newbie - cloudiness - help

Hi, I setup a new tank 2 weeks ago.

15gal tall glass (13X13X18)
Aqua clear 150 power filter w/ foam, carbon, and ammonia filters (3 total)
aqarium gravel
mix of plastic, fabric aquarium plants (5)

fish:
6 rosey barbs (1/2 - 3/4 in)
6 tiger barbs (1")
1 tin foil barb (2")
1 barb ? (looks a lot like goldfish with a spot by tail) (1 1/2")
1 rainbow shark (3")
4 albino shark (1 1/2") I know - didn't know they were same shark species
in a dif color)
1 algae eater (2")
1 crayfish (4")
1 apple snail (2")
(What happens when the pet store guys says, "yeah, your tank is goos for
those fish")

The tank wont clear up.
Been back and forth to the pet store and tried a few things.
At first they said the tanks was just cycling (a bloom). Then after a week
I brought water samples in every day and they tested and said water was
fine, still just initializing, but to try a clear cloudy additive (drops).
Then two days later they sold me a fizzing tablet, turned the water purple.
A few days ago, fish started dying (one each day for 3 days) water still
tested "fine, but amonia a little high", and they had me buy a gravel vacuum
and vacuum the gravel. The yesterday they told me to add an amonia lock to
the water. The fish have stopped dying but the water is more cloudy than
ever.

During the course of all this, I have done 3 ~10% water changes and rinsed
my filter filters (in removed aquarium water). I also add a dechlorinator
and dechloriminator to the new water.

I am so frustrated (in addition to being broke)! Oh yeah I bought two test
kits, one for amonia and one for everything else). Water tests a little
high in Amonia and a little high in nitrites. All else ok by the charts.

What is wrong? If nothing is wrong, how long does initializing take? ANY
help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks
Bud

You have an overload of fish for your tank. The general consensus of 1 inch
per gallon has been exceeded. Twenty fish in that small tank is overkill
Chuck. My suggestion is that either you buy another larger tank ASAP or
take most of those fish back to the LFS. Do you know that the Tinfoil Barb
will become huge? I think they grow up to a foot long or more.

Suggestion: Keep the rosy barbs and get rid of everything else. That would
help on the bioload for the tank. You can't NOT cycle your tank. The
options are with fish or fishless. I'd advise that you read up on the
nitrogen cycle at http://www.thekrib.com/.


"Chuck" wrote in message
...
Hi, I setup a new tank 2 weeks ago.

15gal tall glass (13X13X18)
Aqua clear 150 power filter w/ foam, carbon, and ammonia filters (3 total)
aqarium gravel
mix of plastic, fabric aquarium plants (5)

fish:
6 rosey barbs (1/2 - 3/4 in)
6 tiger barbs (1")
1 tin foil barb (2")
1 barb ? (looks a lot like goldfish with a spot by tail) (1 1/2")
1 rainbow shark (3")
4 albino shark (1 1/2") I know - didn't know they were same shark species
in a dif color)
1 algae eater (2")
1 crayfish (4")
1 apple snail (2")
(What happens when the pet store guys says, "yeah, your tank is goos for
those fish")

The tank wont clear up.
Been back and forth to the pet store and tried a few things.
At first they said the tanks was just cycling (a bloom). Then after a
week
I brought water samples in every day and they tested and said water was
fine, still just initializing, but to try a clear cloudy additive
(drops).
Then two days later they sold me a fizzing tablet, turned the water
purple.
A few days ago, fish started dying (one each day for 3 days) water still
tested "fine, but amonia a little high", and they had me buy a gravel
vacuum
and vacuum the gravel. The yesterday they told me to add an amonia lock
to
the water. The fish have stopped dying but the water is more cloudy than
ever.

During the course of all this, I have done 3 ~10% water changes and rinsed
my filter filters (in removed aquarium water). I also add a dechlorinator
and dechloriminator to the new water.

I am so frustrated (in addition to being broke)! Oh yeah I bought two
test
kits, one for amonia and one for everything else). Water tests a little
high in Amonia and a little high in nitrites. All else ok by the charts.

What is wrong? If nothing is wrong, how long does initializing take? ANY
help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks
Bud

I agree, FISH OVER LOAD! At this point once you rid yourself of
the excess fish, you may need to start the initial cycle process
from scratch with fresh water. No telling how long it would take
for water that dirty to cycle.

First, STOP SEEING YOUR CURRENT SALESMAN! It's apparent he has
no clue what to do. His only interst is to sell you things.

Visit these links for more info:

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin.html
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

It will give you a very good idea what you need to do. Be sure
you rid the water of Chlorine BEFORE the fish swim in it and buy
yourself some test kits for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

Mark