New Tank - cloudy water after TEB?

HI again all,

As I mentioned in another thread I just set up a new 10 gallon tank this weekend. Added water and tetra aqua safe the first day and no fish at all. It was crystal clear.


Last night I added an appropriate of tetra easy balance just for the sake of adding it. This morning my tank looked fine. I went to work and stopped at my LFS and picked up 2 red platys and 1 tropical blue platy as well as some TSS.

I got home and my water had a white-ish haze! I figured it was from the easy balance as the water was fine for over 24 hours after setup and aqua safe.

I added the three platys and an entire bottle of TSS but now I'm worried that the hazy water will not go away. I don't want to do a water change because I will lose the bacteria I just put in.

Also, I will be picking up the API master test kit tomorrow to get some water readings.


Suggestions/insight?

Thanks in advance!!

 

I don't recommend adding chemicals just for the sake of adding it. EasyBalance is a pretty unnecessary conditioner if your pH remains stable, and it isn't recommended for use in the first month of a tank's establishment anyway. The 'Nitraban' nutrient may have caused an overnight algae bloom; it could also just be a result of the excess minerals and whatnot the EasyBalance added. You can do a partial water change if it's bothersome, but keep a close eye on the fish for signs of distress. If they appear to be behaving oddly, it's always best to do a water change and not worry about breaking the cycle.

 

Thanks Tsyklon. They're swimming around nicely and I even gave a tiny pinch of food and they ate it up so I think they're ok for now.

I'll wait a day or two and do a partial water change if the water is still hazy? If I do that is it ok to add another TSS dose?

 

White cloudy water in a new tank is called a bacterial bloom. Generally the more you change the water, the cloudier it will become. Let it run its course and it will go away on its own. (Still test water parameters as you'll need to do a water change if they reach toxic levels). It also wouldn't hurt to toss in a bubbler since the oxygen level can sometimes be low during bacterial blooms, and this can be harmful to your fish.

 

48+ hours later and the water is clearing up! I'd say it's about 75-80 percent clear now. Does this mean the bacteria has begun to settle in?