Cloudy water problems

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The tank is not cycled if he removed the filter, and therefore having a bacterial bloom he is restarting the ammonia-nitrate cycle (op stated there was .25 ammonia present). There is not enough BB in the tank alone to keep up with the Ammonia and waste levels in most aquariums which is why we get filters to assist. When you removed the filters you removed an substantial amount of beneficial bacteria, enough to cause a bloom in your tank, which can kill off existing beneficial bacteria due to low oxygen etc.

Here is something for you to read to help you understand bacteria blooms. http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/246850-bacterial-blooms-explained/ the link is more directed toward having too much waste in the aquarium, but that can be caused by the bacteria needed to break it down has been removed and there is an increase of waste.
 
That's what I figured. It usually don't take this long to cycle. I rinsed the filter unit out a few days ago with old tank water. Should I just leave it until it has finished cycling?

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Yes you will have to, i wouldn't clean the filter anymore since its just doing harm to the BB, do you know anyone that has some used filter media they can spare you, the brown gunk from filters is loaded with BB and if you can get some and deposit it in your fx5 it will help with the bloom and the cycle, sometimes if you ask your lfs they will give or even sell you pieces of filter with established BB on it (this is called Seeding). If you have some spare cash you can get some products like Seachem's Stability which will help get your BB levels up. I would also add some ammonia detoxifier because any amount of ammonia in a tank is toxic to fish etc, and a bubbler etc for extra oxygen
 
Ill just leave it in there then. i did soak the bio rings and pads with stress zyme both times i have had it open so far. now because it is brackish, sg. 1.010, should i be using a different kind more towards the marine side of things? I know the bb is different between fresh and salt. Being in between, i never know what to buy for stuff like that.
 
thats fine for brackish, I would still try find some "seeded" filter media for your aquarium or it will be taking a long time to clear up the water.
 
Sounds like a typical bacterial bloom started when the new filter was added a created a new mini cycle.
Just curious, how long has the tank been set up (since day 1), and how crowded is it?
 
I had this happen to me when I sold my 2 Fluval 305s and waited 2 weeks till I got my other FX5.I still had one FX5 running and when I added the new FX5 my water had a green tint to it for awhile.It finally cleared up but it did take about a month.
 
Depending on bio load and tank size it could easily take longer than the 2 weeks thus far to finish the mini-cycle your tank is going through, especially since the filter and media were cleaned to new condition. I would just maintain your regular water changes (weekly) and give it time. Monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels and your fish behavior. If there are signs of a problem, do an additional water change or more as needed, but if your parameters are stable they will continue to get better
 
If it was set up since Nov it was cycled, but by switching out the substrate and and filter media all at once, you created a situation where the normal cycle was compromised, and then adding new fish compounded the problem. You may need to do daily or every other day water changes to dilute the ammonia and nitrite until it's fully cycled again. Don't vacuum every other day, simply remove enough enough water to dilute ammonia buildup.
 
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