Cloudy Water + Smell?

[deeda]

My answers are posted in Red font.

yes, there are fish in the tank (though, now i kind of wish i had a better understanding of all this before i started, i would have done a fishless cycle)... the tank gets some decent daylight on 1 side. I also have 2 plants in the tank.

How many fish and what kind are they? Does the tank get enough sunlight to heat the water up? What is your water temperature now?

do i need to be concerned about the fish as long as the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels stay low and the ph stays around 7? Ammonia can be fatal to your fish and the only safe level is Zero. Nitrite level should also be Zero. What are you using to test your water parameters? they appear to be fine/happy.

as long as i keep a watchful eye on everything and do frequent water changes will everything be ok? You will have to keep up with daily water changes until your tank is properly cycled. Don't forget to properly treat your fresh water with the appropriate water conditioner for your tap water conditions.

also, i'm picking up a fluval fx5... i don't really like the HOB filter. i may keep it in addition to the fx5 for the circulation.

 

[joeg]

How many fish and what kind are they? Does the tank get enough sunlight to heat the water up? What is your water temperature now?
I have a heater in the tank, water temp has been consistantly between 79 and 80 degrees. I have a mix of fish, nothing too fancy... guppies, danios, tetras, platys. There's probably too many fish. My big mistake was starting this project in a PetSmart before i found this site... the guy i talked to there never mentioned cycling the tank first... he just said let it run for a couple days then add fish. I didn't know ANYTHING about aquariums at that point (the last 2 weeks have been a crash course).

Ammonia can be fatal to your fish and the only safe level is Zero. Nitrite level should also be Zero. What are you using to test your water parameters?
I have seachem Ammonia & PH in-tank monitors:
http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Ammo...QSLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311701656&sr=8-1

I also have separate PH test strips and tonight i should have an api freshwater master test kit waiting for me in the mail.

You will have to keep up with daily water changes until your tank is properly cycled. Don't forget to properly treat your fresh water with the appropriate water conditioner for your tap water conditions.
i've been using Seachem Prime. How will i know when the tank is properly cycled and i can stop doing daily water changes?


thank you guys so much for the help... what a mess it is when you get bad information up front.