Milky white water help!!!

[deano1978]

Hi

I have just set up anew aquarium and it was crystal clear until yesterday. I understand that this is generally caused by a baterial bloom in the tank. What i need help with is how to clear the milky water should i do a water change or is there a product to buy that can help. I have tried filter aid and that didn't help. Can anyone suggest anything. Please.

[jttt3]

Fish or no fish yet?

[Lady Hobbs]

It sounds like New Tank Snydrome. Generally what will cause this is cleaning or changing the filter (or using undechlorinated water) in a tank that has started a cycle. Just leave it alone and it will clear up in a few days.

[deano1978]

i have 8 zebra danios thats all. i have added cycle too.

[Lady Hobbs]

Most of us that have used Cycle have found it to be uneffective. Just do no cleaning or changing out the filter media and you should have clear water soon.

[deano1978]

Thanks guys how long before i should start to worry if it doesn't clear. oh and can it harm the fish i have in there already???

[jttt3]

A few days prolly depending on the power of your filter system.

[deano1978]

i have 2 fluval 3 plus filters and the tank is 35 gallons should i turn them up to maximum?

[jttt3]

I'd have it at the recommened settings for your gallon size and let it do its job. =) Changing stuff now will probably be your worst enemy as you want the cycle to complete.

[NeonJulie]

Quick question... did you rinse all of your gravel well before putting it in the tank? (Because this can cause sediment and dust that makes a tank look cloudy until it runs through the filter as well.)

Anyway if it is a bacteria bloom, it likely won't last more than a few days. You might consider getting some test kits (or a Seachem Ammonia Alert) that will tell you how bad your ammonia is... the bacteria bloom won't hurt the danios, but too much of their own waste, before the cycle's caught up will definitely hurt them.

[Lady Hobbs]

Another thing that will hold the ammonia down some is not to overfeed. Danio's require very little food so I'd suggest just a pinch about every 3 days.

Generally the only time you will get the white water is because the cycle was set back either by using water without dechlorinator that killed off the bacteria or changing the filter or cleaning the gravel.

[deano1978]

Hi guys thanks for all your help. i did clean the gravel and i do have a test kit to do water test i will keep an eye on the aquarium and let you know how it is in a few days.

[deano1978]

Hi

It has got worse the water is even more cloudy white this morning is that right will it get worse before it gets better been 3 days now. gonna cry i think!

[deano1978]

Hi

The water in my tank is just getting worse. been milky white for 3 days and today it seems worse is that normal with a bacterial bloom or does anyone think its something else the amonia level has risen quite high too. Help please !!!!

[Lady Hobbs]

I know it's annoying. I did the same thing with my first tank. I'd think changing the water would help, and it would for an hour, then right back to all milkly looking. It will clear up....honest.

Turn your heat up to about 82 and aerate the tank. Heat and oxygen will help it get going faster but that bacteria needs to grow again.

[deano1978]

Hi

thanks again for your advice i'm concerned as i seem to have a rise in amonia. if i turn the heat up is that going to harm the fish?

[Lady Hobbs]

No. Fish can tolerate 82 just fine. If you think the ammonia is getting too high, do a 30% water change but disturb nothing else. Turn your filters off and dechlorinate the water before turning your filter back on. You don't want un-dechlorinatored water going thru your filter or it will kill the bac growing there.

What size is your tank?

[Lady Hobbs]

Deano, you have two threads going on the same topic so I have put them together.

You mentioned you cleaned your gravel. This is what has set your tank back. You have to wait again for the bacteria to collect in that gravel.

What happens to cause NTS (new tank syndrome) is a rise in ammonia and no bacteria is there to eat it away because you removed it by cleaning the gravel so you need to leave that gravel alone and feed sparingly or will only make more ammonia by adding too much food.

You can safety change out 25-30% of your water daily to keep the ammonia at a safer level but other than that, all you can do is wait it out. Tanks need to grow ammonia eating bacteria and when that bacteria has grown, then you will need to grow a nitrite eating bacteria which takes even longer.

Patience is the key word here and you can not cycle a tank, especially a small tank, with several fish in it in a few days. It can take a whole month with NO cleaning and can easily be set-back by cleaning too much once it has finally cycled. A good, solid cycling can take up to 3 months before you can do much to it without setting it back.

Have you read in the tank set-up thread about cycling (in red print)?

[deano1978]

thanks for all your help. should i use ammo chips or anything like ammonia removing media as it says in the article?

[Lady Hobbs]

I don't know what article you are referring to but NO. Just keep up with those water changes if the fish act stressed.

[deano1978]

i have done a water change on 20% and the fish seem fine. it has cleared a little but i guess thats the water change. i will keep up the water changes and keep testing the water. sorry for being such a pest. you wouldn't believe i manage a pet shop would you.

[cocoa_pleco]

dont use ammo chips. In extreme cases, use ammo-lock, but otherwise, just do a bunch of water changes

[deano1978]

cheers my ammonia has spike but has dropped a bit after the water change will keep doing 10% daily.