Help With The Water

bananacat · May 16, 2007

can someone please tell me why all of sudden the water would go cloudy, when the tank has been up and running for a very long time then came home today and it was all cloudy

the fish i have are 1 silver shark, 5 or 6 barbs, 3 neons, 1 guppy, 2 platys and 2 shrimps.

help would be appriciated

Christine1014 · May 16, 2007

What size is your tank? What's in it besides the fish you listed (plants? decorations? wood?)? Have you added anything new (plants fish, decorations, etc)? What are you stats for ammonia, nitritre and nitrate?

doresy · May 16, 2007

It is most likely a bacterial bloom. Do a couple of 25% water changes over 2 days or even 3. Sometimes fine cotton media (rinsed) in you filter can help. :good:

Matty P · May 16, 2007

Yeh probably a bacterial bloom or maybe if you have sand a bit of rock or something may have fallen onto the sand and stirred it up.

bananacat · May 16, 2007

not sure on size of tank, there is some plants in there and rocks but dont know wot kind, i havnt added anything new and i have never tested the levels

ok thank you guys ill try the gradual water change then

this forum is good so many ppl to help

many thanks

doresy · May 16, 2007

bananacat said:
not sure on size of tank, there is some plants in there and rocks but dont know wot kind, i havnt added anything new and i have never tested the levels

ok thank you guys ill try the gradual water change then

this forum is good so many ppl to help

many thanks

May I suggest that an API. Freshwater Master Testing Kit (700 tests) be your very next entry on your wish list

If ever you have any kind of problem the first question usually asked is what are your Ammonia, NitrIte and NitrAte levels. Also it should be a standard to test your water BEFORE buying new stock and at the first sign of change or trouble. Those 3 levels will almost certainly be at the root of most problems.
For future reference...Ammonia should be 0ppm, so should NitrIte. NitrAte however will almost always show up but can and should be reduced by partial water changes (upto 40 or maybe 60ppm is allowable but around 20 is better)