CLOUDY WATER PROBLEM

[RadleyMiller]

if 50% is what you normally do on a weekly baisis..its too much...
try a 10-15% water change 1x a week, if not everyother week...
your not giving the good bacteria enough time to establish, and esentially almost starting over everytime. 4months espeically if you've been doing 50% changes has not been enough time to properly cycle/establish the tank...
when doing a change you can add some "prime" or "stablility" made by seachem...should help keep all your levels in check...
when doing water changes, if you do weekly, pick 1 half of the tank to work on. week 1, compeltely overhaul and thouroughly clean the right half. then week 2, don't touch the right half, but do everything to the left half, and keep working back and forth...its worked wonders for both all of my tanks, and most everyone else I know who uses this method

Ummm is there an I Disagree emoticon?

Doing a 50% water change is not going to effect a cylced tank because in a cycled tank, there is not detectable ammonia or nitrite so doing water changes isn't going to affect them. On another thread, we discussed how they can survive without food for a while. Gravel washing 1/2 and 1/2 is for UGFs becuase you don't want to upset the bacteria. With a tank with HOBs, sponges, canisters, or sumps with w/ds gravel washing everything is fine. Also, Prime is just a detoxyifier so it won't do anything for a cycle.

 

[Bderick67]

Sorry my reading of your original post I neglected to read the last line. Definitly sounds like algae bloom. Could go with API brand "Algae Destroyer" I have had sucess with it.

I agree with DR. Joe.... can't go wrong with UV strelizer.

RM would this one work for your "I disagree emotionacon thinggymagigger"

 

[Dr Joe]

lights are on about about 8 hours a day 1 hour in morning then turned on a three pm till 11 pm would a uv sterilizer work better than a diatom filter where can you get a uv sterilizer for $25 to $35 thanks

Petsmart http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...6&itemNo=11&Ntt=uv&In=All&previousText=uv&N=2


Try breaking up the lighting cycle in the PM.

And no to the diatom, they do different things..tho using both will clean up the water faster; UV kills algae and diaton filters dead algae out of the water.

Hang in there with your water changes unless you go the chemical route (obviously).

Be careful with chemicals and do your homework before you use them, because of water chemistry and different bio-loads everyone has different results. Make sure your fish can handle it. And plants too if you have them (sensitivity probs).

Keep us posted on what you decide and the results, and questions just ask.

Dr Joe

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[CHOMPERS]

No one mentioned it but this is worth mentioning just in case... When you do your water changes, are you cleaning the filters and bio-media? That can cause cloud ups if benificial bacteria levels are reduced below the needed levels.

 

[Dr Joe]

No one mentioned it but this is worth mentioning just in case... When you do your water changes, are you cleaning the filters and bio-media? That can cause cloud ups if benificial bacteria levels are reduced below the needed levels.

Touche'

So very true. Could be the whole prob right there.

K.I.S.S.

How about it mikenjo?

Dr Joe

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[mikenjo]

Touche'

So very true. Could be the whole prob right there.

K.I.S.S.

How about it mikenjo?

Dr Joe

.

i clean one filter once a month in water from the tank not touching biomedia at all very careful not to use tap water lightly rinsing sponges from ac110 in tank water i never clean both at the same time right now covering the tank for a few days to slow growth of algaeand looking into inexpensive uv sterilizer thanks for all the help so far will have more questions m sure do not want to go chemical route

 

[mikenjo]

just purchased in tank uv sterilizer from petsmart for $29.99
has anyone used this unit will post results once i recieve it 3-5 days see link from dr joe

 

[RadleyMiller]

just purchased in tank uv sterilizer from petsmart for $29.99
has anyone used this unit will post results once i recieve it 3-5 days see link from dr joe

I haven't, but I want to retract my recommendation of the Diatom filter. Mine leaks and luckily I had my drip pan in place, otherwise, water would have been everywhere. UV is much better, I may need to pick one up as well.

 

[rhinod56]

please do keep us informed on the 29.95 uv filter...
I have always wanted one, but on a medium (what I consider medium tank) would rather save the money and invest in a larger tank. but at 30 bucks even I'd go with UV....
thought about the cheap jag uv units from ebay, but have heard lots of stories about missing parts, and or leaking...

 

[wizzin]

sorry this is slightly off topic, but that JD is the nicest one I've seen (your avatar)