I think I did it again

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J

joeytoe

Semper fidelis
MFK Member
Sep 10, 2005
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Canton, Massachusetts USA
an screwed up my cycle. I know i did before when I changed to newer filters to quickly, I figured Seeding the filters an tank with Cycle wouldve helped it move quicker. It seemed to help so I did a water change (only like 20Gal) then it got wicked murky. I dont know why but I figured it was just really dirty so I did another water change an syphoned the gravel, an yet its still cloudy so cloudy that I cant see the wall if I look threw the end.

All the levels are perfect. PH 7.0, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrate 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm
 
Since your parameters are good it sounds like a bacterial bloom of to much benificial bacteria, it will be grayish or brownish, not green, if it is green it is algae and I would suggest testing your water for phosphates and iron. If it is the bacteria just keep up a good surface movement and it should die back to proper level over the next several days.Eitherway it is an asthetics problem, not a major health threat, Don't fiddle with it as medicines can cause to fast a die off which would cause lowered O2 levels and an ammonia spike. If it turns out that your tap is now putting out higher phosphate levels or iron levels get in touch with your water company and consider preconditioning a few tubfuls of water by filling several plastic 20+gallon storage bins with dechlorinated water and water hyacynth or water lettuce out on the back patio. Throw in a couple dozen guppies or gambusia for mosquito control and you will also have the occasional snack for your fish. The plants will lower your iron and phosphate levels before the water gets used, if you are doing 30G a week changes use 4 20g tubs and use 2 each week.
 
ya its a cloudy brown, Looks like Ill be buying a Phosphate Test Kit. is there even a Iron test kit?

I think its a random thing with the town water, as we had tons of rain over the past couple Months, cause Ive never had this problem before. Hell I used to not even bother cycling my tank. Usually I dont do regular water changes, I dont know why I changed my routine I shouldve just stuck to my regular gravel cleaning every 2 weeks.

Thanks for the help Guppy :thumbsup: .
 
romanmann said:
you possibly have a baterial bloom or algae bloom. how long do you keep your lights on for.
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its a lil of both, as today I noticed a slight green hue to my hazey tank. Im getting a small fluval from a friend to use for bio media.

My light on from bout 7am to 10 pm with a short interval of darkness around noon for about a hr. I think I'll be changing my timer settings to before 10pm now
 
rweedon said:
if you do get that canister use it with some diatom powder... it will clear it out within an hour...
Click to expand...

Ive never used Diatom Powder before is there anything special or different that I need to do with it?
 
Tank is getting clearer, I got a two fluval 403's now (1 was actually mine years ago, an ones my brothers) I have one on the tank right now, an am planning to construct an a Quad intake an output outve 1/2" PVC. Both 403's are going to be filled with a bottom layer of Ceramic rings then a good amount of Eheim Ehfilav (as I got a 5 liter bag for 20.00) an maybe a 2" foam pad on top. this should clean an clear up the tank very well.
 
diatom powder is very fine therefore it is good to trap small particles in your water. Should let the tank run alittle more until u see traces of no3.
 
My tank is clear. :thumbsup: I bought a bottle of Tetra Algae Control
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an the tank cleared up in under 30 Min. Im loving this stuff, as Ive dosed the tank with Algae Destroyer for like 3 days with lil result.
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An of course this all happens after I spend over 50.00 on filter stuff (which I'll probally still use)
 
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