Dirty/Stagnant Water

[nzafi]

I recently setup a 75 gallon in my bedroom. I had issues with the FX5 making a ton of noise and did not have time to fix it until recently. Essentially, I shut the filter off and left the water in the tank for about 1 week. Also, I live in an apartment so I did my best with rinsing the gravel and using paper towels to clean the inside of the tank. End result is that the water is a bit cloudy and when I look at the top of the water there is a "dirty" sheen to it.

I got the FX5 up and running last night and was thinking of putting some polishing pads and fine filter pads in it to help clean the water. I am guessing that there was some left over dust in the rocks/tank from before.

Any thoughts on how to remedy this? If need be, I can drain the tank, but not sure if that would really help. Currently there are no fish in the tank.

 

[joe jaskot]

To remove the film on the surface of the water, turn off the filter. Lay a sheet of newspaper on the surface. The paper will absorb the oily film. May have to do this a few times to remove it all.

 

[Jokaleijo]

Or you can point the power head filter at the surface breaking the surface tension mixing the film with the water, and letting the filter eat the film

 

[KAWAMIKIE]

After you stir it up do a water change.

 

[Chicxulub]

Get a filter that has micron filtration like a Magnum 350 and use it for water polishing. I've done this to great effect.