Joepeters

I have been having huge problems with an inherited tank. It was very dirty and I cleaned tank before I got started I thought the rocks were clean enough, but we kept getting off the chart results after testing. so I vacumed bottom and all kinds of stuff was coming out of rocks after doing this a couple of times I decided to take all the gravel out and vacum for a couple of days to get all of the stuff off the bottom of the tank. I put 50% water back in and added power head and filter are both running for 3rd day water got very cloudy at first and is now clearing but still after 3rd day it is still a little cloudy. To bring pH down Pet smart suggested aplle cider vinegar. we added it and ph is still high. 7.6, how much longer is the water going to be cloudy I have not added "new gravel" yet would it help cycle. What do I do to get water clear. what do I do period!!! help!!!

AlyeskaGirl

Welcome to FishLore!

Your PH is only 7.6 and that is not high. Matter of fact it is fine and has nothing to do with cloudy water. Some LFS stores, they just amaze me.

Cloudy water means a "bacteria bloom". It's comes with setting up a new tank even if it's a used tank. It can appear a few days after tank setup or a few weeks later. Over time it will clear itself when the tank starts to grow the good bacteria, has good filtering and becomes balanced.

You also need to get your own test kit; API Freshwater Master Test kit. Tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Do you know how you are going to cycle the tank?

If it was me I would of bought brand new gravel.

Just a note, in your "aquarium age" you should put the date the tank was setup. Makes it easier for members to know exactly how long the tank has been setup, then you wont have to keep changing it or forget to change it and your tank is really 6-weeks old instread of 3.

Llama

I had cleaned my gravel at least 5 times and left them overnight. The aquarium water spent 2 days looking a shade of white. So nothing to worry about, the filter gets it in the end.

agabr123

how did you clean the tank originally and with what (if any) cleaning products?

Redvelvetsword

I agree. It sounds like it is a bacterial bloom. When you cleaned the tank, you possibly took away most of the good bacteria when you thoroughly cleaned the gravel. Also you added a new filter which doesn't have any good bacteria in it. The cloudiness will go away in about a week once the tank "catches" back up to itself.

Joepeters

Thank you , I dont know how to change setup date right now. but your reply is helpful. I am going to buy new gravel the tank is gravelless right now. it got cleare overnight, I turned the heat up to 80 as was suggested in another thread and I guess it helped. I am going to get new gravel this weekend and clean it thourghly. Hope everything goes well for me.

BerkleyJL

Heh, I just went to follow this advice myself and found that "Aquarium Age" has been changed to "Aquarium Start Date."

Seems the forum admins are listening...

AlyeskaGirl

lol There was a thread that was started on suggesting it. So they must of finally got around to changing it. Sweet!

Thank you mods!

Joepeters

I used hot water and soap then washed it out 3 or 4 times with water

agabr123

if you used soap then you may need to break down the entire tank and bleach it and rinse it very, very well and add extra dechlorinator

Joepeters

Well I took the tank water out took every thing out and washed every thing off or out cleaned tank again with hot water and distilled white vinegar and cleaned New rocks 3 times until water ran clear. put tank back together all on 3-28-09. had water tested 3-31-09 and they (pet smart) was now ok to put fish in. We are going to wait til Saturday 4 days away. We also added 8 small live plants on 3-31-09, last night to help. they look good. I boiled the ornaments last night also and added them also. I hope Saturday to add a few fish.. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Redvelvetsword

I would not rely on the "petsmarts" and "petcos" to advise on whether the water is good for fish. Buy yourself a good "chemical" type water test kit. API is the most recomended. Also, make sure your tank is cycled before you put in your fish. 1 week may not be enough. The water tests will tell you when you are ready to add your fish.

Lucy

If I haven't said it before Welcome to Fish Lore

It would be a good idea to read this: nitrogen cycle
and cycle your tank before adding fish.
4 days isn't near enough time to cycle a tank.