shecky95

I was wondering if anyone can help...bare with me:

I have a 20 gallon tank with 5 guppies(1 passed recently), 6 platy's and 1 pleco.

All readings are reading safe and pH is safe right where its supposed to be.

My water got cloudy(VERY murky and yucky at first) I was doing 25% water changes everyday making sure the Ph and other readings were correct and safe for the fish. This cleared the majority of the water up. The filter is new(about 3 weeks old) and I have not changed it.
Here is the problem: the water is clear the tank glass looks/has a greenish tint. I rubbed my finger and fingernail on the inside of the glass to see IF it was hard algea but nothing scraped off onto my fingernail or rubbed off onto my finger. Suggestions anyone? Is this normal? If it is how long does my tank take to look crystal clear like the ones I have seen on the videos on here? Will it ever? Im frustrated and confused.

(cant be the outside of the glass I have used glass cleaner on the OUTSIDE ONLY)'

*Edited for spelling errors

Devon

You say the filter is brand new... how long has the tank been set up?

It is possible you're seeing an algae or bacteria bloom.

shecky95

Im thinking my tank has been set up for about a month I used "CYCLE" in it as well. I forgot to add that I had water in the tank about 2-3 weeks before I put fish in it.( all readings were fine and I got everything adjusted)

Might be another algea bloom. I heard a tank can have more then 1, also I dont keep the light on hardly at all just to click it on real quick and check the water.

I work night so when I sleep during the day I cover the tank with a dark towel(front part). The tank is well away from windows so no direct sunlight is hitting the tank. I even keep the shades pulled to avoid bright light.

On my days off, I only turn the light on for a few hours(not even 5 hours). Rest of the time tank is covered.

I would think as much as the tank is covered the water and tank would clear, but it hasnt.

Will this algea or bacteria bloom hurt my fish? They survived a first bloom , can they a second?

Forgot to add as well I have 2 air bubble stones for circulation and oxygen. I did have a bubble wand going as well but those poor fish was having a tought time swimming cause the circulation/current was too much for them.
*edited for spelling errors

Devon

A bacteria bloom is not necessarily a bad thing.

Here's an article that may help: http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm

I suggest letting your fish have at least 8 hours of light a day. You can get timers for your outlet that will give them a regular schedule if yours doesn't allow you to turn the lights on and off at the same times each day.

outlaw

When you say your readings are safe, do you have any numbers? What test kit are you using? Just curious because if what I remember from reading, high nitrates could also cause bacteria/algae blooms. In your aquarium info, you have a filter rated for 10-20Gal and have a 20Gal tank. Your filter may not be able to keep up with the bio load from the fish.

Hope this helps and that I didn't sound too rude.

Good Luck!

shecky95

thanks i will try what yo suggested and what the article suggested.

Ill keep updating this thread if getting better or worse.

shecky95

I have test strips the 5 in 1 test strips and Ph testing supplies and the nitrate testing strips. I also got the tank froma supevisor(he gave his fish away) he had 2 oscars and a few other fish in there with them. He said his water was clear all the time with this type of filter. he also gave away all the supplies except the filtrate part and he threw away the old filter concidering the tank hasnt bene used for 5 months).Should I add another rated filter? or should I see if this second algea bloom take its course? the nitrates are fine I even tested it with a co workers testing kit. Im about to wait a week( while checking the readings once a day to see if it all clears up. Plus do 25% water changes everyday I might need to rince the filter media in the tank water as well to see if that helps.

I guess its trial and error in some ways but I do appreciate others input as well. Im will to get my water clear and tank as well all clear.

Devon

ammonia a very important test to have, and I would definitely recommend against using the test strips of any kind. They're horribly inaccurate. The API Master test is highly recommended by FishLorians.

A power filter will remove impurities from your water, but it does not filter out ammonia from your water in and of itself. You have to have a cycled tank with a bacteria colony in the filter media in order to be removing ammonia and keeping safe levels for your fish. Just because your supervisor had no problems does not mean that the water parameters are okay in your tank now.

outlaw

I would wait on the filter. As Devon said, certain things won't be removed by the filter. If you find the issue you can always buy pads that assist in removing whatever is causing the issue like ammonia, nitrites, nitrates...etc. If everything is ok, then another filter may not help.

Shawnie

IMO, your tank isnt fully cycled...cycle doesnt contain the good bacteria needed to fully cycle any tank unless you use it daily..and also, your over stocked a bit if the filter isnt up to par..if you have a common plec, hes a bigg huge poo'er ...so hes probably leaving you lots of nitrates and deffinately some ammonia that your strips might not be picking up..having a filter just 3 weeks old, and using the product cycle, is probably most of your cloudy issue..bateria bloom..as far as your algae, if its the green stuff, could you be over feeding if you have no sunlight? if its the brownish algae, its the "new tank algae" diatoms...id deffinately get the api liquid test kit to make sure you parimeters arent outta wack...goodluck!