used tank

Question
I bought a 55 gallon off of Craig's list.  The tank was fully set up and I asked him to clean it out and just give me the tank and stand.  Went shopping at Petsmart and got all the needed stuff.

It will be two weeks on Saturday and I do not see the milky white cloudy water clearing up anytime soon.  Just today, day 13 I have noticed the Nitrites are showing up on the test strip.  From what I read my tank is cycling good and the white cloudiness is a bacteria bloom.  

My new 28 gallon however lost the cloudy water within 3-4 days.  Is the fact that my 55 is used a factor.  I cleaned it out with baking soda making a paste with water.  I rinsed as best I could.  On day 7 I did a 50 percent water change, no luck.  The cloudiness does not seem to get better.

My first fish I got for the first week was a 2 inch Oscar and 2 inch pleco.  Day 8 I added a 2 inch jack dempsey.  They seem happy, healthy, and eating.  I have two filters, Top Fin 60 on one side and a Top Fin 40 on the other.  I took my filter cartridge from my 30 tank and put it in the 40 filter thinking it would speed things up a bit.

Wouldn't the cloudy water somewhat get clearer as time goes on?  I tried the huge water change like stated above.  I put a whole bottle of "cycle" in as well.  I am very anal about how I set the tank up, so I am guilty of rearranging fake plants and decorations these past two weeks, maybe that disturbs the cycle?  just a guess.  

Anyway, any help would be appreciated.  Maybe im just being impatient.  I just want to know if this is normal.

Answer
Hi Lance,
  Please be patient.  Each tank is different.  The fact that the tank is used has really nothing to do with it.  

  I do not understand why you cleaned the tank with baking soda.  

  At this point, I suggest you do 25% water change today, and then again in 2 days and then again in 2 days.  My guess is the cloudiness will drop pretty quickly after that.

  Do not add any more "cycle".  

  Rearranging plants and decorations won't affect anything.

  Be sure that you are not overfeeding the fish.  Only put in food that they eat right away. Never put in food for them to "eat later".  It will rot and foul the water, greatly contributing to the cloudiness problem.


-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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