flotus48

The guy at my pet store said that hard water can contribute to cloudy water. Does this make sense to anyone?

jdhef

I've never heard that before, but I guess if you have a lot of disolved minerals in your water it could make the water cloudy. Is your water cloudy when you fill a glass with water?

In new aquariums it is common to get cloudy water for a little while. It is generally caused by a bacterial bloom while the tank is cycling. It usually goes away after a few days or so.

flotus48

I think it might be a bloom. My tank's been up for 5 weeks now. I gettin a little impatient I guess.

Nate McFin

I havent heard of that either and you would have to have ALOT of minerals in the water to make it cloudy. I agree its a bacterial bloom and a good sign. It will run its course. If put in a container with a white bottom does the water have a slight green tint? If so, this would be a different issue.

flotus48

No it seems to be a milky white cloudy. I do have diatoms ( brown algae) on the bottom. My mollies seem to like it.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!! the tank is so new, its probably a bacteria bloom and will go away in time.....water changes are something that helps as well as clean filter floss, but once the cycle completes, it should clear right up...do you know your readings for ammonia , nitrites, and nitrates? while cycling with fish, make sure you are doing daily partial water changes and find some prime water conditioner if you can...it keeps the fish safe for 24 hours from harmful ammonia/nitrites until your next water changes....

flotus48

Ammonia is between 1-2 and dropping. Nitrates and nitrites are just a trace. I'm using test strips but have ordered a liquid test kit as advised on this forum. The pet store said the ammonia would spike and then drop which is whats going on now. I have been doing 10% water changes weekly and testing the water every other day The fish are happy do not seem to be stressed and I have not lost a fish. The pet store told me not to change water until the cycle completes. ( I don't think I trust these guys any more) I have a 55 gal tank with 8 zebras, 4 plattys, and 4 mollies. I set the tank up let it run for a week and then added the zebras and platties. After a week no ammonia was reading so we added the mollies thinking those little fish were not producing enough waste. So here I am 6weeks in with cloudy water and a tank that's taking a long time to cycle. Am I being paranoid?

Shawnie

I agree and I wouldnt trust them for anything anymore either..MOST of us have been where you are with bad bad advice.....these babies need 50% water changes a day with the prime so they wont get poisioned....the ammonia is high for them and if you dont change more water daily, they may not make it when you cycle with fish, it takes weeks....because you do need the water changes it stalls the cycle...one of my tanks took 9 weeks..its not fun, but its definately needed to keep them happy and alive...even if they make it through the cycle, some time down the road , ive seen fish have major issues from the ammonia exposure...if you get the prime, it will detox the ammonia/nitrite for 24 hours until your next water change...count your blessings that you havent lost any fish babies yet...

flotus48

Then I will get to work, thanks!

Shawnie

goodluck!!!!! Like I said, ALLOT of us have been where you are and im sending tons of good cycle vibes your way I at least hope you have a python as I am a bucket water changer LOL

flotus48

I'm using buckets too. But one last thing and this might be off topic here, I was thinking of adding another filter, something like a Eheim 2215 canister filter to go with the Emperor 400 power filter I now have. Any thoughts?

Shawnie

more filtration is always a bonus...it can always be kept running for an extra in case of a QT tank needed or you happen upon another tank..it will be cycled at least to just use on another tank..but it takes a good 2 weeks or so to cycle the filter media after the tank has been cycled...it wont speed the cycle up but it will help keep the tank clean

Pente85Camino

flotus48 I'm using buckets too. But one last thing and this might be off topic here, I was thinking of adding another filter, something like a Eheim 2215 canister filter to go with the Emperor 400 power filter I now have. Any thoughts?

I am using a similar setup. I have the Eheim 2236 (80g) and the Emperor 400 (80g) for my 27g tank. Just a little more to keep track of during maintenance, but as everyone says, more filtration is better. The 2215 is rated for 93g, while the 400 is rated for 80g, so you will have a combined filtration for 173g. That is a little more than 3 times your tank. I think that is pretty good.

flotus48

I'll check them both out.( canisters) You know what they say... The bigger the better!
Thanks

aquarist48

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/cl...quarium-water/
Flotus I moved your thread to the cloudy water section of the form. It may help you to get more responses and others with the same problem. Thanks!
Ken