lordingsy

I know that this has been asked before, but I just wanted some idea of what could be causing my cloudiness.

I change my water every friday (25%) but it will just not clear up. Its a little better when do my water change. Then after a couple of days its back to this again.

Any ideas...

Attached Images

Photo0093.jpg (478.0 KB, 15 views)

Dozey

It appears to be algae. Is your aquarium exposed to sun light? How many hours a day do you leave the aquarium light on?

lordingsy

light is on for 10-11hrs a day. Not really in direct sunlight either. Its in the corner furthest away from the windows.

CWO4GUNNER

Returning to this hobby after 35 years I too have experienced some cloudiness once because my new sand wasn't washed as well as it should have been but the carbon in the filter eventually took care of that. I know this because when I went to clean it out the carbon was cemented together with fine silt. Another time because of a bloom of some fungus and probubly algae as well so I bought a 24W sterilizer and withing 48 hours the tank was Cristal clear again, after which I turned it off because my cycle began. As of the moment in the throws of the last part of my cycle I have a bit of water haziness and holding off using the sterilizer not wanting to interfere with the cycle unless absolutely necessary. But I would not be surprised one bit if a $59 UV "Green Killing Machine" complete with power head pump, would take care of your problem.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2750628

lordingsy

I dont really want to spend money on UV filter. Good suggestion though as i have now done some research and know what they are used for.

I have took one the bulbs out of my lighting strip. It was a powerglo tube and was really for plant growth so i figure that could be cause.

Would anybody agree with that?

Also i have a spare charcoal insert for my fluval 3 plus filter which is still in the tank.

Will this help remove any of the algae?

Thanks

Chris

Dozey

I don't believe carbon will remove algae. However, most certainly removing the grow light should do the job for you. Even with the grow light removed you may want to reduce the number of hours your hood light is on until the algae clears up.

Fla_Larry

ok well first it is a FO tank, so the grolight is a wasted effort good for any algae however.
next is tank params

you could be having an algae bloom, or you could be experienceing a bacterial bloom.
and Dozey is correct Carbon will not remove algae.

If it is algae you can apply an agaeicide, or better yet is to simply Black out the tank for a few days to see if it clears, that is cheap and easy.

If it does not clear, then something in the tank is possibly dissolved and is not precipitating out, and clouding up the water, a decent flocculant will clear that.

If it is a bacterial bloom check your water params, and get them back under control.

and check your filters make sure they are not bypassing so no, or poor bio filtering is occuring.

if there is room in your filter adding more floss material will possibly help also particulary if you add the flocculant.

My recommendation would be: vacuum the gravel, and water change, Black out for 3-5 days.
if still cloudy, add the flocculant and see if it clears within the next day.

if it clears but comes back again, i would examine the contents of the tank very closely.

yes you can do it all at the same time, but then you still have no idea what caused the problem and if it repeats, your right back where you started and still no idea what is causing it.

JMO

lordingsy

water readings are fine. I have already took out the powerglo strip.

I will have a total blackout for 3 days as of tomorrow (apart from the light being on in the living room)

Fingers crossed that will deal with it!

I have a feeling that most of it will be down to the bulb, but we shall see...

to be continued.

edit: Shall i get another bulb to replace the one i have taken out?

Fla_Larry

cover the tank, TOTAL BLACK OUT.

as to adding a bulb what is your WPG with one bulb?
keep it below 2.0 wpg as a minimum somewhere in say the 1.5 or less range would be good.

mikki

I did have a problem like that before and i found out i was feeding them too much flake food.

AlyeskaGirl

Also if you dont have enough filtration that will cause cloudy water too. I read that somewhere. I had that same prob, then I put another filter on my 55 gal and it took care of it. It still gets slightly cloudy at times when I do a water change, but clears up in 24 hrs. But before I put another filter in it wouldnt clear up in 24 hours, it would stay for days!!! Annoying.

Shawnie

I would add some extra filter floss for a week and with a week black out, it should be gone...if not, upgrade your filter

lordingsy

At the moment there is an eheim 2215 canister and a fluval plus 3 internal.

Please tell me i dont need anymore. My fish will be welded to the side of the tank. Could get some more floss for the fluval.

The ehiem has the bio ceramic things, coarse blue foam and white floss.

Shawnie

or buy a big bag of 100% polyester that you stuff pillows with...I havent bought floss since I started using that months ago...

lordingsy

Would pulling an old pillow apart and using that work? If i rinsed it really good?

If not Ill have to buy a new pillow and rip that apart. dont know where i would get just the stuffing from.

Dozey

Don't use stuffing from a pillow. Commercially purchased pillow will almost always contain fire retardant chemicals. 100% untreated filling will be available at craft stores and sewing stores.

Shawnie

i agree with dozey..not to mention human hair, skin, hair products, laundry detergents, etc ...you can get a huge bag for 4-5 dollars

CWO4GUNNER

I have read that good aeration is a good way to fight algae as it doesn't like oxygen rich water but more carbon dioxide rich water. If not already installed you might want to invest in a good cheap micro bubble aerator wand or ceramic stone. Large bubbles stones are better for moving water then enriching it with oxygen which plants and algae hate.

tinah

Fast growing live plants like anachis out-compete algae for nutrients. Flourish excel, lighting in the appropriate spectrum, and yeah, polyester floss, available at wal-mart.

lordingsy

Isn't anachis a shell?

I got some more filter floss from my LFS ( and a little BN Pleco who is doing great in my QT). I put some of that in my filters and have blacked out for 3 days.

Gotta say that its not really helped alot. Its better but its still cloudy.

Im starting to think that a UV steriliser may be the way to go.

Nate McFin

I think its Anacharis. I would be hesitant to add any fertilizers such as flourish though without trying to find the cause. It could make it take off.
Good luck, I am starting to see a VERY similar problem in my 1 month not quite fully cycled tank. I have been following the thread to see how this turns out for you.
Best Wishes,
-Nate

lordingsy

Ok, so the water is loads better now. Its a lot clearer still not crystal clear but getting there. (you cant half tell the difference when the light is on )

I have changed a bit more water tonight, added prime, fed fish, turned off light and covered again. Phew!

Im gunna leave it covered tomorrow, with no food and see what it is like on sunday morning.

I added some more floss to the filters and was expecting to find it luminous green. It was still really white.

Does that sound right?