Cloudy water

[Litespeed]

Just started our 84 gallon aquarium a couple of days ago. We have an Eheim 2080 (for a 120 gal.) filter and added only 3 zebra danios. I just tested the water and ammonia is at zero and Nitrate is between 5 and 10. Fish look great, should I be concerned about the slightly cloudy water?

[grizzly]

What type of substrate are you using? I might be from that if you didn't wash it thoroughly. Could always do a water change if it doesn't dissipate. Just watch the water conditions since you didn't go with the fishless cycle route.

[Litespeed]

We are using Eheim Substrat Pro, which I rinsed before putting in the filter. I'm just hoping that maybe I didn't rinse it quite good enough and particles are getting in the water. I will watch it closely and see if it improves.

[GSA190]

I had the same problem. I had the same thought that it was the dust in the substrate but then I found out that it was a bacterial bloom. Maybe it could be that.

[mitcore]

here is a thought for you
have you recently put in gravel?
when i put new gravel in my tank i thought i had washed it well to clean it but when i filled the tank it went cloudy i stood around for awhile watching it and then finally relized it was cloudy from the gravel not anything else in my tank
my fish didnt look or get sick because of it

[markbob]

It very well may be a bacterial bloom. Your tank is working on cycling right now and the bacteria are a little over active from the cycle. It should clear up once the cycle is complete, whats your nitrite level? If it doesn't clear up in a few days, try on of the water clearing solutions from your LFS.

[KcEE]

Yeah, markbob might be right...it should clear up. What's the status now?

[Lady Hobbs]

How can 3 danio's give a bacteria bloom in 84 gallons in a few days? That's a lot of water and 3 danio's are nuttin' in that much water. I just don't see it. I think it has to be due to the substrate not rinsed quite well enough.

A bacteria bloom will result when you over-load an existing bacteria load or remove needed bacteria during a cycle. Litespeed should easily be able to use several fish for cycling with that much water without toxic levels getting too high. I do think it will take forever to cycle with only 3 danio's.

Litespeed, you probably have nitrates in your tap water which is why you have nitrates already. That's not uncommon and you can test your tap water to make sure.

[Fishguy2727]

Substrate refers to what is on the bottom of the tank (gravel, sand, crushed coral, nothing, a specialty plant substrate, etc.).

Media refers to the different things put into the filter (carbon, polyester pillow stuffing, various biological media, etc.).

Unless there is a lot of overfeeding going on it has to do with either something coming in in the tap or something introduced on decor, media, substrate, etc..

[Litespeed]

I really don't think it could be the gravel, I did all 50# by hand through a strainer and made sure the water was very clear. The cloudy water showed up immediately after we filled the tank, before we ever put the fish in. I have heard there is a product that clears up the water without harming the fish, but don't know the name of it.
Last night when I tested the water, the ammonia was 0 and the nitrates were between 5 - 10. Should I test the water again, even though it's been less then 24 hrs. since the last testing?

One other thing, since we already have fish in the tank, can we use a liquid bacteria also to help speed up the cycle?

[Lady Hobbs]

First you will have ammonia, then nirites and then nitrates. It will take a while before you get to the nitrate stage and at this time, I wouldn't even bother testing for it. That's the last stage of the game.

If your local fish store carries Bio-Spira (it's refrigeratored) you can add that at the same time you add your fish without toxic levels killing them and have a tank cycled in days. Use NO ammonia removers and remove your carbon if you end up using this product.

Gravel can be rinsed 1000 times and will still show a bit cloudy in the beginning. It will clear up but if it bothers you, do a large water change. What kind of gravel are you using?

Whether you use a bacteria additive or not, you need more fish to get the cycle going. 3 danio's in 84 gallons will take forever to enough ammonia to start a cycle. You could put 10 more danio's in your tank if you wanted.

[Litespeed]

We are using a small river rock, looks like pebbles that we got from our local rock yard. I had tested the rock for the PH level, but not for nitrates before we put it in the tank. Also, I just tested our tap water and that does show a nitrate level of 5.0. We will try the product you recommended to speed up the cycle. The water isn't horribly cloudy but you can definitely notice it from looking through the side of the tank. It looks like little dust particles in the water. How long should we wait after the cycle is complete, to change the water if it still hasn't cleared up?

[Litespeed]

Just tested the Nitrite level and that came out to 1.0

[markbob]

Your probably right Lady Hobbs, I mis read and thought he said 3 dozen danios.

[Litespeed]

I was checking out the water REALLY closely and I'm seeing a LOT of teeny tiny air bubbles, so that is definitely part of the cloudy look. From the front of the aquarium it's looking much clearer, from the side, it still looks a little cloudy. I think we will get another 2 danios to see if the fighting will stop between the two we have in there now. The third danio just stays by itself.

[Lady Hobbs]

If the tank is clearing up for you, I'd just let it go. Your filter should clear it up in a couple of days.

If you add bio-spira, you can add several fish. It gives you enough bacteria to stock many. Make sure you use as much as recommended for your size tank. If you have more than enough, use that as well but don't use less than recommended.

If you can't find Bio-Spira, Secheams Stability is said to work pretty well to aid in cycling, too.

[swordNiN]

yes you can put liquid bacteria in the tank, just stick to the instructions that came with the product and not the one that the petshop owner gives....

also you can put nitrate-to-bacteria transformation chemicals....that should also put your water to normal