Murky Water

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 26 Sep 2003, 16:11

My tank has some murky water recently. It startd out fairly clear and has now become a bit murky. I can still see through the water but it is cloudy. I thought it may have been something on the glass so I checked t out, it has a slight film or slime to it

I wiped it off but it didnt help visibility. Will water changes help this? Im definitely doing a 25% change tonight (2 gallons from an 8 gallon tank). How frequently should I do water changes until this clears up? you can see info on the tank in the link in my signature.

Post by **Silurus** » 26 Sep 2003, 16:13

You probably have new tank syndrome.
The cloudiness is part of the cycling process and should clear up by itself in a few days.

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 26 Sep 2003, 16:16

Silurus wrote:You probably have new tank syndrome.
The cloudiness is part of the cycling process and should clear up by itself in a few days.

so should I do a water change on this tank? will the catfish be ok?

Post by **Silurus** » 26 Sep 2003, 16:26

Not much point in changing the water. Since it's all new, it'll cloud again.
Well, you probably shouldn't have put the fish in there without cycling the tank, but guess it's a little too late for that.
I'd leave the fish where it is.

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 26 Sep 2003, 19:38

I didnt have the opportunity to do the cycle process, would have liked to but it was either this tank or the uncycled 1 gallon tank he was in already (he was previously living in a frog tank with about 2 gallons of water, no filter and only and air stone).

Looking at the posts ive seen this is probably just an algae bloom. My only question right now is at what level whould I do a water change for ammonia, nitrietes and nitrates? right now the ammonia is at .5 to 1.0ppm and no nitrites, I will be testing nitrates once I pickup the test solution. Right now the cat appears fine, he is eating (when i feed him, not often as i dont want him suffocating in his own feces

) and swims around the tank when the lights are out, he seems to enjoy the tank

so I do not beleive this is causing him any harm so far, I will be watching him closely.

magnum4 · Post by **magnum4** » 26 Sep 2003, 20:01

I would do a water change now but it depends on the pH reading with ammonia. as the tank isn't cycled yet maybe cut down on the food.

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 26 Sep 2003, 20:17

at what level would ammonia be a danger?

as well as nitrites?

I understand that we dont want more than about 5ppm nitrates either.

its at .5 to 1.0 ppm ammonia now, is that safe for the fish? no nitrites currently but that was last night, I will test it again tonight for ammonia, Ph, nitrites, and nitrates.

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 27 Sep 2003, 00:41

Nitrates are your last worry right now.

Nitrites and ammonia are the killers, nitrates are merely nuisance compared to them.

I never liked ammonia to even exist in my tanks, of course that does make the nitrogen cycle a bit harder to establish ;) um... maybe half a part per million? even that I don't like. It's been so long since I've cycled regularly that I would have to say I don't exactly remember the acceptable levels myself... fishless is so easy, dump in ammo till it's about 5 ppm, wait for that to start going down and then keep dosing to 5 ppm till the tank processes all ammo and nitrite in less than a day...

And for your nitrates, 5 ppm is a wonderful goal, but unless you're raising very delicate fish or something, it's probably not necessary. I try to keep my tanks under 20 ppm, but I've had discus spawn and raise wigglers in 40 ppm, only lost the wigglers due to my beloved plecos and their appetites.

Post by **Barbie** » 27 Sep 2003, 01:46

There is a product out made by Marineland called BioSpira, that might keep your cycle from reaching toxic levels. I would definitely recommend it, although its the only cycling product I've ever used with any success.

The clouding you're seeing in the tank is free floating bacteria colonies, from the waste present in the water. A 25% water change surely won't hurt anything, and may keep your levels low enough to keep your fish from being stressed. Another point to make here, make SURE you don't feed very much, as one overfeeding incident can be the end of your fish. I usually recommend feeding what they eat in 30 seconds, every other day until you're registering 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, with a low nitrate reading.

Fish waste is ammonia, the first set of bacteria convert that to nitrite, but it takes a bit for the colonies to establish. Those bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, which tends to be even more toxic to fish, as the bacteria that convert the nitrite to nitrate seem to be a bit slower to establish themselves. This bacteria will cover the surface of your filter media, and your tank itself, whereever oxygenated water is passing over it. That's why floss and sponges make such good biomedia, lots and lots of surface area.

Hope that helps,

Barbie

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 27 Sep 2003, 02:38

ok, I just tested the water in the tank. last night it registered about .5 to 1.0 ppm ammonia, that was last night, about 24 or less hours ago. Now it reads 0ppm ammonia and 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates... I tested twice on each to make sure and the results were the same. so I guess that is a good sign

I am going to do a 25% water change because I really cant see more than a few inches into the tank. I will be taking readings of the water every day I come home (unless thats too often?) for ammonia and nitrites. in about a week or less I will test again for nitrates. as soon as nitrates show up and there is 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites the cycle should be complete correct?

I also have a friend who will be bringing me a small cup of the stuff from his bio wheel in his established tank, do you think this will help and be a good idea? if it is a good idea should I just dump it in the water or add it to the filter some how?

looks like everything is ok except for the large amount of algae in the tank, lol. will the algae in anyway hurt the fish?

Post by **Barbie** » 27 Sep 2003, 02:59

The "stuff" from his filter is a great idea. Are you leaving the light on on this tank? If so, shut it off.

Another question, have you used an amquel or other ammonia neutralizing product?

Its doubtful that your tank will finish cycling in a week, if you were still showing ammonia levels yesterday. The fact that you aren't showing nitrites is suspicious to me. You might check that test kit for expiration dates.

Barbie

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 27 Sep 2003, 03:17

the test kit has not expired and I have used nothing but "drinking water" from kroger. I tested it for chlorine and it contains none (around 6.2 or so in Ph).

I just changed the water (20 to 25%) and will check the water again tomorrow.

MackIntheBox · Post by **MackIntheBox** » 01 Oct 2003, 07:31

ok, quick update

Ive done 2 25% water changes in the last 4 days, the last water change the water in the tank was clearing before the change was done. the water is quite a bit clearer now. The ammonia level is 1ppm and there are no nitrites or nitrates yet, I am still watching the tank, will probly do a water change tomorrow if the ammonia level is still at 1ppm or more (hopefully no more than that, will do a change soon anyway).

one question i do have, is it normal for the fish to move some while breathing? it does not look like gasping, just breathing, want to make sure that what looks like normal breathing is normal breathing, hehe. he isnt opening his mouth when "breathing" so I am guessing it is normal, he also swims around and seems to act normal as well so im not too worried about him.