How to get rid of cloudy water??
- Thread starter steemoney86
- Start date
Possibly under filtered. As stated before, add carbon and do frequent water changes during this first cycle.
If you used unrinsed sand for substrate, that maybe the problem. The whisper filter may not be fine enough to polish the water. Will clear in time with water changes.
If you used unrinsed sand for substrate, that maybe the problem. The whisper filter may not be fine enough to polish the water. Will clear in time with water changes.
There should be a pinned thread that reads.
"WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A CLOUDY TANK OR ALGAE BLOOM WHILE CYCLING"
The answer........nothing.
The tank is out of balance because it is cycling. Leave it alone and the tank will hopefully swing into balance as the cycle ends.
also, don't do water changes while cycling the tank.
"WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A CLOUDY TANK OR ALGAE BLOOM WHILE CYCLING"
The answer........nothing.
The tank is out of balance because it is cycling. Leave it alone and the tank will hopefully swing into balance as the cycle ends.
also, don't do water changes while cycling the tank.
Havey;756530; said:
Havey, in tens of tanks , in tens of years, I have never had noticeably cloudy water when cycling. Also am a firm believer in massive WC beginning the end of the first week.. never had New Tank Syndrome, this way..2 cents of mine
The BEST and most AFFORDABLE and EFFECTIVE way to cycyle a tank is to utilize used filter media. If you have a friend close with an aquarium offer to buy new filter media for his/her old media. Don't waste money on chemicals PLEASE!!!!
Take the newly acquired old media and squeeze all that nasty, dirty good bacteria into the tank. Hold the media or foam or filter floss under the water and squeeze to release it. Even leave it in the tank for a while. The water will turn almost brown and real nasty. However...it will clear in days and be cycled and ready to rock.
I have done 3 tanks this way it works perfectly.
Take the newly acquired old media and squeeze all that nasty, dirty good bacteria into the tank. Hold the media or foam or filter floss under the water and squeeze to release it. Even leave it in the tank for a while. The water will turn almost brown and real nasty. However...it will clear in days and be cycled and ready to rock.
I have done 3 tanks this way it works perfectly.
Miguel;756736; said:
2 cents of mine
My experience level is probably the same but I have also started many tanks from scratch. No new media material from older tanks.
Why would you do a massive water change during a cycle? You are actually hurting the cycling of the tank.
The end of the first week is hopefully when the nitrites are rising from the breaking down of ammonia. Nitrobacteria are developing to convert these toxins into nitrates. All you are doing is delaying the development of these bacteria and decreasing the numbers available in your filter media.
A bacteria or algae bloom can result from the instability of something in the process. If you step back and not screw with everything, the tank should come into balance AFTER the cycle. If you still have issues after the tank has cycled, that is the time to start tweaking things to find the correct nutrient/bio load/plant/lighting balance to adjust the tank.
My two cents
steemoney86;755690; said:
The bacteria that cause this bloom are breaking down organic matter NOT nitrification bacteria. Do you overfeed?
Check the filter media if dirty clean it in tank water. Dirt being accumulated debris not discoloration. Check the bottom of the tank for accumulation. Gravel vac if needed. Water changes may slow down the cycle somewhat but will help clear the cloud. Depending on the content of your water supply.
Also fish... what kind and how many?
Havey;756978; said:
You are right Havey..On the back of my mind was doing the cycle with fish load in it ( What i sometimes do )..and in that instance you need to take the nitrites out..may delay the cycle, but avoids N T Syndrome.
Miguel
