Mike P.

I posted a thread last week saying my water was cloudy. It now has been over 2 weeks and it is still cloudy. I have done partial water changes and added prime every other day. I lost 3 fish the first night I changed the water and the rest seem to be doing ok. I just don't know what to do to clear up the water. It has a greenish tint to it. Is there anything I can do? I have ordered a new test kit that Shawnie recommended and should get it this week but for now I have been checking with the strips and everything shows in the safe level. Pleas help if you can.

Sincerely
Mike

jdhef

It sounds like you have an alge problem. Less light would probably help eliminate it.

Mike P.

Thanks. How long should I leave the light off? That would be cool if that answered the problem.

jdhef

I'm not real versed on this subject, so hopfully someone will jump in.

But I think if you keep the light on less than about 8 hours it will help. Also direct sunlight on the tank will cause an algea bloom. Overfeeding also leads to alge problems, since when the uneaten food breaks down it released phosphates which apparentlty is alge fertilizer.

Mike P.

There is no direct sunlight and I have been feeding them once every 2-3 days. Actually pretty small amounts. All the food seems to get eaten at least what I can tell. But I will start watching more closely to make sure. Also would an algae eating fish be something to look into?

jdhef

Your tank light could also be responsible, but like I said, this isn't an area I' very knowledable in. I don't know that an algae eater would help, since the algae is waterborn and not growing on stuff.

It sounds to me like you are doing everything right.

Mike P.

I appreciate your help. I will do what you said for a couple days and see what happens. If things don't change I will post again.

Shawnie

Hi Mike...you are probably having two different issues now..first the tank wasnt cycled, then the algae has crept up on ya...algae wont kill the fish but the cycle will if not complete..its funny you would have algae creep up so fast and not be feeding but every other day..hmmm..u sure theres no natural sunlight that comes near the tank at all during the day? ..usually leaving on your tank light for some hours shouldnt cause the water to go green that fast.....so until you get your test kit(congrats on the liquid one arriving soon!) and as we said on your last thread, daily water changes are needed...I think your almost their but without the kit, its hard to say...those strips are just not perfect like the liquid tests...hurrrrrrrry liquid test kit LOL

MrsM3197

I also had a ugly green problem shortly after I set up my tank. I messed up the original set up because I misunderstood what I was supposed to do. Part of the cloudy was because my tank didn't fully cycle before I added my fish. Secondly I had a nasty algae bloom in the tank. What helped me the most was I turned off the tank light and taped black trash bags around the tank to totally eleminate the light. Left it for 3 days. Fed very little, just like you are doing now, and did daily (25%) water changes. At the end of those 3 days my tank was just as pretty clear as it could be.
Hope that helps.

platy ben

maybe you could try a complete water change, clean everything in the tank, and then fill it back up with clean water and get an algae eating fish to keep on top of it.

those little guys work great in small groups and you can have quite a few because of their small size, they are called Otocinclus for those who didnt know

Shawnie

NOOO then he will be back to another cycle hes almost finished