Can't get the water clear

[Bob O.]

I have a 20 gallon tank set up with the following:
5 Zebra Danio
4 Black-Skirt Tetra
3 Mollies
3 Cory Panda Catfish
1 Guppy (had 5, 4 died)

1/2" of gravel
Plastic Plants
Top Fin 40 Filter
Air Stone

The last chec of water resulted in:
Hi PH = 7.4
Low PH = 6.8
Nitrite = 0
Amonia = 0
Hardness = 8

The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.

I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.

Would I be better off doing a 100% water change? Not changing the
water at all and see what happens? Any other suggestions?

[Flash Wilson]

On 24 Jul 2004 03:20:00 -0700, Bob O. > wrote:
>The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
>clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
>have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
>gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.

Is it a white cloud or some other colour?

>I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
>Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
>like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.

Have you tried InterPet Filter Aid?

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[Marlene Walters]

I hope I'm not being an idiot, as I'm sure you're not, but are you
absolutely sure you are not overfeeding. That is the #1 cause of cloudy
water. You seem to know what you are doing, though. I worked in a pet
store, and 95% of the time, the cloudiness is caused by overfeeding.
Sometimes, it may be you added too may fish at one time, or even algae.
If it is possible, get a handful of gravel from a tank that has not
problems, and has been used for quite a while, maybe you LFS will give
or sell you some. This should help. Also, adding cycle bacteria will
help, you cannot overdose it, it's impossible, and it NEVER hurts.

Hope I help you.

Marlene

Flash Wilson wrote:
> On 24 Jul 2004 03:20:00 -0700, Bob O. > wrote:
>
>>The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
>>clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
>>have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
>>gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.
>
>
> Is it a white cloud or some other colour?
>
>
>>I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
>>Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
>>like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.
>
>
> Have you tried InterPet Filter Aid?
>

[Robert Flory]

Double up on your filters. Double dose with Acurel F. Works better than
any of the others. That will clear the water. As to keeping it clear
......... That is another problem. Maybe add some low lite plants.

bob
"Bob O." > wrote in message
om...
> I have a 20 gallon tank set up with the following:
> 5 Zebra Danio
> 4 Black-Skirt Tetra
> 3 Mollies
> 3 Cory Panda Catfish
> 1 Guppy (had 5, 4 died)
>
> 1/2" of gravel
> Plastic Plants
> Top Fin 40 Filter
> Air Stone
>
> The last chec of water resulted in:
> Hi PH = 7.4
> Low PH = 6.8
> Nitrite = 0
> Amonia = 0
> Hardness = 8
>
> The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
> clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
> have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
> gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.
>
> I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
> Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
> like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.
>
> Would I be better off doing a 100% water change? Not changing the
> water at all and see what happens? Any other suggestions?

[Bob O.]

(Flash Wilson) wrote in message >...
> On 24 Jul 2004 03:20:00 -0700, Bob O. > wrote:
> >The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
> >clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
> >have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
> >gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.
>
> Is it a white cloud or some other colour?
>
> >I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
> >Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
> >like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.
>
> Have you tried InterPet Filter Aid?



White cloudy water.

[Flash Wilson]

On 25 Jul 2004 08:52:31 -0700, Bob O. > wrote:
(Flash Wilson) wrote in message >...
>> On 24 Jul 2004 03:20:00 -0700, Bob O. > wrote:
>> >The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
>> >clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
>> >have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
>> >gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.
>>
>> Is it a white cloud or some other colour?
>
>White cloudy water.

Ok, so probably a bacterial bloom. Have you let the tank cycle
or have you kept making water changes so it hasn't settled?
What are the ammonia and nitrite readings?



--
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Drop me an email! Available across London or working from home.

[Dick]

On 24 Jul 2004 03:20:00 -0700, (Bob O.)
wrote:

>I have a 20 gallon tank set up with the following:
> 5 Zebra Danio
> 4 Black-Skirt Tetra
> 3 Mollies
> 3 Cory Panda Catfish
> 1 Guppy (had 5, 4 died)
>
> 1/2" of gravel
> Plastic Plants
> Top Fin 40 Filter
> Air Stone
>
>The last chec of water resulted in:
> Hi PH = 7.4
> Low PH = 6.8

Why are you reporting two pH readings? I presume you have a test kit
that has two separate test chemicals and two charts. The two should
agree.

> Nitrite = 0
> Amonia = 0
> Hardness = 8
>
>The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
>clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
>have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the water
>gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over night.
>
>I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
>Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
>like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.
>
>Would I be better off doing a 100% water change? Not changing the
>water at all and see what happens? Any other suggestions?

You say nothing about how you are feeding the fish. Over feeding is
the biggest problem for most new fish owners. Mollies are real
gluttons. So are Guppies. I just can't escape the idea you are
overfeeding, especially since you are not using live plants to help
absorb the waste.

I am surprised 4 of your 5 guppies died. Guppies are very hardy.
Could be unrelated and just poor health out of the fish store.

What is your lighting practice? How many watts of light does your 20
gallon tank have? How many hours do you leave the light on? Have you
tried leaving the light off and not feed the fish for two days? This
can be done safely. Lighting is usually related to algae problems,
but not knowing more about what you mean by "cloudy" your answers
might provide clues.

There is also a question of "how cloudy?" I like the crystal clear
look, but if I look at the water from the floor up or through the
sides, the water looks cloudy. Perhaps you expect more clarity than
you can get.

Have you tried looking at the tap water? Is it perhaps cloudy before
you put it into your tank?

Personally, I don't like adding chemicals, I make mistakes and have
killed fish by improper doseage. I don't know enough about water
chemistry to feel safe using additives. The tank can "cycle" without
them normally. I have 5 tanks of varying sizes and have not used any
chemicals to assist them when they cycled.

I would drop the water changes back down, say 20% every other day. I
change 20% once a week. I am thinking that something from the tap
water might be killing your bacteria.

You don't mention filtration. If you have a filter are you cleaning
it every water change? The filter is a breeding ground for the good
bacteria so frequent changes of the filter may be defeating your
purpose.

I hope I have mentioned some areas for you to explore. It is hard to
solve other tanks' problems, each problem is unique. You may be doing
something you haven't mentioned. Your expectation may be too high.
So, I have asked questions that came to mind. If you provide more
information someone may get a new idea.

Good luck, I hope your tank gets to where you want it. I know the
first try is the hardest. By the way, why haven't you put in live
plants? They can be as interesting to watch grow as the fish. They
help in the natural cycling of waste and they provide safe haven for
fish that want it.


dick

[RedForeman ©®]

|| I have a 20 gallon tank set up with the following:
|| 5 Zebra Danio
|| 4 Black-Skirt Tetra
|| 3 Mollies
|| 3 Cory Panda Catfish
|| 1 Guppy (had 5, 4 died)

ok, first things first... it's a new tank, hasn't cycled, and you dumped
nearly your 'limit' of fish in....

|| The tank is a little over a month old now. At first the water was
|| clear. Now for the past three weeks the water has been cloudy. I
|| have been doing 20% water changes every day. Up to 50% when the
|| water gets really bad. It seems like the water clouds up over
|| night.

because your tank hasn't cycled, you're removing old waste and
re-introducing nutrients to it, which is causing the bacteria bloom... or
the normal cycle...

|| I have been adding Stress Zyme to the water. I have also tried "A"
|| Clear and "P" Clear from Nutrafin. These have no affect. It seems
|| like no matter what I do the water just remains cloudy.
||
|| Would I be better off doing a 100% water change? Not changing the
|| water at all and see what happens? Any other suggestions?

My suggestion is this.... Go to your LFS and get a handful of Anacharis,
Hornwort, Moneywort, Java Fern, or some kinds of plants to help suck up some
of the nasties in that tank... I'm sure your nitrAtes are sky high, and the
water is becoming toxic to the fish, which the plants will love....but
first, research the concept of cycling a tank... Hopefully, your fish will
make it, but chances are the only ones you'll end up with is the tetras if
they don't get ich... But first, STOP doing water changes... with that many
fish, you'll probably get thru your cycle faster, and hopefully the
mortality rate won't be too bad...



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