Bacteria Bloom/white Cloudy Water

[DjLeethul]

Hey guys,

I believe that I have a bacteria bloom and I am unsure what to do. I've read conflicting information, which brings me here. I read that you should leave the tank alone and just make sure that you have extra circulation for oxygen. I've also read that you need to do 50% water changes daily until it clears up.

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank

4 tiger barbs
4 serpae tetras
2 clown loaches (I know the will outgrow the tank but are slow growers)

white cloudiness is concentrated at the top and my ammonia levels has risen
I did a 30% water change and cleaned the gravel twice
cloudiness is still present and the filter was covered with a brown layer (both sides)

What should I do???

 

[WILDER]

Is the filter flowing well.
Just clean the filter and impellor but don't touch the sponges.
Just water changes to keep levels down, extra aeration.
Salt helps with gills and stress but you cant add much with the fish you keep.
[URL="http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cloudywt.htm"]http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cloudywt.htm[/URL]

 

[DjLeethul]

Is the filter flowing well.
Just clean the filter and impellor but don't touch the sponges.
Just water changes to keep levels down, extra aeration.
Salt helps with gills and stress but you cant add much with the fish you keep.
<a href="http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cloudywt.htm" target="_blank">http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cloudywt.htm</a>

The filter was causing an overflow in my filter so I changed the cartridge and did leave the sponges alone. The filter is flowing much better and I have been adding some salt to the aquarium to aid in the stress relief.

Thank you for your advice

 

[daftcowuk]

Hey,

I take it that it is a new tank that is still cycling or has just finished? I had major problems with mine due to white, cloudy water. I read up just about everything there was to read on it, and tried everything suggested, but just couldn't get the water to clear. In the end I took all my fish back to my LFS to look after until I got the problem sorted out as they where clearly distressed. Even with no fish in the tank the ammonia levels rocketed… like of the test kit scale. Apparently when there is not enough oxygen in the water, the cycle goes into reverse. I completely emptied the tank and started fresh, only this time I tried a fishless cycle. Everything seemed fine, and I was just about to put the fish back… then guess what happened again, yep the water went really white and cloudy and had a film over the surface!

In the end I bought I new filter. The filer I was running was more than adequate for the size of tank, but I went for the next model up anyway and put a really fine filter media in it (like really, really fine). I have never had any trouble since.

For the record though, I have since got a bigger tank, but am still using the same filter and have never had any trouble (although I didn't have to cycle the new tank as filter was just swapped over).

I guess what I am trying to say in a really long winded way, is that extra filtration until the tank is settled may be just what you need. However I have only been keeping fish for about two years, so you might want to speak to someone who really knows what they are talking about, just thought I would let you know about my troubles just in case it helps.

Good Luck!