rach1974

Hi im needing help and advice on how to use the filter i got with my new freshwater fish tank. Ive got 3 gold fish, when i turn it on it disturbs the tank and makes it cloudy, what am i doing wrong

Jess

Hi Rach, Welcome to Fishlore. There's tons of information in the section for Freshwater Beginners Important Topics. I'd start there. (you'll see it under Fish Forum Home)
But it sounds like you've started your tank up with out cycling it first? And also possibly you didn't rinse your gravel? See threads in Beginner Topics.

rach1974

Thanks jess, Ive had goldfish before and have never had any problem, I didnt even have a filter for them and they were fine. Now I have a tank with a filter and im having all sorts of problems.

pepetj

Hi rach, I relate with your statement. Welcome to fishlore.

When I joined Fishlore in April 2008, I considered myself a veteran, since I kept two tanks and a pond from age 7 to 23. So coming back would be easy...

Well, honestly, it was somehow easy thanks to fishlore, since I found this site before I purchased a thing. I never heard of nitrogen cycle before, so my first impression was something like ...this goofy fellows, just set the tank, dechlorinate the water, use a submersible charcoal/wool-fiber filter with an airpump and add the fish.

Well, reading around made what this guys were saying like not so goofy after all, it just made sense. It took me some time to post, this was the first forum ever for me but fishlorians somehow made me feel at home, it was OK that I knew nothing, so I can tell you this:

In 16 years of fishkeeping from 1972 to 1988, I kept incompatible species (e.g. goldfish with gouramis and at one point one native "pale tiny fishy" that turned out to be a fiercely aggressive tilapia who decimated the pond), overstocked tanks (won't go into that), and likely stunned fish growth. In my memories, I did a great job back then. So I don't trust my memory that much...

Taking my time, in this turnaround that began in May 2008, I have more fish I could dream of (of course I want more) and keep 5 tanks at home and 1 is being set up at my office.

Take your time, find out what's wrong and fix it, we are here for you, I know, because Fishlore is here for me too.

What is your tank size and dimensions (volume, LxWxH)?. Do you have a liquid reagent freshwater test kit for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, GH and KH? At least get one for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

What substrate do you have? Do you want real plants in your tank? What's your lighting? What filtration do you have?

I had no idea of most of this questions even existed five months ago. One good thing about Fishlore, is that no one will give you orders, just share their experience, opinions and suggestions. Search, read around, ask as many questions as you need. We take fishkeeping seriously, but we laugh a lot too!

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Lucy

Hi rach, Welcome to Fish Lore

There could be a couple of explanations.
Are you turning your filter on and off? Is it debris that's being kicked up?
Cloudy water could also be a bacterial bloom which should go away with time and water changes.

A little more information about your tank would be helpful.

What size is it?
How old is the tank?
Do you know your readings for ammonia nitrItes and nitrAtes?
Do you vacuum your gravel?

Good luck, the members will help you get this sorted out.

Fishies-for-me

one other thing is did you rinse the filter cartridge before putting it in the filter?? If not it could be kicking in carbon dust or if there are ceramic media in there it could be ceramic dust...try taking a little tank water ( or warm declorinated water ) and washing the filter media quite well to rid it of any dust....good luck.