[Realistik84]

My tank has been setup and running for approx. 3 1/2 weeks, if not 4.

There have been some small additions in some Swords, Tetras, Corys - totaling 10 fish..

Testing is coming out fine. Substrate is Flourite, with fine gravel on top.

As you can see from picture below, it is a Cloudy haze. It began early on, like Day 3 or 4, and has been ever since...

I tried Water Clarifier, did nothing. I was doing Water Changes every 2-3 days..Now I am doing nothing, hands off, to see what happens...but wanted to see everyone else's suggestions..

 

[shinycard255]

Looks like a bacterial bloom to me. I had this issue when I started my 15G. Feed your fish very little (once a day) and do water changes (10% per day I'd say) until it's gone. It should go away with a week or 2 of doing this

 

[iKine]

I had the same issue, I did massive water changes daily until it cleared.

 

[Realistik84]

Looks like a bacterial bloom to me. I had this issue when I started my 15G. Feed your fish very little (once a day) and do water changes (10% per day I'd say) until it's gone. It should go away with a week or 2 of doing this

I had the same issue, I did massive water changes daily until it cleared.

Common theory of fishkeeping would agree, my only concern is I have been doing this since the beginning, and to no avail, I am wondering if it is time to switch plans

 

[1987]

How well did you rinse your gravel? I didn't do a well enough job, and it was cloudy due to fine particals of sand floating in the water making it cloudy. I ended up hooking the hose up so water was going into my tank as I was using the gravel vac to suck up and drain all the sand that had already settled. Took about 20 min and has been clean & clear ever since.

 

[shinycard255]

How well did you rinse your gravel? I didn't do a well enough job, and it was cloudy due to fine particals of sand floating in the water making it cloudy. I ended up hooking the hose up so water was going into my tank as I was using the gravel vac to suck up and drain all the sand that had already settled. Took about 20 min and has been clean & clear ever since.

+1 Very good point! I had this issue in my 60G. I never rinsed out the Flourite or Pea Gravel in my tank at first (before I added dirt) and when I filled it up for the first time it clouded up very badly and when I made any movements around the substrate, it clouded the tank again. I emptied my tank completely, spent a good 4 hours rinsing out my flourite and pea gravel and put it back in (with dirt under it this time). Never clouded up again from all the fine particles.

I still think it's a bacterial bloom however

 

[jedimasterben]

Also, if you used a clarifier (like Seachem Clarity) without having filter floss (fine, white padding) in your filter, the clarifier will do nothing, as all it does is group smaller particles together so that the filter floss can catch it.

When you say testing is fine, when cycling the tank did you see an ammonia spike, nitrite spike, then nitrates rise? Did you use recycled filter media to boost the bacteria levels?

 

[discuspaul]

As others have said, it could be a bacterial bloom, in which case it will dissipate with time. Otherwise, as Ben said, filter floss will be a great assist, which I find does a superb job when replaced frequently, and used in the filter(s) along with Purigen, and pre-filter sponges on the filter intake tubes. Give it a try, I believe you'll get fairly quick, effective results.

 

[devlyyn]

I also agree with the filter floss comments. I washed my gravel (regular pea gravel from lowe's) only a few times before putting it in, but the cloudiness went away in 2-3 days. I think having a sump or canister with the floss helps a lot with this. If you are running a HOB filter I can imagine it might take a lot longer.

 

[jcgd]

I think you stocked it too fast. How big is it?

Keep doing water changes. Not to solve the bloom necessarily, but to keep the fish healthy until the tank settles itself out.

A tank takes around 4-5 weeks to cycle properly. Seeding it can speed things up a little, but you shouldn't have much in the tank at this point, IMO.

 

[Realistik84]

I appreciate everyone's response, I truly do!

Many seems to mention bacterial bloom - is this common 3 weeks in still?
Some have mentioned not risning Flourite enough. I definately rinsed. I put it on a screen about 4 x 4 feet, and rinsed fairly thoroughly...but not overly much as I didnt want to counter it's effectiveness

I am using filter floss in the 3 stage wet/dry filtration system of the Biocube; however, I am thinking the placement could be changed.

I too agree believe I have overstocked, and I feel bad now...however, I dont have much of a choice at this point, and the fish seem healthy currently.

 

[jedimasterben]

Many seems to mention bacterial bloom - is this common 3 weeks in still?

If the tank was not properly cycled, it is a possibility. You never really answered the question on whether or not you used old media from a previously established tank to "seed" the bacteria.

I am using filter floss in the 3 stage wet/dry filtration system of the Biocube; however, I am thinking the placement could be changed.

Filter floss is a "polisher" and typically is best as the last thing before the water returns to the main tank.

I too agree believe I have overstocked, and I feel bad now...however, I dont have much of a choice at this point, and the fish seem healthy currently.

How large is the tank?

 

[Realistik84]

If the tank was not properly cycled, it is a possibility. You never really answered the question on whether or not you used old media from a previously established tank to "seed" the bacteria.

Yes - I had a "satchel" of Carbon from an established tank of 2 years, as well as a piece of driftwood 1x1ft roughly from the same tank.

Filter floss is a "polisher" and typically is best as the last thing before the water returns to the main tank.

How large is the tank?

29 gallon Biocube

 

[jedimasterben]

Yes - I had a "satchel" of Carbon from an established tank of 2 years, as well as a piece of driftwood 1x1ft roughly from the same tank.



29 gallon Biocube

Hmm, that thing should have cycled quickly, then.

Curious, what are you ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?

 

[CaliEAB]

See if you can get a hold of a uv sterilizer. Might take a few days with a small one but it'll work great on on bacteria.

 

[Realistik84]

Hmm, that thing should have cycled quickly, then.

Curious, what are you ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?

I will retest tonight, but I checked here were the results...which seemed to catch some flack due to the poor testing kit...

Also - each time I went to the LFS (Multiples including Big Box, and well respected Privately owned), they had indicated some, but minor ammnoia/Nitrites, and some Nitrates which indicated the cycle is near end...hence was OK to add fish.

 

[Realistik84]

See if you can get a hold of a uv sterilizer. Might take a few days with a small one but it'll work great on on bacteria.

I have been reading more about these - but frankly the wife is fed up with me as it is due to costs...I got out of Saltwater and converted to FW planted due to cost...yet I have been spending $$$ like you wouldnt believe (Bulbs, Fert, Root Tabs, Plants, Driftwood, test kit, etc...)

So my point is, although I do want one I cannot see it happening tonight or in near days...correct me if I am wrong, but this is optional/luxury/suggested not required equipment...

 

[jedimasterben]

I will retest tonight, but I checked here were the results...which seemed to catch some flack due to the poor testing kit...

Also - each time I went to the LFS (Multiples including Big Box, and well respected Privately owned), they had indicated some, but minor ammnoia/Nitrites, and some Nitrates which indicated the cycle is near end...hence was OK to add fish.

Those stick testers really aren't worth their weight in poop, I'd grab an API liquid master kit whenever you get the chance.

Also, if there are any detected ammonia/nitrite, you shouldn't add fish. Your biofilter may have gotten a jumpstart, but if you added fish with those kind of parameters, it may be overloaded and your jumpstart won't count for much.

 

[Realistik84]

Those stick testers really aren't worth their weight in poop, I'd grab an API liquid master kit whenever you get the chance.

Also, if there are any detected ammonia/nitrite, you shouldn't add fish. Your biofilter may have gotten a jumpstart, but if you added fish with those kind of parameters, it may be overloaded and your jumpstart won't count for much.

I have some Saltwater test kits, but the results were funky so I chalked it up to being inaccurate for Freshwater...Do you know if these are able to be used accurately for FW still?

Also - what is your recommendation....water changes, let it play out...?

 

[Jeff5614]

IMO, you're just going to have to stick it out until your biofilter is established before the water clears which could take a couple of months.