Cloudy Water

[arkmann]

I set-up a 29 gallon tank last Sunday. It currently has cloudy water. Basically, its a tank that I got off a member here and I set it up with my Penguin 250 with the bio-wheels that were in my Penguin 250 that is in use in my 100 gallon. It currently has cloudy water.

I have a diatom filter, should I go ahead and use it?

Should I sweat it out and let it clear by itself?

Do a water change?

Should I be worried? Its housing my ray and its the only inhabitant. It's also my prized fish.

It doesn't get direct sunlight either.

Thanks!

 

[Tommydeal]

I would be worried if it had my precious ray in it. Looks like it's going through a mini-cycle. Did you use water from an established tank to get this one going? What kind of substrate is in this tank and was is thouroughly washed? If you have another established filter you can run on this tank, that would be ideal. If you do a big water change right now, you might just prolong the mini-cycle, if that is in fact what's happening. So if you do a water change, you should use water from another established tank.

 

[arkmann]

I would be worried if it had my precious ray in it. Looks like it's going through a mini-cycle. Did you use water from an established tank to get this one going? What kind of substrate is in this tank and was is thouroughly washed? If you have another established filter you can run on this tank, that would be ideal. If you do a big water change right now, you might just prolong the mini-cycle, if that is in fact what's happening. So if you do a water change, you should use water from another established tank.

You took the words out of my mouth. When I set-up the tank. I used 60% of the water from the 100 gallon where the ray was previously housed. 40% was from tap, dechlorinated of course. Like I mentioned in the first post. I took the bio-wheel from the Penguin 250 that was used in the 100 gallon and set it up in the Penguin 250 that I am using on the 29 gallon tank.

Bare bottom on this one. I set-up the tank on Sunday.

Its not like its super cloudy, its just a tad cloud for my own preference. Let me take a quick snapshot...

 

[arkmann]

What do you guys think? Its also glass so compared to the acrylic tank on the left, its not that clear.

 

[Tommydeal]

Apparently there is not enough BB in the biowheel and water alone, otherwise the tank would not be cloudy. It looks like a very minor bacterial bloom. My prediction is that this will be over in 2 or 3 days even if you do nothing. I would be a little worried about the ray (motoro?). Did you test the water? You might have to add another established filter or do frequent waterchanges with the water from the established tank until it clears up.

 

[West1]

Big dogg!!! Aside from your post, you should look into getting a cover for your heater. Those fish are heater prone and will get burned as they look for food. Looks like a black one and I think you want to keep him in top notch. Just my 2 cents

 

[arkmann]

Apparently there is not enough BB in the biowheel and water alone, otherwise the tank would not be cloudy. It looks like a very minor bacterial bloom. My prediction is that this will be over in 2 or 3 days even if you do nothing. I would be a little worried about the ray (motoro?). Did you test the water? You might have to add another established filter or do frequent waterchanges with the water from the established tank until it clears up.

I haven't checked my water parameters in 2 years. I just do my regular weekly 50% water changes. Also, I don't think I can add another seeded filter because I am out of filters.

Should I do a water change later today? How much of a water change? Should I just wait it out?

Big dogg!!! Aside from your post, you should look into getting a cover for your heater. Those fish are heater prone and will get burned as they look for food. Looks like a black one and I think you want to keep him in top notch. Just my 2 cents

Thanks bro! I will definitely get a heater guard later today after work. Keeping him top notch is the plan. He has gained some girth since I got him and I think her diameter has grown at least .5" The reason I had to transfer her to the 29 gallon was because now, everyone in the 100 gallon are eating black worms. If you look at the photos above, those STs are much bigger than her.

She's a black one by the way

 

[Tommydeal]

I would do a waterchange today but no more than a 20% for now. Otherwise I'd say yes, wait it out but keep a close eye on the ray.

 

[West1]

Thanks bro! I will definitely get a heater guard later today after work. Keeping him top notch is the plan. He has gained some girth since I got him and I think her diameter has grown at least .5" The reason I had to transfer her to the 29 gallon was because now, everyone in the 100 gallon are eating black worms. If you look at the photos above, those STs are much bigger than her.

She's a black one by the way [/quote]

Personally, Id do a 25% H2o change daily. Rays piss A LOT!!!!!!!!
and that will make your params go crazy.
Snag some spunges from the other canisters and stuff it somewhere of the flow of water. Inside the Hang on or even where the water comes out from. Just something to get the BB moving faster and a must is Salt. That lil guy is going to be swimming in a lot of his own piss and amonia might go up leading to his lungs........ salt will help him on the negative part but it will also slow down the growing BB. Id rather have it that way...JMO

 

[West1]

I haven't checked my water parameters in 2 years.

I dont realy check either but with a Leo and a pup, you better play man to man coverage on those Params big dogg. Especially with that size tank he is in....JMO

Honestly I dont think you should worry about anything.
When I usually get a new tank, I let it sit with no water for a min 48hrs to kill off what ever was in the tank before and wipe the tank down real good.
Then do what you did with some water and a filter from an established tank then tap water and add prime to the amount of water in the tank.

I think as long as the lil guy is eating and acting normal... no signs of ribs or death curl, you should be all good.

Just speaking out loud, if you have a HOB overflow, hook it up and toss a powerhead in the 29gl and use it like a mini sump/temp tank. This way you dont have 30 diff tanks of fish that will end up in the same tank anyway.
Thats my plan with my 300gl, to add a 100gl under it as both sump/grow out tank