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 #465545


Newtadplolemom
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 Cloudy tank

I have a ten gallon tank that I have had set up for 3 months. It has been cloudy for the past 2 weeks and I can’t seem to fix it. The tank has been cycled for 2 months and does not have any amonia in it. The nitrate level has gone up to 40, but I have not idea of what that is caused from or how to get it down. If someone could explain this I would be grateful. The hardness is at moderate - 120. Alkalinity is at 120. And the ph is at 7.4. All of these levels have stayed the same except the nitrate.
I have 1 guppy, 1 ghost fish, 2 cory catfish, and 4 community tetras. I have a topfin 10 filter and I just changed the filter cartrige on it last week. I do 20% water changes weekly. I feed them 2 times a day and make sure that I only give them enough food that they can eat within 1-2 minutes. Does anyone have any advice on what might be making the water cloudy and how I can fix it? I’m fairly new to this fish thing and am trying to learn as much as I can! Thanks!
09/03/05  03:42pm

 #465641


Chishower
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   Message To: Newtadplolemom   In reference to Message Id: 465545


 Cloudy tank

First off, you might want to add a few more guppies, as they are schooling fish.

I think its just a bacterial bloom because you changed your filter cartrage. That where all the good bacteria live. Next time, cut the blue filter part off and put it in the filter box with the new cartridge for about a week to let it colonize, and remember: you only need to change them when they are falling apart. When they get too gunked up, just scrub it in a bucket of used tank water. That will save you money, too.
09/03/05  04:52pm

 #465660


Newtadplolemom
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   Message To: Chishower   In reference to Message Id: 465641


 Cloudy tank

Thanks. I had 2 guppies but one died. I am planning on getting a couple more but wanted to get this problem taken care of first.
The filter thing is something that still confuses me! I have a carbon filter that recommends you change the cartrige every 3-4 weeks. If I just change the filter bag and carbon but keep the same filter frame will that work? I don’t have the blue filter part that you were talking about.
Also, the water was cloudy before I changed the cartridge so I don’t know if that’s the problem...
Thanks!
09/03/05  05:09pm

 #465710


Chishower
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   Message To: Newtadplolemom   In reference to Message Id: 465660


 Cloudy tank

the fuzzy part is what you want to keep. I honestly dont even use carbon anymore, unless I am removing meds from the water.

Ok, a few questions:

What do you add to the tank? (meds, dechlorinators, etc.)
Do you use a graval vac to clean the gravel when you do water changes?
09/03/05  05:57pm

 #465851


Newtadplolemom
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   Message To: Chishower   In reference to Message Id: 465710


 Cloudy tank

I just add a water conditioner to the new water I put in - it’s made by tetra aqua. I know that if I went to petsmart and asked them for advice they would tell me to put one of those water clearer meds in but I’ve heard from many fish owners to try and not to add things like that and to find to root of the problem.
And yes I use a vac to clean the gravel.
Are you ever supposed to clean out the actual filter box?
Thanks for all your help!
09/03/05  07:44pm

 #465866


Chishower
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   Message To: Newtadplolemom   In reference to Message Id: 465851


 Cloudy tank

I really dont think its a huge problem unless the fish are getting sick. Do a big water change now, maybe 40-50% and then see how it goes.

The only parts on my filters I clean are the impeller motor and such when they get too gunked up to work well.



09/03/05  07:52pm

 #466200


Newtadplolemom
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   Message To: Chishower   In reference to Message Id: 465866


 Cloudy tank

I think I may have figured out the problem. I’ve been feeding my catfish a type of sinking pellet for the past month. The water was always really dirty when I cleaned that area of the gravel. This week I started giving them a different type of pellet that doesn’t dissolve as fast and the water wasn’t nearly as dirty today when I changed it. I did a 30% water change a few hours ago and the water already looks better.
So thanks for all your help and the info about filters!
09/04/05  12:40am


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