joules

I JUST STARTED UP A NEW TANK AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF NOW - WITH NO FISH AND THE WATER IS STILL CLOUDY? WHAT DO I DO?

Jason

Did you rinse your gravel/sand before putting it into your tank

joules

I DID, I PUT IT IN A BUCKET AND LET WATER RUN IN IT FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR WHILE I STIRRED IT. COULD THAT BE THE PROBLEM?

dahly

Yes it could be the problem. What is your substrate, size of your tank and what type of filtration (size too) do you have? We need more info to be able to help. By the way, all caps means you're shouting.

newbie101

also cloudy water is normal in a new tank--its the nice little bacteria getting started.
and do you "feed" the tank while youre waiting? with nothing to "eat", thebacteria will not get started and the cycle ill not start. if you dont, you can use pure ammonia (not too much though) or just some flakes of food.

joules

As of last Saturday, the tank has been up and running for 2 weeks. I purchased 2 tetras on Saturday thinking this might help. It's been almost another week now, coming on close to 3 weeks with the tank running. The tank is still cloudy. How long does this usually take to clear up? I am finding this very discouraging for my first tank. Do I need alittle more patience? Thanks~~

chickadee

Yes patience is the key. This process can take up to 4-6 weeks or longer depending on the way your tank is set up and the amount and number of times the water is changed. Have you gotten the water testing kits? Do you know what your levels are of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia? If so please let us know what they are so we might be able to let you know about how things are going. Don't worry though, we have all gone through what you are right now, and we know this is the hardest part, waiting for your first tank to get up and running. But indeed there is not anything you can do but read, read about cycling and test, test water and change the water when the ammonia levels or nitrite levels get way out of line. Otherwise, patience is indeed the answer to it all.

Hope this helps. The best thing you can do is read as much as you can about the cycling process so you know how things are going and where you are in the process, but it is essential that you get the testing kits and test the water often.

Rose

Jason

How powerful is your filter? and what size tank do you have?