cloudy freshwater.

Question
   Hi Karen Fields, its Paul again. Thanks a lot for your first reply. To answer your questions first, my pH is naturally around 7.4, and as far as i know it should be around 6.6 to 7.0, so i don't know how will i drag it down.( the pH buffer just didn't work), but since you told me not to do anythng with the pH, ill leave it that way. For your second question of what i added, I also put some bacteria in the water. (the one for sale from the bottle).
    While waiting for your reply I removed 50% of water and added a new one from my tap water, conditioned it. added some foam on my filter, and wait. The next day, it was clear. However, when i disturb the water, there's this white smoke that came out, which will surely make the water cloudy again. so i just didn't touch the water. Since it was technically clear, i decided to get my arowana and red blood parrots. The thing is I got one small arowana, (tip of middle finger to wrist) and 9 red bloods of about 4 inches (my parents decided on this, can't do anything). By the way I also got some feeder to lower the pH and for the arowana to eat.

My questions are:

1. what was that somkey thing that settled down? will it disappear by changing 25% of water everyday? or if i don't change would it be safe for my fish?

2. Is it ok for the arowana to stay with 9 red bloods on a 55 gallon tank? I'm so worried that the parrots will gang up on my arowana.

For now, these are just my concern. your answers and advice will really be a big help Karen. Thank you so so much. You just don't know how grateful I am that you're helping me. Thank you again.
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Followup To

Question -
Karen Fields, I just set up an aquarium 7 days ago. I soaked the stones in the tank for 24 hours, drained it, then rinse the stones 3 times, and then fill it with new water and put some water conditioner. Everything was well, until i put the PH buffer 6.0. after like an hour my water become so cloudy. I asked the pet store, but he told me that it's normal, and should be gone in two days. so I waited. after 2 days still the same, so i put some chemical to make the water clear within 24 hours. No good. Furthermore, I noticed that there's this white/cloudy slimy thing that built up in the stones and air tubes. what i did was remove 20% or water and replace it with a new tap water, and just added the bacteria that i needed for my future arrowana and parrot fish. My questions are:
1.did i do everything right?
2.what was the slimy thing that sticks every corner? do i have to worry about it?
3.What's the best thing for me to do to clear the water.

Karen, i hope you can help me with my problem. your help would really be appreciated. Thank You.

Paul

Answer -
Dear Paul,
That's a hard one. i'm not really sure what could be wrong. Slimy substances in the aquarium are usually related to organic pollution. But there shouldn't be any organic pollution in your tank since it is brand new! (and without fish correct?)

You rinsed the stones very well so I doubt the sliminess and cloudy water is related to insufficient gravel washing. The only thing that leaves us here with is the pH buffer you added. You mentioned that when you added that, a hour later the water become so cloudy. Now this is just a guess. But it could indeed be the pH buffer that caused the cloudiness. Sometimes, however, new aquariums do become cloudy even with repeated gravel washings as I have seen this first hand. There can still be some dust leftover enough to cloud the water quite badly.
~Is it necessary for you to be using the Ph buffer? I ask this because the huge majority of fish available to aquarists are highly adaptable and able to thrive in varying ranges of pH--as long as it's stable and not flucuating. I prefer never to adjust my pH as this can so more harm than good. Oftentimes, chemical adjusters never work or work just for a short while. If you have a high pH then naturally high alkalinity will be present which buffers your pH to certain and consistant level. Adding pH lowering chemicals works for a short while, but then your natural buffers just raise it back up sometimes in less than 24 hours. So the result is a pH rollercoaster ride and some very stressed fish. Most aquarists I know prefer not to adjust their pH also. And fortunately this has no bad affect on the fish unless the species is particularly delicate or wild caught. Otherwise, the majority of fish thrive, show good color, spawn and behave naturally in pH that is out of their normal range. If you are buying your Arrowana and parrot fish from a fishstore, ask what they keep their ph at and I would try to duplicate that as best as possible.
~If it is still neccesary to adjust your pH. Really the best and only reliable way to do it is with R/O water mixed with tap water to achieve the desired pH level.

Back to the slimy substance. Honestly I wish I could tell you exactly what this is but it is a very odd thing indeed. You may have to do some investigating as to any causes to the slimy substance. I would clean up as much of it as possible and try to siphon it out. Have you added anything at all else to the tank (besides stones, water, and pH buffer?)

The cloudy water should clear with time and a good working filter, but the best cure I have found for persistant cloudy water problems is daily 50% water changes. It may seem like forever, but with daily water changes, they haven't failed me yet on curing cloudy tank problems that i've had in the past.

Well, I'm sorry I couldn't have been of anymore help.
Feel free to write if you have anymore concerns...

Best wishes and Happy fishkeeping!
Karen~

Answer
Dear Paul,
Sounds like you disturbed the filter and that's what caused the smokey cloud to come out. I have seen this a lot when filters are cleaned. It's just material that collects on the pad or sponge and gets dislodged when you moved or clean the material. It's likely not very harmful. But since this aquarium is newly setup, daily water changes would be beneficial anyway since you could have problems with ammonia buildup. (Be sure to test your water!)

Please be aware that Arrowanas are a great commitment and really must be moved to a bigger aquarium of over 100gallons (about 125gal) when they begin to put on some size. They are high bioload fish that need plenty of space to swim. He will probably be Ok for a while in the 55gal but he will be quite crowded soon with 9 parrot cichlids.

I personally don't think your parrot cichlids will do any harm to your Arrowana. They for the most part are very docile and tolerant towards other fish. One plus is because of their odd shape, parrots cannot close their mouths all the way so they cannot bite.

Well, you're welcome for everything and I hope this helps!

Best wishes and happy fishkeeping!
Karen~