gillbot Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 I've been fighting "cloudy" water in my aquarium for about a month. It has a slight white color, like "fog" but it never seems to get better or worse. I started doing about 10-15% water changes daily, that clears it up slightly due to the fresh water, but it goes right back. I started 25% then 50% water changes, it never goes away. I tried doing nothing and letting it clear on it's own. Nothing. Never got worse, but never got better. I did a near complete clean (~80-90% water change) and dropped the fish back in, a few days later it clouded right back up. All fresh filters, you name it, nothing helps. I also noticed something odd the last change. There was green algae in the filter motor and brown diatom "algae" in the pipes of the under gravel. I didn't think they couls easily coexist but I guess they can? Obligatory pics: http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8697/img2570f.th.jpg http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/1033/img2569y.th.jpg http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6361/img2568w.th.jpg http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/6761/img2567e.th.jpg http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3141/img2566zz.th.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sully Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 The cloudiness is from fish cum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99BlownYellowGT Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Ok the 1st thing you need to stop doing is so many water changes. How long has the tank been setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sully Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Seriously though, I have no clue. There are several aquarium people here that should be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Anthony has a giant saltwater aquarium. I had to pay $5 to see it last time, prices have probably gone up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Do you have any aerators? Have you tested your water. If so what are the levels. PH ammonia. Alot of cloudiness is from micro bubbles created by some filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro1647545510 Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Try running filter floss in your filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted April 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Ok the 1st thing you need to stop doing is so many water changes. How long has the tank been setup? like a year or more, dont recall exactly most local fish places keep telling me more water changes since it's a bacterial bloom but i dont think it is since their suggestions arent helping Do you have any aerators? Have you tested your water. If so what are the levels. PH ammonia. Alot of cloudiness is from micro bubbles created by some filters. there is the undergravel bubbler and one air stone, nothing has changed recently, it just popped up out of the blue and won't go away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99BlownYellowGT Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Get rid of that undergravel filtration system and get an over the tank filter. Those are outdated and they hold nitrates underneath the filter and its hard to keep it clean. Cloudiness is usually caused by ammonia/nitrate spike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 like a year or more, dont recall exactly most local fish places keep telling me more water changes since it's a bacterial bloom but i dont think it is since their suggestions arent helping there is the undergravel bubbler and one air stone, nothing has changed recently, it just popped up out of the blue and won't go away Turn off the undergravel bubbler and air stone for a little while see if it start to clear up. You should notice if its clearning up in a short period of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted April 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Get rid of that undergravel filtration system and get an over the tank filter. Those are outdated and they hold nitrates underneath the filter and its hard to keep it clean. Cloudiness is usually caused by ammonia/nitrate spike. it has a back hanger too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99BlownYellowGT Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 I would still get rid of it and if you want extra air just do an airstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmrmnhrm Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Cloudiness is usually caused by ammonia/nitrate spike. With as many water changes as you've been doing, and the volume involved, there's a good chance this is at least part of the problem unless you've pre-treated the replacement water with a dechlorinator, as you'll have killed off all the nitrogen cycle bacteria. Hard to say more without running some test strips, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 With as many water changes as you've been doing, and the volume involved, there's a good chance this is at least part of the problem unless you've pre-treated the replacement water with a dechlorinator, as you'll have killed off all the nitrogen cycle bacteria. Hard to say more without running some test strips, though. i always pre-treat the water, but i have also tried letting it go to no avail. it just wont balance now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillJoy Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I recently dealt with this. What "fixed" mine...... Removed all decorations Cleaned Gravel 50% water changes every other day It took ~ 2-3 weeks :thumbup: KillJoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I recently dealt with this. What "fixed" mine...... Removed all decorations Cleaned Gravel 50% water changes every other day It took ~ 2-3 weeks :thumbup: KillJoy any filter changes or anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillJoy Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 any filter changes or anything? I cleaned the filters at every water change. The filters are the the gauze + charcoal ones... KillJoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99BlownYellowGT Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 With as many water changes as you've been doing, and the volume involved, there's a good chance this is at least part of the problem unless you've pre-treated the replacement water with a dechlorinator, as you'll have killed off all the nitrogen cycle bacteria. Hard to say more without running some test strips, though. Not if there is hidden waste under that filter system. You can do as many water changes as you want and you will never solve the problem. Doing that many water changes causes the "system" to believe it is starting over and over and over again. Its not good nor is it beneficial to the cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Well, it's clear now. I pulled the undergravel filter out and set the tank back up. Fish are quarantined in a smaller tank for now while this one runs a bit and settles in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Science Abuse Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 I read this thread drunk... thank you CR for teaching me something completely random. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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