Inches From Being Finished And Now I Have A Cloudy Tank

[abih2005]

This is the 8th week of cycling, not tested water since Monday due to diminishing supplies of tester liquids, ammonia and nitrites were 1ppm and 0.25 respectively. Today I woke up with my boyfriend anxiously informing me that 'the tank....look' (helpful as ever - has gone cloudy, so cloudy that I can't see the gravel if I stand over it.

Ammonia 0ppm and nitrites 0.50ppm

Do I.....
* Change some water.
* Do nothing.

Advice appreciated. PS - There are no real plants. Just 8 of those dried fern type things.

 

[frogmarch1987]

sounds like a bacterial bloom to me. Nothing to worry about, it will sort itself out on it's own. It's a result of all the ammonia in your tank from the cycle. Bacterial blooms are pretty much harmless to fish (not that you have any in) so if you need to put fish into the tank whilst it's still cloudy, that wouldn't be a problem

 

[abih2005]

Is there anything I can do to reduce nitrites? Next dose of ammonia not due til ten tonight.

sounds like a bacterial bloom to me. Nothing to worry about, it will sort itself out on it's own. It's a result of all the ammonia in your tank from the cycle. Bacterial blooms are pretty much harmless to fish (not that you have any in) so if you need to put fish into the tank whilst it's still cloudy, that wouldn't be a problem

 

[Gvilleguy]

If the cloudy water bothers you, I don't think it does any harm to a fishless cycle to do a large water change. I had two white blooms during my cycle. While I knew it was not a problem, it just bothered me to see the cloudy water, and I did 90% water changes to clear them out. My "added ammonia" continued to be consumed normally after the big changes.

 

[abih2005]

I just did a 10 litre change, turning the filter off to change the water scares me!

 

[Gvilleguy]

As long as your filter media stays wet, it does not harm your efforts to have it turned off for 30 minutes while you change out some water.

 

[abih2005]

Cool - thanks that's really useful to know, let's hope the nitrites fall soon, gonna get me 6 little cherry barbs to start with

 

[fluttermoth]

I just did a 10 litre change, turning the filter off to change the water scares me!

You mustn't let it scare you!

Many (if not most) people turn their filters off for water changes. Better than risking taking out too much water and having it running dry and over heating. You won't have any bacteria die off, even if it's off for a couple of hours.

Just try and remember to turn it back on again when you're done! I've occasionaly forgotten to swtich mine back on for half a day and not had any problems

 

[Gvilleguy]

I still consider my filter to be immature (2 months fishless cycle and now 2 1/2 months with fish): we had a power outage 2 weeks ago that lasted for 7 hours. I was stressing about the bacteria getting damaged! But every 2 hours or so I would pump the primer handle on my filter just to circulate some "fresh" water from the tank into the filter, and I never had any noticeable trouble.

I think Waterdrop says he feels comfortable letting a filter go about 4-5 hours before trying to give it fresh water during a power outage.

So that's why I said you can do a big water change without worrying.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Abi, you have to do a near on 100% water change when you've finished cycling anyway (before you add your fish basically) so it'll have brand new water in it. But I bet you find the cloudiness goes when the Nitrite does.

You said your test kits have run out.....have you been adding Ammonia every 24 hours stil though?

 

[abih2005]

Yep, religiously, knew about the 'big' water change, I just want the nitrites done, sooooooooo nearly cycled! !!!

 

[Twinklecaz]

They'll go don't worry. You could prob afford to get a small amount of your fish now btw. You've conditioned your tank for a very full load so it'll easily be able to cope with just just Cherry Barbs and then you can just add the others slowly. I'm sure some people will disagree with that but a few of us "cheated" at the point you are and got away with it

 

[frogmarch1987]

I just did a 10 litre change, turning the filter off to change the water scares me!

I'm not sure doing a water change will do much good. Considering the bacteria will probably be doubling their numbers every 40mins or less, even doing a 90% water change would only give you about 2.5 hours before the bacteria are back up to the numbers that they were before the change.

Just save some effort and leave them to it. Continue to test your water and add ammonia as necessary and the bacteria will go away on their own once your filter begins to clean your water properly

 

[abih2005]

I think my filter is getting sluggish again, barely any bubbling output - was wondering whether I should rinse the sponge out in tank water? It's not been touched since the start of the cycle. Or should I sit on my hands and wait for it to clear up?

Cherry barbs, I was thinking just 6 for the first few months. (The memory of fishing out dead neon and glowlight tetras has permanently scarred me so I'm being cautious) - do I.... add 6 all at the same time, or three to start with - wait a week and then another three?

 

[frogmarch1987]

you could give the sponges a wash if your filter flow-rate has been compromised but you must be VERY careful when washing. Only move it very gently through old tank water to discard the biggest bits of debris, ensuring that your valuable bacterial colonies are left intact.