New 75g...water clarity issue...

[elevatethis]

Hey guys...still feeling like a beginner here...3rd tank I've set up ever.

I set up a 75 gallon 5 weeks ago. I am running an Eheim 2217 canister, and a small powerhead for aeration.

No live plants, just fish.

Week 1 I added 3 small (3")convicts.
Week 3 I added 3 small (2") jewel cichlids
Week 5 I added 1 small (3") Oscar, took the 3 convicts back to the LFS

I've been testing the water and am reading very low levels of ammonia and nitrite, and zero nitrates.

The water is not milky white in the way that a bacterial bloom is, but more greenish tinted. Am I going to need another filter or do I just need to wait this out? Any ideas?

 

[RadleyMiller]

Hey guys...still feeling like a beginner here...3rd tank I've set up ever.

I set up a 75 gallon 5 weeks ago. I am running an Eheim 2217 canister, and a small powerhead for aeration.

No live plants, just fish.

Week 1 I added 3 small (3")convicts.
Week 3 I added 3 small (2") jewel cichlids
Week 5 I added 1 small (3") Oscar, took the 3 convicts back to the LFS

I've been testing the water and am reading very low levels of ammonia and nitrite, and zero nitrates.

The water is not milky white in the way that a bacterial bloom is, but more greenish tinted. Am I going to need another filter or do I just need to wait this out? Any ideas?

It seems like you haven't finished your cycle because no nitrate readings. Just wait it out until both hit zero.

 

[davo]

how long did you wait till you added fish?

 

[elevatethis]

how long did you wait till you added fish?

The tank itself ran for about a week before I added the first of the fish.

I staggered adding the rest so as not to interrupt the cycling process too much.

 

[fishieperson321]

It sounds to me that you may have green water. Is your tank in direct or even partial sunlight? If so, can you move it? Also, have you did your first water change and gravel vacuuming yet? How long do you leave the tank light on?

 

[elevatethis]

It sounds to me that you may have green water. Is your tank in direct or even partial sunlight? If so, can you move it? Also, have you did your first water change and gravel vacuuming yet? How long do you leave the tank light on?

The tank is in an office and does not receive any direct or even partial sunlight.

I have done one 25% change after I tested the water and got an ammonia reading. I vaccuumed the left 1/3 of the gravel as I did the change.

We try to turn the tank light off at night; however, the main hallway lights stay on for some time afte we leave. These are not bright overhead lights, just your standard fluorescent office type overhead lighting.