Super cloudy water...

Woke up this morning to find that our 40 gallon set up is so cloudy that I can not see through it at all. I am not exagerrating. It's like I have filled it up with skI'm milk instead of water.

I am also noticing an oily skim/film on the surface as well.

This is a relatively new set up (about 4 weeks in) and there are 4 fish that live in it. I use a Penguin BioWheel 350 on it and the tank has a bubble wall that stretches the entire length of the tank.

Am not really sure what to do. It seems that we have had problems getting the tank to cycle right since we've had it (keeps higher levels of Ammonia, Nitrites, etc).

Should I do anything to it at all or just leave it alone to do its thing? The warter also smells real bad as well. :/

Thanks.

 

I would do a large water change if I were you. I think the thing that would make me decide on that is the fact that the water smells awful to you and that it is cloudy. For a tank that is four weeks new, I do not believe it has gone through the nitrogen cycle yet as shown in your levels of ammonia and nitrite. For the sake of the fish that you have in the tank, if it were my tank I would do at least a 60% water change and see how the readings are after that.
~ kate

 

The problem with doing a water change is that our tap water has large ammounts of ammonia in it.

I just found this out the other day so I need to find a water conditioner that kicks out ammonia and not just chlorine (if there is such a thing).

Any other suggestions on what to do with the water to get rid of the ammonia after a water change?

 

prime is the best conditioner available...u can find it at most chain and local fish stores
wal-mart carries something, made by a comapny called jungle, similar to prime...I can't remember the exact name of it though

 

If you can't find Prime, AmQual Plus is almost as good.

 

Just did a 60% change in water and did some serious gravel vaccuuming. Removed all of the decor so I could get to the gravel easier.

One fish has died.

There is some kind of thick white foam building up on top of the tank now too.

 

Just kind of curious about what would have caused the tank to get this milky white this fast? It was clear a couple days ago. hehe

 

ya got me on that one