Cloudy fish tank??
06 February 2005, 11:52 PM
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Cloudy fish tank??
I bought an 'Elite system 3' fish tank from 'Pets at Home' and I am having some probs. I made sure that I filled the tank 1 week before putting any fish in it. Have 2 gold fish and I can't work out how to get the water clear. The filter seems to be working but its all gone a bit, well, hazy! A bit new to this as you can probably tell.
Any help much appreciated.
Chris
Any help much appreciated.
Chris
06 February 2005, 11:58 PM
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So its cold water with ya havin goldfish in?
How big is the tank?
What kinda filters do you have(under gravel and power ??)
Was it cloudy from day 1 or just since you introduced the fish?
Dont over feed?
Is it near a window?do ya have any false lighting for the tank?
Could be a few things,not really well up on cold water,tropical is my thing but yours should be easy enough to sort out.
How big is the tank?
What kinda filters do you have(under gravel and power ??)
Was it cloudy from day 1 or just since you introduced the fish?
Dont over feed?
Is it near a window?do ya have any false lighting for the tank?
Could be a few things,not really well up on cold water,tropical is my thing but yours should be easy enough to sort out.
07 February 2005, 08:26 AM
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Do you have the small filter pad between the two main filter elements. Think i have the system 2, is it the black one with filter housing at the bottom you pull off and split.
Two types of small filter pad you can add between the main elements, one is charcoal based the other is a white ultra fine type.
I find either will help to clean the tank, but make sure you don't change all three at the same time.
Two types of small filter pad you can add between the main elements, one is charcoal based the other is a white ultra fine type.
I find either will help to clean the tank, but make sure you don't change all three at the same time.
07 February 2005, 08:33 AM
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How long have the fish been in?
Cloudy water in the early stages (first 6 weeks) is normal and almost always due to heterotrophic bacteria feeding on nutrients in the water column. They multiply rapidly until they become so numerous the water gets hazy. This will persist until the nutrients they are feeding on are exhausted and the water parameters become balanced when you have a good culture of nitrifiying bacteria in your filter.
Don't be tempted to change any water or clean the filter because by doing so you will only prolong the process. ONLY do a water change if ammonia or nitrite levels become dangerously high. You can buy test kits relatively cheaply at most aquatic stores to test for both of these. Ideally you should test pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
In my experience the water usually goes cloudy in the first week and persists for up to 3 weeks. Ammonia usually spikes after the first two weeks and then goes down, followed by a spike in nitrites which can persist for for a couple of weeks. Only when ammonia and nitrite are back to zero can you consider the tank cycled and can begin your normal water change routine.
Cloudy water in the early stages (first 6 weeks) is normal and almost always due to heterotrophic bacteria feeding on nutrients in the water column. They multiply rapidly until they become so numerous the water gets hazy. This will persist until the nutrients they are feeding on are exhausted and the water parameters become balanced when you have a good culture of nitrifiying bacteria in your filter.
Don't be tempted to change any water or clean the filter because by doing so you will only prolong the process. ONLY do a water change if ammonia or nitrite levels become dangerously high. You can buy test kits relatively cheaply at most aquatic stores to test for both of these. Ideally you should test pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
In my experience the water usually goes cloudy in the first week and persists for up to 3 weeks. Ammonia usually spikes after the first two weeks and then goes down, followed by a spike in nitrites which can persist for for a couple of weeks. Only when ammonia and nitrite are back to zero can you consider the tank cycled and can begin your normal water change routine.
Last edited by ajm; 07 February 2005 at 08:35 AM.
07 February 2005, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by ajm
How long have the fish been in?
Don't be tempted to change any water or clean the filter because by doing so you will only prolong the process. ONLY do a water change if ammonia or nitrite levels become dangerously high. You can buy test kits relatively cheaply at most aquatic stores to test for both of these. Ideally you should test pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
Don't be tempted to change any water or clean the filter because by doing so you will only prolong the process. ONLY do a water change if ammonia or nitrite levels become dangerously high. You can buy test kits relatively cheaply at most aquatic stores to test for both of these. Ideally you should test pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
True very true,
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