RiffDawg15

My I have had my 55 gallon set up for a little over a month now and my water is still cloudy.

I just added a second filter, the emperor 400 to the tank that already had a Whisper 60 filter. I have 4 rb piranha and a 10" pleco in there. I feed them one goldfish at a time, then I wait 5 or 6 hours and add another until they eat it.

I was wondering if there is anything I can do to clear up the water, without using chemicals. I dont like adding chemicals to my water, usually just messes up the chemical balance of the tank and I dont want to throw my tank off.

I do 25% water changes every other day. I have a medium piece of drift wood in there but I soaked it for a while before adding it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

kra-z-fishmumm

the driftwood is still probably leeching. I have read many posts that say you have to soak it for days or boil it.

susitna-flower

It sounds like you added 5 HUGE waste producers to a 55 gallon tank before it had completed the nitrogen cycle.

What are the readings for ammonia & nitrite? Is the nitrate reading still 3?

Most here recommend the API Master test kit (liquid), for freshwater, which includes all these tests. The water cloudiness is probably a bacterial bloom, which is good, just indicates your still cycling, and need to be doing daily water changes, depending on your water tests of between 25 & 50%.

It is my feeling that even with your increased filtration, that a 55 gallon tank is not enough to handle these 5 fish. If the pleco is a common, it alone needs to be in a 75 gallon tank. I had one in a 55 for awhile, and the mess was horrid. Piranha, as you know are also messy fish, and the process of feeding goldfish is adding to the problem. I do not feel the cloudiness will clear until the cycle is finished, and you deal with the overcrowding. Good Luck

RiffDawg15

Im using the API master test kit (liquid).

Ammonia is - 8.0
Nitrite is - .50
Nitrate - between 0-5

Also I am doing 25-40% water changes either daily or every other day.

susitna-flower

Not good, is there any way you can get some filter media, or gravel from a fully established cycled tank to place in your tank until it is fully cycled? This can either be used in one of your filters, or placed in a mesh bag and just hung in the tank until it has finished the nitrogen cycle.

Your ammonia is at an extremely toxic level and your fish are in peril. At 8, you have to be doing AT LEAST 50% water changes every day! It would also help to protect your fish if you use prime.

RiffDawg15

Here is an update on how the cycle is going...

Ammonia - 4
Nitrite - 5
Nitrate - 8

Been doing water changes 30% every day.