How Do I Get My Water Really Clear?

[carpmaster07]

Hi i have had a fish tank now for about a month, and it currently has 6 barbs, 3 neons, 2 panchx, and a small koi, but the water is always mercy. it currently has a trickle filter in but that just is not doing the job.
please help me!!!

thanks CARPMASTER07

 

[mark.w.jones]

Need to know a bit more:

1. What species of Barb / panchax do you have?
2. What's the capacity of the tank?
3. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings.
4. Temperature + pH
5. Did you fishless cycle before adding fish? (link in sig.)
6. If not, how long has tank been set up with fish for and in what order did you add them.
7. What colour is your water? Kind of a milky colour or a green pea soup colour.
8. Is your substrate sandy?
9. Have you added any medication or other products to the tank recently?
10. Have you cleaned your filter sponges / media with just tap water and not added any dechlorinator?

I know that's a lot but it'll really help anyone to diagnose your problems even if it doesn't end up being me.



ps a koi carp seriously. They're cold water fish and get massive. Not at all suitable in a small tropical tank. Find him a pond

 

[tropicman]

I have a Small Koi in my Tank Also and he thrives they are fine with the right treatment and care in a tank but it also helps because mine are in a 5ft tank lol so that is a bit better

 

[carpmaster07]

Hi
tiger barbs, golden panchax
55lt
ph = 6
temp = 26
did use fishless cycle
mercy (slightly white)
no sand gravel
i have added some nutrients
i have cleaned my filter sponges with tank water

thanks carpmaster07

PS my carp is only about 1" big and he is going straight into my pond when he stats to grow

 

[Miss Wiggle]

whats your readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate

it sounds to me like a bacteria bloom from an overstocked tank with an underperforming filter, the above readings should help to confirm/deny this hypothesis

 

[mark.w.jones]

Hi
tiger barbs, golden panchax
55lt
ph = 6
temp = 26
did use fishless cycle
mercy (slightly white)
no sand gravel
i have added some nutrients
i have cleaned my filter sponges with tank water

thanks carpmaster07

PS my carp is only about 1" big and he is going straight into my pond when he stats to grow

Right you have a number of problems as I see it.

1. Your pH is quite low. Does your kit test for levels between 6 - 7.
2. Tiger Barbs are get far too big 3" and agressive for your tank. Rehome them asap as you are bound to have problems otherwise. They need a school of 6+ fish which you haven't really got room for.
3. Golden Panchax will reach 3" and may well eat small fish such as neons.
4. If it is white then it is more than likely an algae outbreak usually caused by having too high levels of ammonia.

You really need to get hold of a test kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and post these levels asap. Hagen do a mini master kit and API do a Freswater Master kit also. Vital if you are setting up a new tank.

I would for now go for a 20% water changes every other day for now as that can sometimes help with algae problems but won't cure your long term problem of poor stocking. You should really have done more research into the fish you were buying as they are really not compatible with each other or suitable for a 15 US gallon tank.