Cloudy Water - Unable to solve

Frank Mamone

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Sep 23, 2002, 11:29:09 AM9/23/02

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I am unable to solve a cloudy water problem. It started a few weeks ago. I
believe it was after feeding some lettuce but hard to say if that's exactly
it.

When I use the AccuClear type products it works which tome indicates a
mechanical filtration problem. But the cloudiness returns after a couple of
days.

75G Tank with Eheim 2026 and AC500 sponge, charcoal and filter floss.
10 medium sized cichlids and 2 Petricola catfish
Ammonia, PH and Nitrates are in check.
25% Water Changes weekly w/Python
AquaPlus Tap Water Condtioner
African Cichlid Water Condtioner
CichlidVital vitaman supplement.

Fish are happy and all are trying to breed. Just the cloudiness when viewed
from the side.

The only thing I never did is remove all the rocks and gravel vacuum those
areas.

Thanks

Julia F

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Sep 23, 2002, 11:52:52 AM9/23/02

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"Frank Mamone" <frankm!nos...@canada.com> wrote in message
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It was probably something to do with the lettuce...
I got really cloudy water after trying to feed zuchinni slices to my
pl*co...
Maybe it's some kind of fertilizer they use when growing the vegetables...
Next time I'm going to try organic veggies and see if it makes a
difference...

Frank Mamone

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Sep 23, 2002, 7:16:54 PM9/23/02

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How did you finally clear it?

"Julia F" <cava...@nospamn.rr.com> wrote in message
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Frank Bayne

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Sep 23, 2002, 9:33:35 PM9/23/02

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What color cloudy (?) If it's milky color, it's a bacterial bloom and will
clear by it's self in a few days. Keep an eye on ammonia/nitrite levels -
being a bacterial bloom, your tank is going through a mini cycle... If it's
green cloudy, it's an algae bloom, and will keep getting greener. The cause
is too much light, or direct sunlite. The algae spores can be filtered out
with a diatom filter or micron cartridges. The spores can be killed with an
ultraviolet sterilizer or by adding a product called Acurel "E"... Adding
driftwood turns the water a golden yellow color, which can be removed by
adding carbon to your filter. Remove the wood and soak in a 5% bleach bath
untill the wood stops leaching..... Frank

"Frank Mamone" <frankm!nos...@canada.com> wrote in message
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Frank Mamone

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Sep 24, 2002, 9:48:01 AM9/24/02

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It is milky but if it was bacterial bloom would Accuclear clear it
temporarily?

Also, even after 5-6 day it's still cloudy.

"Frank Bayne" <frank...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
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Frank Bayne

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Sep 25, 2002, 12:43:39 AM9/25/02

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I have never used, nor can I tell you anything about Accuclear... Milky
color water (bacterial bloom) is caused by over feeding (more fish waste),
uneaten foods, or a dead fish in the tank, all an ammonia sorce - bacteria
food. As the ammonia/nitrite levels drop, your tank will start to clear. If
your tank has already went through a nitrogen cycle, then this is just a
mini cycle. Although ammonia/nitrite levels can get quite high in a mini
cycle, mini cycles are short lived - a week or so....... Frank

"Frank Mamone" <frankm!nos...@canada.com> wrote in message

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Julia F

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Sep 25, 2002, 10:00:56 AM9/25/02

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"Frank Mamone" <frankm...@canada.com> wrote in message
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> How did you finally clear it?
>
>

I did 20% water changes daily...
I have an Aquaclear filter, and I put one of those ammo-lock cartridges in
the filter...
took about three days for the water to clear up...

from reading what other people have said...I think it might have been from
the uneaten zuchinni causing a nitrite spike.
(although I only left the zuchinni in overnight and removed the uneaten part
he next morning..)
Now I really have no idea what caused it..

Daniel Wilkie

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Sep 30, 2002, 4:03:31 PM9/30/02

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Ive just started up a new tank on Sunday night and the water was cloudy, It
has cleared a little but its still there.

Maybe once its cleared up I will take a trip to buy some hardy fish as a
test for the tank.If all goes well im going after my male betta and female
bettas :-)

Daniel

"Julia F" <cava...@nospamn.rr.com> wrote in message

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SAUDIBOUND

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Sep 30, 2002, 4:32:11 PM9/30/02

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>If all goes well im going after my male betta and female
>bettas :-)

Hopefully not in the same tank! Males can't really be kept with females
long-term. They get sort of 'frustrated' when they can't mate with the females,
and shred them up trying to mate with them anyway.

Try several females in the tank - or one male. ^.^

If you're really set on a male and females, make sure there are PLENTY of
hiding spots for the femmes - males can't get about as well because of their
long fins.

Daniel Wilkie

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Sep 30, 2002, 4:47:41 PM9/30/02

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> Hopefully not in the same tank! Males can't really be kept with females
> long-term. They get sort of 'frustrated' when they can't mate with the
females,
> and shred them up trying to mate with them anyway.
>
> Try several females in the tank - or one male. ^.^
>
> If you're really set on a male and females, make sure there are PLENTY of
> hiding spots for the femmes - males can't get about as well because of
their
> long fins.

I have noticed that in a friends tank but im planing on a few hiding places
for them, If i could I would have a tank full of males only :-)

Daniel

Frank Bayne

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Sep 30, 2002, 11:10:32 PM9/30/02

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You might also think about doing a fishless cycle - saves a lot of work
(water changes) and mabe a few fish..... Frank

"Daniel Wilkie" <daniel...@virgin.net> wrote in message
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Daniel Wilkie

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Oct 1, 2002, 12:33:49 PM10/1/02

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Im leaving it for a week or 2 to settle a little, Its just slightly cloudy
now so hoping by tommorow it will be clear.

Daniel

"Frank Bayne" <frank...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

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pausto

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Oct 1, 2002, 5:13:56 PM10/1/02

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Dudes,
I just came out of the same experience this week, milky water. I am
new at this so I don't have great answers, but i can say, my tank did
clear up after over 3 weeks had passed, then bang... overnight clear!
My tank is in the basement and the lights only run 4 hours a day
(java moss barely grows here). I reduced the food, and did a 30% water
change twice a week, on my 10 gal/us tank. There was a light flocking,
of something, on the Java Moss, with an ever so slightly slightly pink
or salmon cast to it, I am guessing it is related. This is subsiding
but hasn't completely cleared.
My tank houses (3) 2inch Clown Loaches (6) 1 inch Neon Tetra, one 1
1/4 inch Cory (2 passed a way, before the milky, the clowns and the
tetras) 10 ghost shrimp, or so, on and off.
Interestingly the fish behavior doesn't seem to be any different
with or with out the milky.
My tank started with (1) Betta we received for Xmas (He passed away
in July). corys were added in Feb., but one passed while fighting ick
in Jun (there is sooo much to learn in the early stages). So I cant
yet really say that I have properly served a single fish well, except
for my 5 year old gold fish in the patio pond.

Paul,
Aquarium keeper since xmass 2002. But hey, It's nice to be young at
SOMETHING.

Bonehead

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Dec 24, 2002, 6:10:23 PM12/24/02

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If you just set up the tank a few days ago, then you are
probably experiencing your first bacteria bloom. That
happens with all new tanks. Do a web search for it.
You'll find a good deal of articles on it.