AmongthePuffers

Hello everyone. I came home from school today, and I noticed something odd with the betta tank.

For some odd reason the betta's tank has gotten fairly cloudy in only a day, as it is a dramatic difference from yesterday's crystal clear water. it couldn't be from overfeeding, as i am very careful with his feeding, and I just set this tank up as well.
There is also a mysterious congregation of bubbles around the feeding port. I'm not sure if this is a bubble nest, or some side effect of the mysterious cloudiness.

Does anyone know whats going on?
I'll have pictures posted soon.

Shawnie

what are the water parimeters for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates? sounds like a new tank bacteria bloom

Lucy

Cool sig.
I second Shawnies post, it would help to know your readings. Usually a cluster of bubbles would be a bubble nest. What's a feeding port?

Red1313

I'm guessing the feeding port would be just a small hole in the hood to drop food in.
I don't know if you cycled or not but sounds like a bacteria bloom if the tanks only been up a day.
Waiting for an update.

AmongthePuffers

a feeding port is the opening in the hood where i can drop food in. hehe.

unfortunately I cant tell the perimeters. I don't have the tools, and my parents quote "what do you need those for, it has water, its fine."

Lucy

Yeah, us parents can be like that sometimes especially when we don't understand how important something is.

It would be a really good idea to get your water tested. How old is the tank and how often are you changing the water?

Chrisson

That happens to me as well! I was going to buy spirulina flakes but may parents said "You already got those colourful, flakes they have food they'll live." I wish my parents knew about fish keeping so they will know what's necessary and what isn't. Anyways it's likely a bacterial bloom, also happened to me but it went down after a few days probably now living in the gravel and filter.

AmongthePuffers

Well, I'm trying to get a complete test kit, so i should be able to test it soon,
(I hope).
I set this tank up 3 days ago, so I'm probably gonna give it a partial water change in about 4 or 5 days. i try to do a 20%er every week or week and a half.

Something else I noticed though, the filter output is spewing out some small bubbles that are clinging to the big mass o bubbles, so I honestly don't know how its being made for sure.

but I'm just assuming that in all likely hood the best remedy for whats going on is time.

Ill wait a couple days or so and that might help.
I know that overcompensating can be just as bad as the thing trying to be fixed.

Lucy

It would be really helpful if you could fill in your aquarium info. Found at the top left under My Settings.

If you're tank isn't cycled it's a good idea to get a test kit asap. You won't want the ammonia building up and effecting your betta.

AmongthePuffers

unfortunately my lazy self never cycled it.
I will test it. And if it is that way, maybe I can find a product that can neutralize the ammonia, if that is the problem.

Lucy

Yeah, make sure your ammonia doesn't get high. Once you see an ammonia reading start to do some daily water changes until it's cycle. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites with some nitrates showing.
Prime or Stress Coat+ will detox the ammonia for 24hrs between changes. They won't effect the bacteria.

agabr123

you need to be doing 50% water changes daily if your tank isn't cycled with prime or stress coat +, the other products that will remove the ammonia mean that your tank is never going to cycle because it makes the ammonia inaccessible to the bacteria that needs to build up. your only other option is to add tetra safe start which can quick-cycle your tank

AmongthePuffers

Good news everyone! everything has cleared up!
i got home today, and the bubbles were gone, and the water is no longer cloudy!
I have no idea what caused it, but its gone now.
I did check the perimeters, and surprising none of this was caused by the water conditions, as the pH was 7.4, and the ammonia was reading 0.
But whatever caused it, like i said, its gone now.
I turns out time really can be a great medication.
Thanks for everyone's help anyway.

I do have one question though.
Since i have no biological bacteria growing in my tank, I was thinking of buying this product called biozyme, which supposedly helps beneficial bacteria grow.
Should I try it?

Shawnie

the clearing of the tank, doesnt mean its cycled....how did you test the ammonia? did you get a test kit? whats the nitrite and nitrates? theres no way the tank is cycled in 4 days unless you used some established media or tetra safestart...so 0 ammonia after 4 days will be normal..but be prepared as it will happen....biozyme is something that has to be added forever and will not self sustain itself..its a waste of money..find some tetra safestart and you will be golden..other wise, daily water changes with a detoxifier is needed...and your test kit

Lucy

Most bacterial additives contain the wrong kind of bacteria. It's not self sustaining and dies off quickly. It can starve out the benefical bacteria by using up the ammonia.

AmongthePuffers

So im just assuming then ill get tetra safe start, and just avert the biozyme idea.
yes, today I did get a master test kit, which covers ph,kh,hardness,ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite.
Without going into further detail, The perimeter are perfect.
but i will take your advice an search for this safe start.

Shawnie

if the water is "perfect" , you dont need it

AmongthePuffers

I believe that is a hyberbole.

dont get smart with me!

Shawnie

im so not getting "smart" with you but if your water is perfect as you say, you dont need anything but weekly maintenance and that stuff is a waste of money either way

Red1313

Unless you're got alot of plants the fail proof way to know if you're cycled is... do you have a nitrATE reading?
If you do then you're cycled and ready to go... if you don't and you don't have live plants I'd maybe look for some tetra safe-start.
Good Luck!

AmongthePuffers

Look, Im just saying that when I tested, I basically got 0 for everything, except of course for the ph, which was around 7.1-7.4 or something like that.



I think Ive cleared that idea up.

momo9700

If everything is zero, then you're not cycled.

AmongthePuffers

Ok then, ill go out and find tetra safe start!
GRR.

agabr123

to clarify, ammonia and nitrite should definitely be 0ppm when you're done cycling, but if you aren't getting any nitrAte readings then that means you aren't cycled.

AmongthePuffers

You know what? I'm just gonna go out and get tetra safe start.

I can tell my measly 1 and a half years of fish experience cant compete with all you experts. lol

Shawnie

if you dont want help or suggestions, why ask a?

you could be cycled and have 0 nitrates if your tank is heavily planted...

AmongthePuffers

well, I do want help. Its just that the fish keeping hobby can be difficult. but, I do very much enjoy it. Thats one of the reasons i joined fishlore. To get help from people who know how to do these things. So I do very much enjoy the help!

So I figure some tetra safe start, and a nice red Cryptocoryne in the middle of the tank would be great! Unless you have another idea for a plant?

I really love the help I get from everyone! Hehe, especially Shawnie!