Cloudy Tank?

[markd]

got a new tank in may07 and still hasn't seen a clear day.my fish are not dying but my ammonia is off the charts.have a oscar,snook, green terror,jack dempsey,and a catfish to clean the bottom.

 

[darrel69]

Youve had it since may 2007 ?!?!? and not cycled yet ?? sounds like your doing something very wrong mate.

Your cloudyness is proberbly a bacterial bloom if you arn't fully cycled. If your Ammonia reading is of the chart you need to do a BIG water change ASAP.

What test kit are you using ?

 

[Chrispixx]

Have you been completely changing your filter pads (media)?? this is a no-no

 

[markd]

Youve had it since may 2007 ?!?!? and not cycled yet ?? sounds like your doing something very wrong mate.

Your cloudyness is proberbly a bacterial bloom if you arn't fully cycled. If your Ammonia reading is of the chart you need to do a BIG water change ASAP.

What test kit are you using ?

i have the master kit but could not see the ammonia reading so switched to the dip sticks.did a 15 gal the other day and gonna do another today,gonna start 20 gallon changes just have to pick another jug up.ps i have a 90 gal tank w/5 fish!!!!!!!!!!!!whats up?ithink i was cleaning my gravel a little too much as well.

Have you bee completely changing your filter pads (media)?? this is a no-no

i have 2 filters both have the filter pad and the charcoal,but one has the bio and the other i have a ammo remover which i alternate changes

 

[Colin_T]

i have 2 filters both have the filter pad and the charcoal,but one has the bio and the other i have a ammo remover which i alternate changes

There's your problem.
Ammogon or ammonia remover is taking the ammonia out of the water and preventing the bacteria from developing. Take the ammonia remover out of the filter and don't use it. replace it with a block of filter foam. Leave the filters to run and if you have to clean them do them a couple of weeks apart. Basically clean one filter then a couple of weeks later clean the other one. Wash the filter materials in a bucket of tank water and put them straight back into the tank.
Gravel cleaning the tank won't prevent the bacteria from growing but is highly recommended to keep the gravel clean. It should be done everytime you do a water change. Big fish (like the ones you have) are messy and make their gravel filthy. If you don't gravel clean it regularly you will have heaps of disease problems.
Cut the feeding right back to once or twice a week and do some 50-75% water changes every day for a week. Then do 50% water changes every couple of days until the filters have cycled. The fish won't starve during this time. The less food going into the tank the safer it is for the fish.

 

[markd]

i have 2 filters both have the filter pad and the charcoal,but one has the bio and the other i have a ammo remover which i alternate changes

There's your problem.
Ammogon or ammonia remover is taking the ammonia out of the water and preventing the bacteria from developing. Take the ammonia remover out of the filter and don't use it. replace it with a block of filter foam. Leave the filters to run and if you have to clean them do them a couple of weeks apart. Basically clean one filter then a couple of weeks later clean the other one. Wash the filter materials in a bucket of tank water and put them straight back into the tank.
Gravel cleaning the tank won't prevent the bacteria from growing but is highly recommended to keep the gravel clean. It should be done everytime you do a water change. Big fish (like the ones you have) are messy and make their gravel filthy. If you don't gravel clean it regularly you will have heaps of disease problems.
Cut the feeding right back to once or twice a week and do some 50-75% water changes every day for a week. Then do 50% water changes every couple of days until the filters have cycled. The fish won't starve during this time. The less food going into the tank the safer it is for the fish.

i have filter foam in each of the filters,and charcoal,but one has ammo rem and the other a bio bag.i'll replace the ammo bag with a bio bag and do a large water change,is treating the water for only a day ok or what would be the other option

 

[darrel69]

i have the master kit but could not see the ammonia reading so switched to the dip sticks.

Strip dip tests are really inaccurate. Liquid test kits are alot better and more accurate, aslong as there in date!!... stick with your API master.

 

[markd]

i have the master kit but could not see the ammonia reading so switched to the dip sticks.

Strip dip tests are really inaccurate. Liquid test kits are alot better and more accurate, aslong as there in date!!... stick with your API master.

i will,

 

[Colin_T]

When you say treating the water for a day, I gather you mean making it up a day before using it to do a water change? If so then yes that is fine.

 

[markd]

When you say treating the water for a day, I gather you mean making it up a day before using it to do a water change? If so then yes that is fine.

yes,thanks