, you should only be doing partial water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrite at levels your fish can tolerate. Try changing 25% once a week, or 10-15% twice a week, and be sure you aren't overfeeding the fish - extra food will also contribute to the problem. Only feed them what they can eat in 2-3 minutes, twice a day.
Once the bacteria have multiplied enough that all the ammonia and nitrite are being converted, the bacteria will slow down their reproduction and the water will clear up on its own.
See the links below on this process (called cycling, because of it's relationship to the ammonia cycle):
2007-07-16 19:14:35 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
your tank is starting to cycle and that is absolutely normal for it to be cloudy, and please don't change the whole water because you're going to clean it to much and your fish are going to die
How big is your tank by the way?
Hope that helps
EB
2007-07-16 19:11:31 · answer #2 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's pretty normal with a new tank; it should probably clear up in a day or two. If you really want to clear it up; i use clear water made by jungle. It works well for me me (for established aquariums removes odors and cloudiness) by jungle. GL
2007-07-16 19:04:03 · answer #3 · answered by dazed 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
try easy balance it helps the water stay as clean as it can it works tremendous!!
2007-07-16 19:08:14 · answer #4 · answered by Jessi E 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yeah copperhead pretty much summed it all up
2007-07-16 20:05:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋