Cloudy Fish Tank - Research Included.

[wraith]

I just recently setup a 44 gallon tank with pool filter sand as a substrate. I cleaned the filter sand several times until the water came out clear and proceeded to set my tank up. Upon getting everything ready, the tank was clear for a couple of days then went to a milky/hazy color by the end of the week. I tested the tank’s water and have the following:

Nitrites – 0
Ammonia Level - .5-1.0
Ph – high 7’s

I ran some ammonia remover through the tank and did a 20% water change and the ammonia levels are still at .5-1.0. I also put some PH down in the tank and got the Ph level down to neutral level (7.0) but after a couple of days it sky rockets up to high 7’s again. I know from having other tanks that the white, milky color in the tank is that its going through its bacterial bloom process but I have never had it last this long. In order to speed up the process I have even put some of the gravel from one of my established tanks into media bags and hang them in the tank. I have even used filters from my other tank in my Rena Filstar filter as well. I am actually concerned about the high levels of PH and the ammonia level since I know that a high level of PH can cause water to look cloudy and/or cause ammonia levels to spike and become even more lethal than what they already are.

Does anybody have any tips on this? This is my first time using sand as a substrate so I do not know if it has more influence on PH levels rather than gravel.

 

[Colin_T]

if the sand is calcium based it could be pushing your PH up.
If there are shells or limestone in the tank it will do the same.

 

[dthoffsett]

What is your PH from the tap? As Colin pointed out aragonite or limestone based sand can raise your PH. You want to avoid using any chemicals to change your PH level as a fluctating PH is far more dangerous to fish than one outside of the "ideal" range. Most fish can easily adapt to different PH levels with the exception of some of the more sensitive species and some wild-caught.

I've had bacterial blooms last for a week or so, it's possible that could be what you are seeing.

My other question is are you fishless cycling or using fish, if so how many and what species?

 

[wraith]

Here is a link to the sand that I used - http/www.u-s-silica.com/mystic.htm

I don't know what the PH level from the tap is - I will have to test it tonight and report back.

I am currently cycling with fish. Here are the list of fish currently inhabitating the tank.

2 kissing Gouramis
2 peppered Cory Catfish
1 dojo
1 shark tipped catfish
1 spotted pleco

The 2 Gouramis came from an already cycled tank - all the other fish were added 2 weeks after the tank was setup.