He wrote all his filtration in one of the posts above but your best bet is to create a new thread asking for advice as people answering your question would derail his thread and can prevent him from getting the help he needs.
help! water gone mega cloudy (with video)!!!
- Thread starter justarn
- Start date
right, the powerhead is now splashing around, as are the fx5 outlets and the airpump has been running all along. my temperature drops when i water change anyhow its creeping back up to my usual 26 deg at the moment at 24-25...
there are planarian worms on the glass too!! ive never noticed that before? also a film development at the surface!?
there are planarian worms on the glass too!! ive never noticed that before? also a film development at the surface!?
That would create the same issue sending people from this thread to yours. I'll head over there in a bit though and see about helping you out though.
Keep your hood open to also help with the gas exchange. The film is another reason for the fish gasping, it's hindering the gas exchange but the turbulence you added with the splashing will help break it and stop it from covering the surface. Don't bother lowering the heater just yet as opening the top and the extra surface agitation may lower the temp anyway. Can you think of anything that might've caused the film? Such as feeding excessive amounts of fish fillet which has oil in it? I believe you had a Black Devil Cat in there right? Perhaps the food you fed him let off fish oil that has collected at the surface. Or do you smoke? Smoking can also cause a film on the surface of the water.
As for the planaria they're usually around because of over feeding, they exist in water much like algae but break out when they have a plentiful food source. Your tank uses tiles as substrate correct? If so do you lift them up to clean under them? Remember even waste can be a food source especially if you're feeding a high protein and fat diet. The excess fat and protein that the fish can't absorb gets passed in their waste. Younger fish need high protein and fat and so do breeding fish but an adult fish not under such rigors doesn't need such foods.
If you follow what I said before you'll definitely help eliminate their food source as the bacteria will eat up the excess and the filter pads will collect the waste and planaria makining them easy to rid yourself of. Though it will take some time.
i just thought of the cats, the water movement does often wash their pellets under the rocks yes, i will cut right back on feeding for a week or so until this sorts itself out then try to feed less on a whole... i often feed the fish whole mussel and prawn and all the fish are large so im guessing alot gets lost. there was no film before today, i/we dont smoke. the water from the loft tank is cold aswell btw. wouldnt be anything in that tank surely, thats crossed my mind?
my tank has a 20mm base made up of two layers of 10mm glass, the top one sits inside the sides creating a flat bottom tank. ive lifted the tiles twice in the past to find little to no waste but admittedly i havent lifted them for months.
im convinced the bloom is bacterial, i read Heterotrophic Bacteria can reproduce in 15min surely this is the most likely cause of the bloom with how quickly it came on?
here i had an interesting read http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/246850-bacterial-blooms-explained/
can these worms multiply that fast and cloud the water like this? are they present in all tanks to a degree?
my tank has a 20mm base made up of two layers of 10mm glass, the top one sits inside the sides creating a flat bottom tank. ive lifted the tiles twice in the past to find little to no waste but admittedly i havent lifted them for months.
im convinced the bloom is bacterial, i read Heterotrophic Bacteria can reproduce in 15min surely this is the most likely cause of the bloom with how quickly it came on?
here i had an interesting read http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/246850-bacterial-blooms-explained/
can these worms multiply that fast and cloud the water like this? are they present in all tanks to a degree?
I agree that's most likely the cause so adding the filter pads and extra rings will help establish a better foundation for the bacteria and prevent such outbreaks from occurring during water changes. Planaria are found in most sitting water and are both sexual and asexual making for very fast reproduction but no where near as fast as bacteria. They already must've had a hold in the filter and during the water change got flushed out into the open. Usually they don't cloud the water and aren't dangerous to fish except breeding fish where planaria might attack eggs.
I had the same thing happen one time. Ended up being and algae bloom. Not saying this is happening to you but more than likely it is.
Mine took almost to months to go away. Reg water changes didn't make a difference either. It seemed to make it worse.
If you are not using filtered water, that can add to the problem.
I agree with adding in more ceramics to your filter. You can also use bio-balls in the Fx5. I do and they work just as good as the ceramics. Just don't put them on the top tray. Only the middle and bottom. Id also maybe up your filtration with another Fx5. Always better to over filter.
When cleaning out your filters, don't do them at the same time. Just clean one, then leave the other alone. Then the next month, do the other filter. Cleaning them both at the same time kills all your good bacteria. I run 3 Fx5's on my 360 gallon. I have a high bio load and believe in over filtering.
But I only clean one filter one month, second the next month and third the 3rd month.. This makes sure I don't kill off the good bacteria in the filter system.
Also, If Im right, you have a drip system to change your water as well as do reg water changes? If that is the case, you are def not letting your good bacteria settle in. So Id cut back on your water changes if you are also doing a drip system. Just do it once a month. Let your drip system do the work.
Maybe even cut back on your lighting schedule also.
Mine took almost to months to go away. Reg water changes didn't make a difference either. It seemed to make it worse.
If you are not using filtered water, that can add to the problem.
I agree with adding in more ceramics to your filter. You can also use bio-balls in the Fx5. I do and they work just as good as the ceramics. Just don't put them on the top tray. Only the middle and bottom. Id also maybe up your filtration with another Fx5. Always better to over filter.
When cleaning out your filters, don't do them at the same time. Just clean one, then leave the other alone. Then the next month, do the other filter. Cleaning them both at the same time kills all your good bacteria. I run 3 Fx5's on my 360 gallon. I have a high bio load and believe in over filtering.
But I only clean one filter one month, second the next month and third the 3rd month.. This makes sure I don't kill off the good bacteria in the filter system.
Also, If Im right, you have a drip system to change your water as well as do reg water changes? If that is the case, you are def not letting your good bacteria settle in. So Id cut back on your water changes if you are also doing a drip system. Just do it once a month. Let your drip system do the work.
Maybe even cut back on your lighting schedule also.
