Cloudy Tank

[teddyman5]

I have a problem with a 48 x 18 x 15 tank.Sand substrate about 1/2" deep, rocks and terracotta tubes with a few plastic plants.Temp 26, airstone each side, 2 Tetratec 800 filters.2 banjos, about 8 corys, 2 small plecs and 12 clown loaches 2-4" long.Feed on pellets, granules, flake, frozen bloodworm, algae wafers and cucumber. Water parameters pH 7, nitrate, nitrate both at normal levels.
Water keeps going cloudy, it will be OK for a few days then go cloudy then clear up etc.Can't get to the bottom of it so I completely stripped it and washed or renewed everything.OK for 10 days then back to going cloudy again.
I have seven other tanks with no problems.Same kind of rocks , tubes and plants used without problems in some of these.
Anybody got any thoughs as this is driving me mad?

 

[geo7x]

Hi,
Do you have an ammonia reading?
How much do you feed? Does it all get eaten?
Is the cloudiness white or green? White could been bacterial blooms and green would be algae blooms.

 

[teddyman5]

Hi,
Do you have an ammonia reading?
How much do you feed? Does it all get eaten?
Is the cloudiness white or green? White could been bacterial blooms and green would be algae blooms.

No Nh3 reading but NO2 and NO3 OK.Cloudiness is white.All food I think gets eaten fairly quickly except cucumber which takes a while.

 

[rdd1952]

How long have you had the tank set up (before you took it down and cleaned it). Cloudy water is usually a bacterial bloom or can also be caused by free-floating algae/diatoms. Is the tank ever exposed to direct sunlight? I see you have been a member for a while so you probably already know everything I have mentioned but just checking.

 

[teddyman5]

How long have you had the tank set up (before you took it down and cleaned it). Cloudy water is usually a bacterial bloom or can also be caused by free-floating algae/diatoms. Is the tank ever exposed to direct sunlight? I see you have been a member for a while so you probably already know everything I have mentioned but just checking.

set up since we moved so 18 months.First tank set up 17th December 1974 so I've been keeping a while but never too late to learn.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

you really need to check your ammonia reading as this could be the problem!

 

[debbiea19602004]

I have a problem with a 48 x 18 x 15 tank.Sand substrate about 1/2" deep, rocks and terracotta tubes with a few plastic plants.Temp 26, airstone each side, 2 Tetratec 800 filters.2 banjos, about 8 corys, 2 small plecs and 12 clown loaches 2-4" long.Feed on pellets, granules, flake, frozen bloodworm, algae wafers and cucumber. Water parameters pH 7, nitrate, nitrate both at normal levels.
Water keeps going cloudy, it will be OK for a few days then go cloudy then clear up etc.Can't get to the bottom of it so I completely stripped it and washed or renewed everything.OK for 10 days then back to going cloudy again.
I have seven other tanks with no problems.Same kind of rocks , tubes and plants used without problems in some of these.
Anybody got any thoughs as this is driving me mad?

 

[debbiea19602004]

had the same problem, lost a fish. water looked like a milk glass that had been rinsed out. Take out anything plastic and smell for ammonia, and recheck your ammonia as this was my problem, my sand had eaten the paint off of my pirate ship only the front end. But I took both out. Washed tank with ammo-lock then clear water.now doing great. My sand had soaked up the ammonia. Never had this to happen before as I have had sand tanks before. First time 4 everything. PS I no longer use sand.

 

[teddyman5]

had the same problem, lost a fish. water looked like a milk glass that had been rinsed out. Take out anything plastic and smell for ammonia, and recheck your ammonia as this was my problem, my sand had eaten the paint off of my pirate ship only the front end. But I took both out. Washed tank with ammo-lock then clear water.now doing great. My sand had soaked up the ammonia. Never had this to happen before as I have had sand tanks before. First time 4 everything. PS I no longer use sand.

Thanks - will report on problem again tomorrow

 

[teddyman5]

had the same problem, lost a fish. water looked like a milk glass that had been rinsed out. Take out anything plastic and smell for ammonia, and recheck your ammonia as this was my problem, my sand had eaten the paint off of my pirate ship only the front end. But I took both out. Washed tank with ammo-lock then clear water.now doing great. My sand had soaked up the ammonia. Never had this to happen before as I have had sand tanks before. First time 4 everything. PS I no longer use sand.

Thanks - will report on problem again tomorrow

Tested this morning - nitrire 0-2mg/l, nitrate 7mg/l, ammonia 0.Cloudiness once again has reduced but as sure as roe is roe it will be back later.