cloudy water !!! ???

Navy Diver · Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

I have a 65 gal tank with Ehiem Pro filter. The water was crystal
clear until I had to move the aquarium to a new house.

Each month I would replace the very top filter and charcoal pad. Each
week I vacuum the gravel and remove nearly one third the water and
replace. Everything was fine for 3-4 months - then came the move.
I drained the aquarium and left the pets with my local fish store to
keep for the day.

On the set-up I did not remove any of the filter canister water but
only refilled the aquarium with newly treated water. the kind I would
use on the weekly cleaning.

The water became cloudy almost instantly and has remained so for 2
weeks now? At first I though it was algae since the new location has
very good lighting but after treating to remove it did nothing.

I have two fairly large lionhead Orandas living together with two
Africa clawed aquatic frogs. They have been fine together for 3-4
months.

What could be done to clear the water without having to remove the
pets? Thanks!

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>goldfish

David L. Burkhead · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 26

Navy Diver wrote:
> I have a 65 gal tank with Ehiem Pro filter. The water was crystal
> clear until I had to move the aquarium to a new house.
>
> Each month I would replace the very top filter and charcoal pad. Each
> week I vacuum the gravel and remove nearly one third the water and
> replace. Everything was fine for 3-4 months - then came the move.
> I drained the aquarium and left the pets with my local fish store to
> keep for the day.
>
> On the set-up I did not remove any of the filter canister water but
> only refilled the aquarium with newly treated water. the kind I would
> use on the weekly cleaning.
>
> The water became cloudy almost instantly and has remained so for 2
> weeks now? At first I though it was algae since the new location has
> very good lighting but after treating to remove it did nothing.
>
> I have two fairly large lionhead Orandas living together with two
> Africa clawed aquatic frogs. They have been fine together for 3-4
> months.
>
> What could be done to clear the water without having to remove the
> pets? Thanks!

I wonder if the move may have disturbed your tank's cycle? When I was
cycling my tank it would go through periods where the water was cloudy, then
it would clear up.

Have you tested the water? What results?

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
mailto:dburkhead@sff.net "While we live, let us live."
My webcomic Cold Servings
http://www.coldservings.com -- Back from hiatus!
Updates Wednesdays

Navy Diver · Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

David,

I haven't tested but I have read that maybe the 'bio-bugs' are looking
for a place to live.

The move along with the entire water change must have shaken them up.
I was also using softer water than now.

But I have ordered a water/tank clarifier to help with the problem.

Thanks

____________________________________________________________________________________________

I wonder if the move may have disturbed your tank's cycle? When I
was
cycling my tank it would go through periods where the water was
cloudy, then
it would clear up.

Have you tested the water? What results?

--
David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
mailto:dburkh...@sff.net "While we live, let us live."

Tynk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 150

On Oct 17, 7:05?am, Navy Diver wrote:
> David,
>
> I haven't tested but I have read that maybe the 'bio-bugs' are looking
> for a place to live.
>
> The move along with the entire water change must have shaken them up.
> I was also using softer water than now.
>
> But I have ordered a water/tank clarifier to help with the problem.
>
> Thanks
>
> ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________
>
> I wonder if the move may have disturbed your tank's cycle? When I
> was
> cycling my tank it would go through periods where the water was
> cloudy, then
> it would clear up.
>
> Have you tested the water? What results?
>
> --
> David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
> mailto:dburkh...@sff.net "While we live, let us live."

Nitrifying bacteria are very sticky and adhere to the surfaces they're
on like glue.
When you did the move, did you also scrub down all the walls, decor,
etc as well?
I'm also wondering how long did this tank go from draining (and
turning the canister filter off, but leaving it's water and filter
media in it until set up in the new home), to set up.
Your tank sounds like it's in an obvious cycling period, so keep up
the water changes and gravel vacuuming.
You have 2 types of high polluters in your tank, so don't slack off.
= )~
It'll clear slowly on it's own.
It's now just a matter of figuring out why it's cycling. Somewhere
enough nitrifying bacteria were killed off, and knowing (when) can
help prevent it in the future for everyone who moves a tank.

Navy Diver · Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Posts: 3

Tynk,
There was no scrub down. just a water draining gravel vacuum that
removed most of the water. Then the gravel was removed into a large
plastic tub and replaced about 5 hours later. along with refilling the
tank with newly treated water. Then the pets were added about two
hours after that.

so setup canister was unpluged about 4-5 hours then turned back on.
I'm planning to do the weekly gravel vacuum on Saturday that replaces
about one third the water. third one since the move.

I may have added too much salt on the initial fill causing the bio-bug
issue. the water is a whiteish cloudy but does not smell rank.
The orandas and frogs seem to be fine and happy.

Thanks,

> Nitrifying bacteria are very sticky and adhere to the surfaces they're
> on like glue.
> When you did the move, did you also scrub down all the walls, decor,
> etc as well?
> I'm also wondering how long did this tank go from draining (and
> turning the canister filter off, but leaving it's water and filter
> media in it until set up in the new home), to set up.
> Your tank sounds like it's in an obvious cycling period, so keep up
> the water changes and gravel vacuuming.
> You have 2 types of high polluters in your tank, so don't slack off.
> = )~
> It'll clear slowly on it's own.
> It's now just a matter of figuring out why it's cycling. Somewhere
> enough nitrifying bacteria were killed off, and knowing (when) can
> help prevent it in the future for everyone who moves a tank.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

what is the pH? dont use tank clarifier unless the water out of the tap is cloudy.
Ingrid

>I was also using softer water than now.
>
>But I have ordered a water/tank clarifier to help with the problem.
>
>Thanks
>
>____________________________________________________________________________________________
>
> I wonder if the move may have disturbed your tank's cycle? When I
>was
> cycling my tank it would go through periods where the water was
>cloudy, then
> it would clear up.
>
> Have you tested the water? What results?
>
> --
> David L. Burkhead "Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
> mailto:dburkh...@sff.net "While we live, let us live."

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

yup. also get a heater in there. GF like it 76-80 or so. Ingrid

On Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:25:18 -0700, Navy Diver wrote:
>I may have added too much salt on the initial fill causing the bio-bug
>issue. the water is a whiteish cloudy but does not smell rank.
>The orandas and frogs seem to be fine and happy.

Cshenk · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 15

"Navy Diver" wrote to Tynk

> I'm planning to do the weekly gravel vacuum on Saturday that replaces
> about one third the water. third one since the move.
>
> I may have added too much salt on the initial fill causing the bio-bug
> issue. the water is a whiteish cloudy but does not smell rank.
> The orandas and frogs seem to be fine and happy.

I think you are on the right track. Let the water get cloudy and just
replace enough to mainain balance and it will clear. If you have very hardy
type fish like goldfish, they will not mind the cloudy water at all and the
tank will clear quicker without too much water change (10-20% water change).

xxcarol