Cloudy Water Help Please

[emmag21]

I have very cloudy greenish water and my fish have started rubbing on things and one appears to have swollen gills (see previous post here). I was unsure what to do previously as i was waiting for my new tester kit to arrive and it has today.


This is the reading from my aquarium....



NitrAte - 25mg
NitrIte - 0
GH - >10
KH - 6
PH - its between 7.6 and 8

What suggestions do you now have? x

 

[waterdrop]

I'm confused. This is a new test kit but it doesn't test ammonia?

 

[maximinimus]

I would say that is a test strip from the order they are posted

 

[emmag21]

I know there is no Ammonia reading I was advised to buy it and assumed it would have it but it doesnt x

Its a Tetratest 5 in 1 strip test. x

 

[maximinimus]

Tetratest 5 in 1 are not accurate I'm afraid, I would return them for a refund and get a master or mini master liquid test kit.

 

[Keithoms]

Dip in strip tests are never usually accurate, they never come out right. GO for a reputable liquid test like API or Tetra.

 

[Efren]

i would suggests API LIQUID FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT - -
*it has everything you need - -

and quite accurate as well IMO.

i've got mine from seapets.com - they do it in a reasonable price -

-good luck-

 

[waterdrop]

Oh dear, we've somehow let you down Emma. Usually practically "thing number one" in the beginner group is to get you going to find a good liquid-based test kit and to warn you that the test strips are worthless. We usually manage to give that advice even before starting to work on fishless cycling. From all the posts you had I just assumed you'd already been testing with a good kit. This could end up explaining a lot of the problems you are having - you don't even know what's going on in your tank yet if you aren't using a liquid kit.

There are several good kits, from Nutrafin and others, but I agree that the API Freshwater Master Test Kit is quite popular here. I use one and find it works quite well.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[pauly]

Bin that test kit, get a liquid one.

In the meantime though, can you not take a sample to your LFS to have it tested?

 

[Dave Spencer]

This could end up explaining a lot of the problems you are having - you don't even know what's going on in your tank yet if you aren't using a liquid kit.

There are several good kits, from Nutrafin and others, but I agree that the API Freshwater Master Test Kit is quite popular here. I use one and find it works quite well.

~~waterdrop~~

The irritated fish gills and green water are telling us what is going on. Buying the test kit will just tell the OP what she already knows.

I am not a fan of test kits and sometimes think they cause more problems than they are worth, especially with erratic and erroneous results. Green water can be triggered by ammonia levels hobby test kits can`t detect.

If people need them for peace of mind or to follow the general trends of a fishless cycle, that is fine, but there are far better ways to run a tank, even when relatively inexperienced. Test kits are recommended a little too much IMO.

Dave.

 

[pauly]

Fair point Dave, but they at least give a general indication of what's happening in the tank - and they also help people understand the processes a bit easier (IMO).

Emma - you need to combat the algae AND the ammonia source. Are you sure your tank was cycled to begin with considering you had no test kit? The Nitrate reading could be coming from your tap water - you need to test that.

You should consider:
1) carrying out very regular water changes, say 10% twice a day;
2) giving your tank a blackout (which is no light at all (not even normal sunlight), and no feeding for 3 days);
3) adding some filter floss/wool to your filter
4) adding some carbon to your filter
5) if you haven't cycled, get some mature media or bactinettes for your filter

Good luck

Paul.

 

[waterdrop]

Well, I could easily be guilty of just jumping in with a recommendation without having read back over all her threads - didn't realize she already knew there was an ammonia problem. I do agree that test kits help the most with fishless cycling and after you gain months of experience running your tank, you know how things should be looking and don't feel the need to double-check with tests nearly as much - I've felt that myself.

Its just that I also feel that a beginner (and I admit I don't even know whether Emma considers herself a beginner, so I may be making a wrong assumption, sorry!) gets a lot of personal reinforcement of the basics of good water chemistry by performing a number of these tests during the learning stages.

I mean come on Dave, you are one of the experienced planted tank experts that I (and others I'm sure) aspire to be someday! Id bet that lots of beginners would have a harder time drawing correct conclusions from various visual observations that take experience than from methodically following the instructions and getting a series of test results. Ideally one is able to do both, but I just found that the tests, especially since I was doing them on my own tank, really helped me believe in what the members were telling me here, so I've ended up thinking of testing as a good thing for beginners.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Dave Spencer]

Thanks for the glowing planthead endorsement WD, but I am sure I don`t deserve it.

I am not trying to be controversial or argumentative, but this problem has been running on two threads so far and the advice has been:

Don`t carry out regular water changes as they will cause an algae bloom. The fish are suffering from ammonia poisoning....bang in large and regular water changes now. Water changes are actually one of the most effective ways of controlling algae, especially in unestablished planted tanks.

Add salt. For crying out loud.

Buy an ammonia test kit.She almost certainly has ammonia present. Look at the fish and green water.

This uncontrolled ammonia level is coming from somewhere, so this thread should be getting to the bottom of that problem, IMO.

You should be carrying out daily, large water changes. The fish are the most important factor here, but it will hit the green water hard as well.

Green water is very difficult to clear. If you can`t clear it through the hard work of water changes, get a UV steriliser.

Most importantly, think of where the ammonia is coming from and act on it. Prevention is easier than cure.

I can trigger certain types of algae at will in my tanks (not green water, ironically), and know how to clear it. I am not an experienced aquarist (approx 1.5 years), but I have been encouraged by Tom Barr to observe my tanks and how the occupants are behaving. We all spend too much time looking at our tanks. This will tell us what is happening better than any test tube, IMO. It`s not hard, and way better than trying to interpret colours in test tubes.

Let`s face it, if we are doing the job right, there is nothing to test. If things are going wrong, use your noggin to figure out where you have cocked up.


Dave.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, far be it from me to not advocate large water changes if one knows there is ammonia in there! Completely agree that is that action that should be taken.

Have to agree that lately when I glance in to my son's room where the tank is, I just look for how lively and energetic the fish look - always tells me a lot, lol.

Hope that you will be able to help Emma work it out successfully - I will be away for a bit but will log in for a peek if I get a chance.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[emmag21]

Emma - you need to combat the algae AND the ammonia source. Are you sure your tank was cycled to begin with considering you had no test kit? The Nitrate reading could be coming from your tap water - you need to test that.

You should consider:
1) carrying out very regular water changes, say 10% twice a day;
2) giving your tank a blackout (which is no light at all (not even normal sunlight), and no feeding for 3 days);
3) adding some filter floss/wool to your filter
4) adding some carbon to your filter
5) if you haven't cycled, get some mature media or bactinettes for your filter

It was cycled, I had the API tester kit previously but when i required a new one was advised to get the tetratec strip one which i did, i am however waiting for an API tester kit to arrive now after reading the negative comments on the strip kits

I have been doing large water changes approx 50-70% a day as the tank is so cloudy you can not see to the other side .

I had reduced the day light but i shall do the 3 day blackout you suggest
I shall add filter wool and carbon
I have cycled but do you think getting bactinettes will help?

Thanks for the glowing planthead endorsement WD, but I am sure I don`t deserve it.

I am not trying to be controversial or argumentative, but this problem has been running on two threads so far and the advice has been:

Don`t carry out regular water changes as they will cause an algae bloom. The fish are suffering from ammonia poisoning....bang in large and regular water changes now. Water changes are actually one of the most effective ways of controlling algae, especially in unestablished planted tanks.

Add salt. For crying out loud.

Buy an ammonia test kit.She almost certainly has ammonia present. Look at the fish and green water.

This uncontrolled ammonia level is coming from somewhere, so this thread should be getting to the bottom of that problem, IMO.

You should be carrying out daily, large water changes. The fish are the most important factor here, but it will hit the green water hard as well.

Green water is very difficult to clear. If you can`t clear it through the hard work of water changes, get a UV steriliser.

Most importantly, think of where the ammonia is coming from and act on it. Prevention is easier than cure.

Let`s face it, if we are doing the job right, there is nothing to test. If things are going wrong, use your noggin to figure out where you have cocked up.

If you read Here you will see i have been doing large water changes daily but they dont seem to be clearing the cloudiness, hence my asking what i should do on here. Ive been advised to not do any water changes and leave things to settle and to do large water changes so its hard to decide what advice to actually take considering the advice given is conflicting and ive come on to speak with so called experts who say different things! I do however feel that there must be high levels of ammonia and ive been doing regular water changes. Ive been told to buy green away to sort the green water which i have ordered x