cloudy H20

Question
QUESTION: I have a 29 gallon tank with about 25 inches of fish. Anyway, about two days ago my tank got really cloudy for no reason. I checked the filter and it was filthy so I added a new filter, but kept the old one in because the new one would not have good bacteria. My water also looks a bit yellowish and I added some extra carbon yesterday and it did not help. I did add two dwarf gourami's last thursday but I don't think they could cause the water to get that cloudy. Any ideas as to what could be going on?
ANSWER: Hi Marisol

How long has the tank been set up and running?
And what color is the cloudy water-green or white/grey?

Christy

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QUESTION: The tank has been set up since late January. The water looks yellowish-slightly green with a bit of grey. Hopefully that helps.
ANSWER: Hi Marisol
Well....white/grey cloudy water is a bacterial bloom, usually happens within a week or so of first starting up a tank.  Greenish cloudy water is an algae bloom-several possible causes of that.  Sometimes depending on what kind/color of light is in the tank, will show different colors as well.  I remember someone telling me their water was reddish brown, but it ended up being the light and the color of the wall behind the tank that gave it that color.

Your tank should be done cycling if it was started up in January.  So, I think you're probably dealing with an algae bloom.  

First, don't leave the lights on longer then 8 hours a day, if you have live plants in the tank, no more then 10-12 hours a day.  

Don't overfeed the fish.  Uneaten food will cause nitrate problems, as well as ammonia problems.  I usually recommend feeding once a day, what the fish will eat in 5 minutes.

Be sure to do weekly water changes of about 25%, being sure to vacuum the gravel/substrate really good as well.  That helps remove the poop and uneaten food and keep the water quality good.  

Not sure what kind of filter you're using, I'm guessing a hob(hang on the back) with filter pads.  If that's the case, once or twice a month clean the filter pad in a bucket of used tank water, just use your hand and scrub the gunk off it.  That way you only need to replace the filter pad about every 3 months, or if it gets really bad like you described.  

Try the water changes and filter cleanings, and see if that helps.  You may need to start with a good cleaning, like around 50% of the water/gravel vac, then go on that weekly schedule.  

I would also remove the old filter from the tank.  An established tank will have bacteria in the filter/filter pad, the gravel/substrate, any rocks or decorations, even some on the tank glass.  It's pretty much everywhere in the tank except in the water.  So you should be fine removing it.  That may help a lot too, especially if it's really bad.  As for the carbon, it's really only good for removing bad odors in the tank, or for removing medicines, so I'd take that out as well.  Also, don't buy any of those chemicals that claim to "clear your tank" of cloudy water.  They don't work because they don't address the problem.

Try the water changes, cut back on feedings and see if that helps clear it up.  Should see improvement within a few days, if not let me know.  

Hope that helps and good luck!!  Let me know if you have more questions!

Christy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's only been a day and of course I don't expect my water to clear up that quickly. However, two of my fish died today (a molly and a dwarf gourami). Could this have anything to do with my water? I tested my water and I have 0 ppm of ammonia, 0 ppm of nitrite, and about 20 ppm of nitrate. Also, I don't really turn the light on except for maybe 1-2 hours a day, so I'm trying to figure out why I have a algae bloom.
ANSWER: Hi Marisol
You're water quality is perfect!  I doubt the algae killed the 2 fish though.  Is the tank near a window getting sunlight?  Seasons have changed since you've set it up, maybe it's getting sunlight now?  That'll cause it.  What kind/brand of filter are you using?  And do you know what the gallons per hour output are?  The fish that died, did they show any symptoms before dying, like hanging out at the top or by the filter output, hanging at the bottom, gasping for air at the surface, clamped fins, gills moving fast, anything strange or different?  What kind of dwarf gouramis were they?  They're generally peaceful, especially compared to regular gouramis.  But, I believe I just read there's one variety that can be a bit aggressive, I'll have to check which one it was.  Also, you usually want to leave the light on for about 6-8 hours for the fish-they need the light.  However, I'd hold off on that for now till we figure out the algae problem.

Christy

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QUESTION: The tank is not near a window. I am using a Top Fin filter (40 gallon) with Top Fin Bio 3 filter cartridges. I don't know the specific gallons per hour since I've thrown the box away. The molly that died was getting picked on by a guppie and this morning I noticed it kinda floating around but still alive. The red-flame dwarf gourami had no symptoms and looked perfect this morning. When I took him out of the tank he looked like he had a bit of clamped fin but not so much. Thanks for your help!
ANSWER: I tried searching on that gourami thing I was talking about, but couldn't find it.  I am seeing contradictory info though.  I have read, and through my own experiences have never been able to keep 2 gouramis in a tank.  One always dies within a week or so.  That's when I found out they usually aren't very tolerant of other gouramis-especially males.  I have read that dwarf gouramis are peaceful though, and I've just read some articles saying otherwise....so...that may have been what happened to the gourami that died, the other one may have killed him or stressed him to death, or it may have been sick.  It's hard to say with symptoms noticed when they're dead, other fish pick and eat on them or other signs show.  Hard to say if that was the cause of the death or an after effect.

For the molly, if the guppy was picking on it, then it was most likely sick already-hard to say from what.  Usually when a fish is sick, the others will start picking on them, kind of like the "strongest will survive" mentality.

Now for the water...phosphates(caused by uneaten food, waste, dying material in the tank like plants or fish, or even your water supply), nitrates, or too much light will cause the greenish water in most cases.  I would say do a few water changes within the next few days, like every other day.  Vacuum the gravel really good, and rinse off the filter in the bucket of used tank water.  Then get on that schedule of changing the water once a week, about 25%, vacuuming the gravel good as well.  You said you noticed the water, went to change the filter and it was bad.  I'm thinking the problem is uneaten food and poop that settles into the gravel and all the stuff that built up on the filter pad.  If you haven't done a good gravel cleaning yet, you'll be amazed at all the gunk that gets trapped down in there.  That's why I hate gravel lol...I only have 1 tank with it, and trying to work up the energy to change it out to sand.  

Your filter sounds good, rated for a higher tank-I always recommend going up to a higher size filter.

Just give it some time, should start noticing it clearing up soon, about a week or so with the frequent water changes.  Let me know if it doesn't clear up!  And good luck!

Christy

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QUESTION: I actually want to change my 5-gallon to sand instead of gravel since this is where I put baby fish. What kind of sand should I buy? Also, Wouldn't all the good bacteria be gone? This is why I was hesitant to change to sand. Thanks for all your help so far.  

Answer
I used just regular old kids play sand from Lowes.  Make sure it says silica free on it.  You can also use pool filter sand, I've heard that works better for some reason or other.  You need to rinse it first, I poured some sand in a bucket, about 1/2 way.  Used the hose and filled it with water, then slowly dump the water out(it is a bit messy with the sand).  Repeat until the water runs clear, took me about 6 times, then do an extra once or twice to be sure.  Don't make it over an inch in the tank, I'd go about 1/2 inch.  Once a month, you need to stir up the sand.  A anaerobic gas can build up in the air pockets of the sand.  I use the handle end of the net, and just stir it up a bit, especially wherever it ends up being over an inch.  A lot of fish or the filter may shift the sand around a little bit.  

Put the old gravel(be sure to keep it wet) in either a mesh filter media bag from the pet store, or a pair of nylons/pantyhose with the foot cut out.  Knot the end, and just keep that in the tank for awhile.  The bacteria in there will help build up the bacteria in the sand and such.  I also keep a bag or two like this with bacteria bio balls floating in one or two of my tanks, so if I need to start up a new tank, or after using a medicine in a tank, that'll help rebuild the bacteria colonies-almost like an instant cycle.

Have fun changing it out :)

Christy