Cloudy Water

[FreshwaterFishie]

Tank size: 20 Gallon Long

Tank temp: Around 70

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Usually about 4 gallons every month or more

Tank inhabitants: Otocinclus, Mickey Mouse Platy, Zebra Danio

The water has recently gotten cloudy. It happened right after the water change. The only water we put in was RO water and then added NovAqua. It has been a week, I gave it time to go away but it is still there.
I will try to to a water test soon. Thank you!

 

[boxman]

Ok, well it sounds to me as if your water changes are too infrequent (should do a 1/5th water change every 2 weeks).

Please give details on your filteration and also quantity of each type of fish. Do you have bogwood or any other feature you have recently added?

I found I had cloudy / pigmented issues after adding bogwood and this was resolved by using a product called polyfilter which is basically a thick solid gause looking filter floss - this is only really practical for use in external canister filters.

Lastly, and I think this is more important than alot of people realise - when using RO water by no means use more than 1/3 (most people would suggest 1/4) of the water being replaced being RO, the remaining 2/3 or 3/4 normal tap water. Reason for this is RO is far too pure for most (if not all) fish.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

Ok, well it sounds to me as if your water changes are too infrequent (should do a 1/5th water change every 2 weeks).

Please give details on your filteration and also number of each fish.

Do you have bogwood or any other feature you have recently added?

I found I had cloudy / pigmented issues after adding bogwood and this was resolved by using a product called polyfilter which is basically a thick solid gause feeling filter floss - this is only really practical for use in external canister filters.

Lastly, and I think this is more important than alot of people realise - when using RO water by no means use more than 1/3 (most people would suggest 1/4) of the water being replaced being RO and the remaining 2/3 or 3/4 normal tap water. Reason for this is RO is far too pure for most (if not all) fish.

Thanks!!! I have a Tetra Whisper Filter 20 (external) and added a new Bio-bag catridge when I did the water change.
I have 7 Mickey Mouse Platy + a fry, 6 Zebra Danio, and 3 Otocinclus.
I haven't adding anything recently.
And the tank is about 6 months old now.
The reason I use the RO water is because my tap water is very, very HARD. I will try adding tap water next time.
Could the cloudiness be from the new cartidge?

Thanks again for the help!

Edit: I meant every month or more!!! LOL Not less!

 

[boxman]

I'd say you're fully stocked (if not a bit overstocked) so don't add any more!

I usually wash any filter media thoroughly (especially things like carbon or nitrate bags).

Yes, well perhaps use up to 1/3 of the water you are replacing as RO but don't use more. Get some info on your parameters down and I'm sure between all of us we can get some solution for you.

The things I've mentioned have certainly helped me in the past with similar issues.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

I'd say you're fully stocked (if not a bit overstocked) so don't add any more!

I usually wash any filter media thoroughly (especially things like carbon or nitrate bags).

Yes, well perhaps use up to 1/3 of the water you are replacing as RO but don't use more. Get some info on your parameters down and I'm sure between all of us we can get some solution for you.

The things I've mentioned have certainly helped me in the past with similar issues.

Thank you!
I wasn't planning on adding any more fish. And will bring any new babies to LFS.

I also forgot to say that when rinsed the filter bag a few days after adding it and it was COVERED in algae! It doesn't seem like there is much algae on the rocks and am trying to keep some for the Otos.

I will do testing tonight and try to post it ASAP.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

OK! Here are the parameters:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
PH: 8.0
Carbonate Hardness (KH): 11°dKH or 196.9 ppm KH


I was also wondering if the clouds could be algae particles?

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

(bump)

Will the polyfilter remove the cloudiness too? It just says removes chemicals, ect. from water.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

I went to a LFS today to purchase the Polyfilter. The guy said it wasn't needed for the problem and gave us some free plants and told us to keep the lights off for 2 days. He said he had the same problem and it helped him. Was that good advice?

Another Oto died. The guy said it is because of the KH.