Cycling questions
- Thread starter nighthawk2207
- Start date
ok so my water gets cloudy, i have alge, an my tank isn't cycled great..... i think its impossible for my tank to cycle but i dont know what im doing wrong or what im missing....
Give us more detail and maybe we can help you...
What is your ammonia source? and how much is being added (if added manually)?
How long have you been waiting?
What are your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings?
What is your ammonia source? and how much is being added (if added manually)?
How long have you been waiting?
What are your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate readings?
nighthawk2207;3283585; said:
have u tested ur water? thats really the only way u can know for sure. if ur water is milky then ur tank may be going through a step of the cycle.
if ur tank is green/brown then ur doing something wrong..
unless its caused by tannins from driftwood.. that's different and is acceptable
the tank gets cloudy (hazy??) i have fish in there already, i guess that would be a ammonia source? an i dont have that good of a test kit yet i only have one that checks ph. an i have been waiting since christmas when I got the tank an set it up. I have a rena xp3 an its a 75 gallon i just took the measurements i thot it was a 90 but its a 75.
Fish are definitely an ammonia source 
How many and of what sized fish do you have?
The only way to know if the tank is cycled is to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Especially in the beginning stages of fish keeping these tests are essential.
How long have the fish been in the tank?
If the fish have been in since Christmas, then the tank should be cycled Although simply putting a handful of fish in an uncycled tank in the beginning was putting the fishs life at risk and has probably done permanent damage to them.
Algae is fairly common and could be due to a number of reasons how often do you do water changes? By water changes I mean drain water from the tank and replace it, not just top off evaporation
Algae blooms are usually the result of an abundant food source for the algae, and algae eat waste. So high nitrates or phosphates are a common cause, but so is natural sunlight or excessive artificial sunlight. If you have waste built up then water changes will likely reduce algae growth
I hope this does not sound rude and its a common mistake/suggestion but I suggest you find and read some articles about the basics of fish keeping. You have a nice sized tank so theres no reason not to do a little reading and make the most of it
How many and of what sized fish do you have?
The only way to know if the tank is cycled is to test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Especially in the beginning stages of fish keeping these tests are essential.
How long have the fish been in the tank?
If the fish have been in since Christmas, then the tank should be cycled Although simply putting a handful of fish in an uncycled tank in the beginning was putting the fishs life at risk and has probably done permanent damage to them.
Algae is fairly common and could be due to a number of reasons how often do you do water changes? By water changes I mean drain water from the tank and replace it, not just top off evaporation
Algae blooms are usually the result of an abundant food source for the algae, and algae eat waste. So high nitrates or phosphates are a common cause, but so is natural sunlight or excessive artificial sunlight. If you have waste built up then water changes will likely reduce algae growth
I hope this does not sound rude and its a common mistake/suggestion but I suggest you find and read some articles about the basics of fish keeping. You have a nice sized tank so theres no reason not to do a little reading and make the most of it