Foggy Water Won't Clear

[Diesel Trout]

I have a 72 gallon freshwater community that has had foggy water for the past few weeks. It appears to be a bacteria bloom but I can't figure out what is causing it. I do 40% water changes with substrate siphon weekly, check the filter media for foreign particles occasionally (dumped the water and rinsed the foam in tank water last week), and try not to overfeed. All members are accounted for. I don't think that there are any rotting plants but I can't see what is lurking at the back of the tank.

My pH is at 7.0 and nitrates have not gone above 10 ppm. I did try a water clearer a couple weeks ago but that did not have any effect. The water has a definite plant aroma.

Anybody have any suggestions? Something I missed?

 

[erk628]

What are your ammonia and nitrites readings also does the water have a green tint?

 

[england]

What filteration do you have on the tank?
How many fish do you have in the tank and what are they?
was tank fully cycled before adding fish?

 

[Diesel Trout]

Ammonia and nitrite readings are both zero. I am pretty sure the water is not green, although if you look in the tank from the end it looks green because of the huge sword.

Stocking is light right now. I have 15 rummys, 6 julii corys, two skirt tetras, two flying foxes, a CAE and a bamboo shrimp. I had 6 black phantom tetras but they all (gradually) passed from some mouth ailment (stuck open - weird).

Tank was fishless cycled (longest one in history, just ask Oldman47 and waterdrop) and fish went in on November 21.

Filtration is Fluval 404 with foam, pre-filter and biomax.

I think I might have to tear down my other rock cave to see if anything is feeding the bloom.

 

[erk628]

Ammonia and nitrite readings are both zero. I am pretty sure the water is not green, although if you look in the tank from the end it looks green because of the huge sword.

Stocking is light right now. I have 15 rummys, 6 julii corys, two skirt tetras, two flying foxes, a CAE and a bamboo shrimp. I had 6 black phantom tetras but they all (gradually) passed from some mouth ailment (stuck open - weird).

Tank was fishless cycled (longest one in history, just ask Oldman47 and waterdrop) and fish went in on November 21.

Filtration is Fluval 404 with foam, pre-filter and biomax.

I think I might have to tear down my other rock cave to see if anything is feeding the bloom.

I would suggest taking a little water out with a glass or something and take a look at the water and see if it has a green tint then you can just pour it back in the tank. Sometimes its kinda hard to tell if the water is tinted looking in the tank.

 

[Diesel Trout]

Okay I took some water out and it does look like there is a pale green tinge to it.

What is the best way to clear this up? Complete darkness for a couple of days? My lighting schedule right now is 5 on, 2 off then 5 on.

 

[erk628]

Okay I took some water out and it does look like there is a pale green tinge to it.

What is the best way to clear this up? Complete darkness for a couple of days? My lighting schedule right now is 5 on, 2 off then 5 on.

I had the same problem a couple of months ago, heres how I got it to clear up. First thing you need to do is turn your lights off if you don't have live plants keep them off until your tank is clear again if there are live plants leave then on only 4 hours a day. If need be you can buy a timer cheap at walmart for your lights. Next do water changes between 30 to 50% everyday until it clears up. If you dont have plants only turn the lights on long enough to see if the waters starting to clear. Doing all this your water should clear up in a week or two.

 

[Diesel Trout]

I have plants, and I have my lights on a timer already. I will reduce the amount of 'on' time and do some more water changes to see if that helps.

Thanks!