Cloudy Water

[sharon19]

hi all my daughter has just got her new tank we filled it with water and let it settle and got her new fish saturday just gone but the water has become cloudy all of a sudden and several fish have also died
can anybody explain thanks

 

[abih2005]

Hi there - lots of people will be along to help but to start with - the tank wasn't ready for fish, if you go to the beginner's section on here (BEGINNERS'S RESOURCE CENTRE - IT'S AT THE TOP OF THE MAIN FRESHWATER MENU) there is a comprehensive list of tabs on fishless cycling. Basically, your daughter's filter lacked the bacteria needed to process the ammonia created by the fishes waste products and also detritus causing a increase in ammonia and nitrites, neither of these are wanted in a tank, nor are nitrates (the end product) in great quantities. I've been there and done it myself and it was incredibly upsetting!

How big is your tank and what kind of fish did you purchase? Usually, fish stocking is determined by surface area divided by 12 (12 inches of water per fish) - mine is 24 inches by 12inches = 288, divided by 12= 24 inches. Which means collective length of fish advisable to keep is 24 inches.... 12 fish, dependent on size basically!


Here's what I suggest you do.....

* Read up on fishless cycling, google it and there's loaaaads, but on this site you'll receive the best advice to be found.
*Take the rest of the fish back to the fish shop as keeping them in the tank as it is will require numerous daily water changes and undue stress for them, it's the kindest thing to do in my opinion.
* Go onto Ebay and by an API master test kit for freshwater, they're about £15-2o, way cheaper than in shops!
* Go to Boots and grab a bottle of household ammonia, white bottle/red top.
* Read up on how to cycle your tank, it will take anywhere between 4-8 weeks but this varies, I've almost finished mine .

Ummmm, I think that's about all I can say! Once you're confident you know how to cycle the tank, then you'll need to clean the tank out with water, give the gravel a good rinse, and then you're set to start. It's long and sometimes frustrating at times but the end result of a mature and stable tank that can support fish is worth it.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Nice post, Abi! Agree with what you suggested.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Sharon. As others have already suggested, you are in the first stage of a fish-in cycle. I have a link n my signature area that will take you to a better discussion of fish-in cycling but the short of it is that your fish produce a poison in the form of ammonia that will kill them at fairly low levels. Our filters eventually can develop bacterial colonies that convert ammonia into harmless nitrates, by way of the intermediate chemical, nitrite. Until that colony of ammonia processing bacteria can develop, it is up to you to keep the water safe for your fish by doing large water changes that remove the ammonia. Without proper testing kits, I would do at least a 50% daily water change with proper dechlorinator used for that new water. It may surprise you to find out that your fish, often reputed to need nice stable water conditions, will always look better right after that huge water change. Although I often use the water in a tank for very long periods, I am working with a mature, you would call it cycled in our fish jargon, filter. My filter removes all traces of ammonia and nitrites so I only do water changes often enough and large enough to keep the nitrates under control. Typical numbers, with my stocking levels, are around 10 to 20% water changes every 2 weeks. If you tend to stock a tank heavily, you may need to do weekly 30% water changes at that stage, but not at your present stage.