Misty Water

[GSA190]

It's been about a little over a week and my water started to get a little misty. I assume that the mist was created by the dust in the from the substrate I added. Is their any other reasons that the water would be misty. The filter is up and running and everything.

[cocoa_pleco]

if its milky, its a bacterial bloom.

if its due to substrate, it usually clears itself within 1-2 days. what are your tank parameters?

[GSA190]

Whats a parameter? The water is milky. I assume it is a baterial bloom as you said. What exactly is a baterial bloom?

[cocoa_pleco]

parameters are ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite readings.

if you have a bacterial bloom, your tank is not done cycling. The bacteria are reproducing so fast to keep up with your ammonia that they literally become visible to the eye, hence the milkiness

[GSA190]

That makes sense. When the milkiness clears does that mean the cycle is done. I assume that when I added the bioballs that was the real baterial boost.

[cocoa_pleco]

what the bio-balls do are hold bacteria. Once enough bacteria reproduce and get settled in the media, and the tank is clear with good parameters its cycled

[shockshockshad]

AND then once ammonia and nitrite are at 0, nitrates should be very high...do a 75% water change, and then add 2-3 more fish.

[gm72]

So again, what are the water parameters? You must be able to test water parameters in order to truly tell when the cycle is complete.

[GSA190]

I just test the ammonia and it at 0.5

[gm72]

Okay, so we need to watch that carefully as you are still cycling. How about nitrIte? pH?

[GSA190]

Nitrite is 0.1 and the pH is about 6.8

[gm72]

Okay, so your cloudy water is probably a bacteria bloom, which is a good thing. Keep checking your water parameters daily to make sure your cycle continues on a positive course.

[GSA190]

I'll keep you guys updated.

[kurly]

Good luck and remember that patience is the key to cycling a tank :c5:

[gm72]

Agreed with Kurly, patience is critical and is often very difficult to come by! Be patient, check your water parameters, and ask questions when there are gaps in your research!

[GSA190]

This site is my number 1 source for information.

[gm72]

Great! We are so happy to help out when needed!

[kurly]

I must admit. This is the best site for information and help :thumb: I was in a panic about something and made the mistake of asking a question on another site. I was repremanded for asking a question that was answered in one of the million stickys on the site and was told that I would be banned if I didn't read all the information before asking another question! Needless to say, I never asked another question on that site again nor do I even go there anymore.


I have never had anything but kindness and very good advice from this site.
I love this place :1luvu:

[GSA190]

How often should I change my biobag?

[KcEE]

What are the contents in the bag? Ceremic rings? bioballs?

[GSA190]

Its kinda like a crushed black stone. How often should it be changed.

[gm72]

It is carbon. It is unnecessary to use carbon in a healthy tank. I think we've been over this before when we were talking about filter floss?