quarterback13

My 72 gallon tank completed its cycle almost 2 weeks now but it remains cloudy . I have done water changes up to 50% almost every 3rd day . Today it became even more cloudy than ever. I did another 50% water change. Its better now but it always is first night and clouds again the next day. Today one of my bala sharks has a slightly red dorsal fin. The fish seem happy and good appetites otherwise. I tested again today and got 0 amonia. 0 nitrites and 5. nitrites. pH is 7.4 temp is 79f Why won't my tank clear? ASny suggestions. I am getting fed up.

navyscuba

Hi, I would reduce the water changes to a 20%. If the cycle is complete like you said there could be a chance of overfeeding. What are you feeding the fish how much and how often? What are you using as Substrate? depending on the substrate it might be clouding your water.

quarterback13

feeding tetra min flakes. i feed twice a day and they eat it in less than 2 mins. Small gravel for substrate. Ehein 2217 canister filter. I removed the charcoal filter 2 weeks ago but it was cloudy even before I removed it. I also feed 2 or 3 algae wafers at night

AlyeskaGirl

navyscuba

Well reviewing your fish stock info I think there's a little of too much waste produce by the sharks, the clown loaches and plecos are big waste machines. also 2 or 3 wafers a night think is a little too much. Is the cloudyness like whitish? If so is overfeeding.

Shawnie

Im with scuba....its overstocked and the filter would probably do much better with a carbon and change it out every 3 weeks...with small every other day water changes and the carbon, that should clear it up......the waste and the new cycle are probably a combo of the cloudyness...those are some huge poo'ers in there and probably is going to happen alot

aquarist48

Good morning. I agree with info above. Add carbon back into your filter and change it every 3 weeks. Reduce your % of water change. Be patient and things will get better. Don't over feed. You may even want to feed only once a day for the next few days instead of twice. When you vacuum your tank, only vacuum 1/3 of it at a time instead of the entire tank. (this will help preserve your good bacteria in your substrate). Good luck!

Beth1965

How bout lighting? Could this be an issue, are u maybe keeping the lights on too many hours?
Beth

quarterback13

I am always afraid I might be overfeeding but they eat it so fast and I think somethimes that some fish are not even getting anything. What I feed is gone in less than 2 minutes. As far as lighting, I keep it on about 10 hrs each day. Charcoal filters are expensive to replace every 3 weeks for my canister filter is there any alternatives?

Beth1965

HANG ON!!
Do you plan on changing the entire filter every couple of weeks? You do not want to do this. You can change the "carbon" itself but you should NOT change the spongy part of the filter until it is so gross that its falling apart. The sponge keeps the good bacteria - you need this circulating within the tank.
About the lighting, I was keeping my lights on for about 12 hours a day and thought it was contributing to cloudiness, have since cut it down to about 6/8 hours- not enough time to see if it helpe yet.
B
Beth

quarterback13

I removed the entire charcoal filter pad 3 weeks ago. I was told on here by most that they don't use the charcoal filter. To buy a package of charcoal replacement filters for my Eheim canister filters costs about 27.00 for 3. it doesnt open to replace carbon . its just a black round sponge pad.

Margarita Girl

You can buy media/mesh bags and fill yourself with bulk carbon. I've done this with my aqua clear, and filled the bag with Chemi-pure elite, which does a great job giving crystal water.

Shawnie

yes much cheaper to buy your own...and refill as margarita girl said...and everyone has an opinion about carbon..use it or not...I do use it in my bigger tanks as it helps keep things clear..lighting shouldnt make a difference unless your wattage is too much for the size gallons of your tank....I have standard lighting (i think 1 watts per gal) and my lights are on anywhere from 10-12 hours a day....but the fact still remains that you have some big waste producers there and the carbon is needed...or you could buy extra filtration and up your water changes to a few times a week ...hope things are looking up!