Cloudyness Issue

[Curiosity101]

The only way to get rid of a bacterial bloom is to remove the ammonia. This can only be done by the filter re-cycling.

 

[fatheadminnow]

The heterotrophic bacteria will eat on organics within the tank. They produce ammonia. So, organic material could be from simply adding dechlor to water and the heterotrophic bacteria will quickly got to work on the organics in the water because it can now old bacteria safely. But once the tank re cycles it should clear up.

-FHM

 

[james_fish]

The Ammonia levels are currently low. If they get high, i have some Interpret Ammonia Remover which works a treat. Should i add this or should i not use any treatments at this moment in time?

James

 

[drobbyb]

Waterchanges are the best route to getting rid of ammonia. The commercial ammonia removal products don't actually remove it, they simply convert it to ammonium. The bacteria in the filter treat it the same as ammonia though but most test kits do not differentiate between the two. This leaves you with no way of knowing how much to dose to take care of the problem. I'm not sure if overdosing that interpet product would be ok or not, but I wouldn't risk it since a waterchange will take care of the problem 100%.

 

[OldMan47]

By listening to the advice of your LFS, you have placed yourself back near the beginning of a fish-in cycle. Since they take about a month to complete, if you change the sponge again, your fish will never enjoy a fully cycled tank. The cloudiness will clear on its own in a few days but the ammonia will not. Keep a close eye on ammonia and nitrites and use water changes to clear up an excess of either one. Next time you think it is time to change the sponge, try rinsing it out in old tank water, the water you throw away with a water change, and return the sponge to the spot you took it from. You will find that you do not get a fresh bacterial bloom and do not get any ammonia returning to the tank. Instead, you will have preserved the bacterial colony that you have worked so hard to establish.

 

[james_fish]

I appreciate all of your help.

Should i use the ammonia remover if the levels rise to high, or is it not the best time to do this?

 

[Curiosity101]

You just shouldn't use it. It doesn't remove it. It simply converts it to another form.

To lower ammonia you need to do water changes.

But the bloom will only go away once no more ammonia is registering in the tank.

 

[james_fish]

I still have the old sponge with 'media' in it, its been out of water for about 4 days.

Would i not be able to put some from it into the new one now or is it dangerous because its been out of action?

 

[OldMan47]

If the old sponge has not dried out yet, put it back into the filter. The bacteria will stay alive a long time unless the media dries out.