Kaybear

Hello, I am new to this forum and I need some help. I have a 55, 2 20s and a ten. The 55 gal has been set up for over a month now and I have been testing the ammonia and nitrite levels constantly to watch how it has been progressing in becomming an established tank. I had treated the tank with benificial bacteria (SuperBac) and stuff like that to help it along in the process. Recently I have been testing it and the ammonia went down to 0 and the nitrite was getting there too, I was so happy because I thought it was finally about to become established. To my surprise a couple days ago I went to turn on the lights and the water started becoming cloudy, I had just put in a filter pouch that is supposed to take out the nitrites and stuff like that the night before so I thought it was because of that. I tested the water and the nitrite and ammoina levels were as high as the test would read them, and of course I freaked out thinking my fish were going to die. I havent added any extra fish to the tank, actually I have removed some because I had 5 preg platies. I checked everywhere in the tank, there are no dead fish, all the plants are alive and green, I dont over feed and I have been cutting back since on food even more since I found out just incase that was the problem. So I did a small water change probably about 25% and its still testing high. Yesterday I was looking at the top of the water and it looks like there is a film on it that was never there before. There is plenty of airation in the tank, there is four under gravel tubes going, a sponge filter and a decoration that has an air stone in it. The bubbles coming out of the tubes and everything dont look right, they are really big, not fine like they used to be. I checked the air stones and they are all clear and working well. The tank just keeps getting cloudier and cloudier and I dont know what else to do. I have been using some Ammo Lock to protect the fish and Amquel to remove some of the ammonia and nitrites. I have cleaned the rocks very good, the carbon was just replaced, the sponge filter doesnt have any obstructions and like I said I have checked the plants for anything that might be dying and removed it. Im really lost now, my mom was so scared for the fish she did a large water change yesterday and the fish were breathing a lot better and the water cleared up a little. I woke up this morning and its very cloudy again. Any advice would be much appreciated, I have had tanks before and never had this much trouble with them. Please help before its too late!!

fintail

Hi I think try more small water changes . and for the cloudiness. Id try a new filter pad. one with fiber and carbon. or try a new power filter. the more filteration the better. the high levels of ammonia and nitrites are very harmful to the fish. this is an emergency situation. and needs something done soon. I hope this helps a little bit.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore !!!!

cycleing with fish can be so frustrating..I did it and it stunk!!

im not sure what superbac is ive but I have a feeling that might be something to do with it..the cloudyness is probably an bacteria bloom for a new tank....

at this point, I would reccomend DAILY 50% water changes and get some prime if you can..that locks down the ammonia for 24 hours until your next change...although ive heard amquel does the same thing, Ive not had any experience with it and only with the amazing prime....also...if you can cut some filter media off the other tanks if they are cycled, that will boost things along faster!

dont worry about your filter, clean or dirty its where the bacteria will form and doesnt need to be worried about right now...I had kept the carbon in while cycleing as it helps in the removal of ammonia...but it has to be changed every 2 weeks or it bleeds back into the tank...(others say after 48 hours or so but ive had goodluck with the 2 weeks)

im sure others will help out also, and goodluck ...patience is going to be your best friend and frustration will wear you out im sure

Devon

Hi Kay, and welcome to the forum. Sorry you're having such trouble with your tanks.

I have seen strange film and "thick-textured" water in tanks that are not yet cycled. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but something about the water chemistry makes it look / act a little viscous sometimes (bubbles stay on the top, aeration seems to be less effective, etc). Large water changes (50%) will help with this a lot.

Since you're cycling with fish, you need to do large water changes every day until you're regularly getting readings 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5+ nitrate.

Never change your filter pads unless it's absolutely necessary (falling apart). When you put new filter media in, it removes most of the beneficial bacteria, you get an ammonia spike, and your tank goes into a mini cycle. Just rinse off the filter pads in used tank water as needed during water changes.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Edit: Oops, forgot to address the cloudiness bit. White cloudy water can mean that you have a bacteria bloom -- that's a good thing! So the cloudiness may not be as much of an emergency as it seems to be. Keep an eye on water parameters and keep doing WCs... For more on cloudy water colours and what they mean, check out this article:
http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm

voiceless_kat

Welcome to Fishlore, Kaybear. Sorry you are having a frustrating time cycling that tank. I've been there too. I have used Amquel Plus and it is a good product and does the same thing as Prime.

Great advice from the others, good luck !

Val

Kaybear

Thank you all so much for your quick responses!! I have been told so many different things about WCs and good bacteria I dont know what to do lol. They say if you do too many WCs then it will kill the good bacteria blah blah blah but I feel better knowing my fish are breathing well so I have been doing the WCs almost every day, if not every other day. I figured the cloudiness was the bacteria bloom I just figured it would have come earlier since I have had the tank up for almost 2 months now. I let the tank run for 3 weeks I think before I put any fish in and everything was running in a normal path until now. The water is starting to clear up so Im almost certain that it is the bacteria bloom as you all have metioned. Im going to keep doing WCs and hopefully everything ends up going okay. Someone said that I should try getting power heads for my UGF, should I consider doing this or just wait a little longer and see how it goes with the WCs? Also, I do have Ammo Lock which turns the ammonia into a non toxic form so it wont damage the fish and then is taken out by the filters from there. Im just glad this isnt as big of a deal as I was thinking it was! I know the ammonia and the nitrite are not good for the fish but I have been using things that keep the fish safe from them and so they have been doing well as far as that goes. I have been very stressed out with this because I have the 55 gal that is having problems and I have another tank that has 152 2 week old molly and platy fry. I always worry if they are getting fed enough and all that jazz. But again thank you all for your responses and advice... anything else would be appreciated!