10 gal starter kit

Question
Hi I purchased a 10 gallon starter kit 2 days ago for my 2 year old sons 3 guppies.  I then went fish crazy and got 2 snail 1 algae eater 6 crustacean (shrimp) 3 danio 1 red wag plat 1 sword tail 2 sunburst and they through in four babies of unknown tropical origin .  my tank is white cloudy only after 2 days even though the fish seem very happy... do i have to many fish? and how do i get the proper bacteria and do I need another tank?  To me it seem like I need more fish but I know that can not be true.  help please!  I just want a clear tank!!!!

Answer
Hi Michelle,
  An aquarium is more than just fish in water.  It is a little  ecosystem and it takes a while (about 6 weeks) for that system to develop.  Basically, what keeps the water clean is partly the filter you have on the tank, but mostly it is invisible bacteria that convert the fish waste into less toxic compounds.  Those bacteria are normally present in very small numbers in water.  It takes the six weeks for them to build up in numbers to handle  a full blown fish tank.  We call this period "cycling the tank".  The idea is that you start with one or two fish, they eat and defecate, and that provides food for the bacteria which increase in numbers.  After a few weeks you can add more fish and the bacteria increase some more until after about 6 weeks you can add more fish still.   

 What has happened in your tank is that everything is off balance and it will remain that way for quite some time, i.e., there is no quick fix.  DO NOT go dumping a whole ton of chemicals in there to fix the problem because that will only make it worse.  I have to tell you that there is a reasonable possibility that not all your fish are going to make it through this period.  

 In the meantime, you should do small water changes about every other day, maybe 5-10%.  That will help stabilize the water a little.  

 Absolutely do NOT put any more fish in that tank for at least 2 months.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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