Extremely cloudy water. Cant fix, Help please?

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M

Maich

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 21, 2009
203
0
0
Redding, CA
Ok. To start off, its a 55 gallon long, aragonite sand, 2 HOB filters, 77 degreese, ph 8.2 and african cichlids. First off, it is NOT over stocked. Ok so... I woke up one morning and it was SUPER cloudy. couldint see the back anymore. I did a 50 percent water change, Looked for dead fish or anything decaying. Nothing... I dont over feed or anything, and its normally crystal clear. All the sudden this is happening. So, after the water change, i change filters etc, clean the sand and everything. Fine. So the next day. COMPLETELY CLOUDY AGAIN. I get some water clarifying stuff. Do a 70 percent water change, add the stuff. Looking nice and clear. Next day COMPLETELY CLOUDY! WTF IS GOING ON HERE!?!?? I am getting ready to do another water change... But i need some input.

FREAKING HELP ME!:nilly:

Edit: Oh yeah i forgot to add, this tank has been established for over 7 months now.
 
What kind of HOB filters? Color of the "cloudy water"? Sounds like a bacteria bloom
 
They are kind of cheap filters, but they work really well. I'm thinking of buying a good canister filter to add on too though. The cloudy water if i let it go to long turns yellowish, But normally just cloudy like dirty water kind of....
 
1. What were your water parameters?
2. African cichlids are freshwater fish. Why use aragonite?

I think that this is your problem i believe. I think that that stuff is alive and requires an absolute minimum salinity s.g of 1.003. Your "live" subtrate probably died, is decomposing and the bioload is too much for your bacteria colony to convert.

Take ammonia readings in addition to your regulay water parameters.
 
Its not the sand. Its not live sand either. Just crushed aragonite, Plus not to mention ive done plenty of research that says aragonite is best for africans, Because it raises the PH to about 8.2 naturally. Not to mention it says on the bag (MARINE & AFRICAN CICHLID AQUARIUMS) so yeah. The water conditions ill have to take down to petsmart, due to me not having any testing things left.

and i think ill try to add some activated charcoal, in a small bag in my HOB, we'll see what it does.
 
Maich;3971152; said:
Its not the sand. Its not live sand either. Just crushed aragonite, Plus not to mention ive done plenty of research that says aragonite is best for africans, Because it raises the PH to about 8.2 naturally. Not to mention it says on the bag (MARINE & AFRICAN CICHLID AQUARIUMS) so yeah. The water conditions ill have to take down to petsmart, due to me not having any testing things left.

and i think ill try to add some activated charcoal, in a small bag in my HOB, we'll see what it does.
Click to expand...

Why are you here? People are offering advice and you are arguing about everything that is said. A cloudy tank is only caused by a few things:
1) Algae bloom (usually this is a green cloudy though)
2) Decay, as said, your sand came to you with living things in it. They are now dead.
3) Bacteria bloom.
4) TOO many water changes.

Post all of your water parameters, I'll bet that the answer is there.
 
Thanks for all your replys guys. I did a 25 percent water change, added some water clarifyer, and about a pound of activated charcoal. Tada, 4 hours later. Absolutely crystal clear@ Thanks!
 
Don't get lonely.

It will come back soon enough.

Research bacterial bloom
 
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