Cloudy/hazey Water

[Mitder Gourami]

Hiya Everyone,

I am new here and wondered if anyone can help me.

We changed our tank at xmas to an Elite 95 (Still relative beginers compared to a lot of you guys!!) Anyway the tank was fine, up until 2 weeks ago when i did a 50% water change. I left the new water to sit to let the chlorine neutraliser (aqua plus) take effect and for the water to get up to room temperature. As well as chanigng 50% of the water i also took out all fake plants/bog wood and rocks and cleaned them in the water that i had taken out, the filter was also cleaned.

HOWEVER

Since this water change the water has been very hazy and it almost looks like there are very minute particles floating in the water but more worryingly several fish have died including 2 glass catfish, celebes rainbowfish and a pea puffer!!

I have done some research and some FAQ's suggest introducing Daphnia

Does anyone on here have any ideas as i'd like to sort this problem urgently

TIA

Mark

 

[Davo86]

Hi Mark
I'm guessing you cleaned the filter in tap water?

cloudy water is a sign of new tank syndrome and is often caused when tap water containing chlorine kills the beneficial bacteria in the filters which in essence is what keeps the fish alive, I would do a 50% water change asap and test your water parameters.

As you have little or even no beneficial bacteria you will find that the toxins in the tank will quickly rise and my guess is that this is killing your fish.

 

[Mitder Gourami]

Hi Mark
I'm guessing you cleaned the filter in tap water?

cloudy water is a sign of new tank syndrome and is often caused when tap water containing chlorine kills the beneficial bacteria in the filters which in essence is what keeps the fish alive, I would do a 50% water change asap and test your water parameters.

As you have little or even no beneficial bacteria you will find that the toxins in the tank will quickly rise and my guess is that this is killing your fish.

Thanks for your quick response

I took the filter apart and cleaned it with the water that i had just removed.

I did a 15% water change last night hoping that would help, should i still do the 50% water change tonight?

Is there anything else i can do as i desperately dont want to lose anymore fish!!

Mark

 

[Davo86]

tbh you really need a test kit asap, without knowing the stats then its hard to say how bad the water quality is becoming,
If there is ammonia or nitrite present in the water then it is likely that more fish will become ill or even die.

I would be doing a precautionary water change now and then taking a water sample to your LFS to get them to test it, (if possible)

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i agree with dave, you've probably nuked your bacteria by cleaning it too thoroughly or something like that and as such have a bacterial bloom.

the correct cause of action is more water changes, every day. only water test results will cofnirm/deny this though

 

[Mitder Gourami]

i agree with dave, you've probably nuked your bacteria by cleaning it too thoroughly or something like that and as such have a bacterial bloom.

the correct cause of action is more water changes, every day. only water test results will cofnirm/deny this though

Ok thanks very much for your help. I will do another water change and test the water tonight

I have done some further reading and apparently bottom dwelling fish are more affected by this due to the ammonia levels. Is there any merit in moving the bottom dwelling fish i have into another tank? My friend who lives round the corner has a 240 litre juwel tank that they could lodge in??

Mark

 

[petertr]

Just to double check - did you clean out all of the media from your filter?