Tank Appears To Be Clowdy

[meatwad0601]

Since I started my 65gal tank it has appeared slightly clowdy. I had bought some Accuclear made by API, and it cleared up just slightly. then i noticed when my lights are off its crystal clear. I have a plexi cover that was kind of scratched up so I took if off, but no result. Iv'e cleaned all the glass inside and out. The only thing I can thing of is im using a 48" shop light for my lights and it has a white reflector behind the lights. Can anyone give some suggestion on why im having this problem and if its the lights what can I do cause my hood is made for that fixture.

 

[sic0198]

I have some stuff called "CLEAR Particulate" I got it a petland, it cleared my water to crystal clear in an hour, it works very well.

It might be due to your tank not being cycled.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

My plexi glass hood looks like it has been drug down the freeway, full speed for hours on end...... it has no effect on my water clarity. i hope this rules it out as a problem for you.

also, what kind of substrate are you using?

 

[TerraDreamer]

How long has your tank been running? A new tank will always be cloudy for a while; every tank I've set up in the past took at least a month for full clarity. The one I set up this past weekend is only mildly cloudy; I can't tell until I look through the long end of the tank. Did you give the substrate a good wash (if sand or gravel) prior to adding to the tank? Are there fish in your tank? It's probably a bacterial bloom. Daily water changes of 10% - 20% during the cycling will help with this and should be followed anyway. I always let nature take its course, along with daily water changes during cycling, instead of adding chemicals to the tank. I always provide plenty of aeration during this period as well.

 

[PoPoV]

Since I started my 65gal tank it has appeared slightly clowdy. I had bought some Accuclear made by API, and it cleared up just slightly. then i noticed when my lights are off its crystal clear. I have a plexi cover that was kind of scratched up so I took if off, but no result. Iv'e cleaned all the glass inside and out. The only thing I can thing of is im using a 48" shop light for my lights and it has a white reflector behind the lights. Can anyone give some suggestion on why im having this problem and if its the lights what can I do cause my hood is made for that fixture.

Most likely its just not done cycling. When you set up a tank It has to go through a bacteria cycle. Intill your tank is done cycling your water will be somewhat cloudy. This happens all the time when i set up new tanks. It usually goes away in a few days to a week. If it has not cleared up any use sics advise and try a partical clumper. I use Crystal Clear. Basically it clumps up all the particals that make the water cloudy and makes them sink to the bottom. I hoped this helpes a little Remember time can solve most of your cycling problems along with a little TLC, and chemical maybe

 

[meatwad0601]

thanks for the reply, the thing bout the cover it that I thought that it might have been like looking through dirty glasses in the fact that it might of distorted the light a bit. I had washed my gravel as much as i could so when I put it in it clouded up a little, as I expected. So I added a clumper then 24hrs later I siphoned it out. its been running for about three weeks now. I put fish in about three days ago to start cycling. Its getting a little better I guess you guys a right that it might be still in the cycling phase, and will take a little time. Im just trying to do everything right this time around. Thanks

 

[Scott MacAdam]

this is strange to me because I have never had this happen to me in a new tank. once, after changing over to a sand bottom, it was cloudy even though i washed the sand for about an hour before that to get rid of the silt, but that lasted about an hour..... I think this may have to do with your gravel... Is the Gravel new? or was it used before....

 

[meatwad0601]

It is new gravel that i bought from lowes that i have used before. It comes pretty dirty when you get it but I had washed it over a couple of days letting it soak in a bucket and changing the water a lot. I for got to mention I have 3 clay pots in there to. I had washed them good to but im taking them out cause i dont like the look. I will see if that makes a differance.

 

[Scott MacAdam]

I doubt the clay pots would cause a problem..... what exactally do you mean by a "clumper"...... is this like a form of drops for the tank to clear the water?

I have used that kind of thing before with no results....

 

[meatwad0601]

yea thats what im talking about. some people say it works so I just gave it a shot.

 

[meatwad0601]

I just put a old filter I had for my 65 in my 20 and took the one from my 20 and added it to my 65. The one for my 65 was rated for 30-60gal so it should be a little better off with the extra filter from the 20. The old 65 filter was rated for the same so my 20 should be set pu now. Unless there can be to much?