New member and need help

[Swampy]

Hi,

I have a 75 gal fresh water aquarium established a year ago. My friends are 3 Silver $, 3 catfish and a busy nose placatumus. After the pain staking time of getting my aquarium set up I must have down something major that was wrong.

2 months ago I cleaned my aquarium extra good. (Even took all plastic plants out, tubes, decrorations, etc.) Now my water is cloudy and can't get it to clear up. I have tried numerous suggestions. Maybe too many.

Nitrates is 80 Nitrite is 0 Ammonia is 0 pH high test is 8.2 ppm

We have well water . The test on it is
Nitrates is 10 pH is 7.4 GH is 240 KH is 180 ppm

Any suggestions on what to do? I am tired of not being able to see my fish.:help:

[Red]

What type of catfish? What is your water changes like? Is it near a window? Nitrates 80 is pretty high...l

[little hawaii]

Hi,

I have a 75 gal fresh water aquarium established a year ago. My friends are 3 Silver $, 3 catfish and a busy nose placatumus. After the pain staking time of getting my aquarium set up I must have down something major that was wrong.

2 months ago I cleaned my aquarium extra good. (Even took all plastic plants out, tubes, decrorations, etc.) Now my water is cloudy and can't get it to clear up. I have tried numerous suggestions. Maybe too many.

Nitrates is 80 Nitrite is 0 Ammonia is 0 pH high test is 8.2 ppm

We have well water . The test on it is
Nitrates is 10 pH is 7.4 GH is 240 KH is 180 ppm

Any suggestions on what to do? I am tired of not being able to see my fish.:help:

Put in a sponge filter and powerhead. Try and find another source of water.:14:

[Red]

Why another source of water??

[chrisfraser05]

Just sounds like a major bacterial bloom as you've cleaned too well!

I had the same thing the other week after disturbing my gravel too much, only lasted a short time for me but you may have removed alot of your BB.

[Swampy]

Wow I am impressed. Went surfing on other posts and came back and had 3 replies.

Answers to questions....I have 3 filters: Powerflow, undergravel and a bio wheel of which I added 2 weeks ago.

My only source of water is our drinking water from a well. We live out in the country.

I have been doing 25% water changes weekly using stress thyme and stress coat. Since my cloudy water appeared and nitrates high I have tried doing a 50& water change with rain water. Brought down a little. Then tried daily changes of 20%. No change in appearance so quit doing that for the last 3 days. Been checking the water with liguid test kits. Nitates staying the same.

As far as what cat fish? Green emerald cat fish.

What do I do? Wait?

[Red]

I step it up to 50%. Keep your water, its not the problem. I would consider getting rid of the undergravel filter, they stink.

[Swampy]

Do I do this 50% water change daily? And when I get rid of the under water gravel filter do I clean good?

[little hawaii]

Your well water is not so hot. Nitrates are high to begin with and it is very hard and alkaline. The rain water is a good plan but you will shock your fish with to much of a good thing. Rain water has no hardness and 7ph. Can you collect enough to get right of well water.:22:

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!
I also suggest ripping out the UGF but you need a good filter on there.A would get a rena xp3 and an aqua clear 110 on there.They are both reasonably priced and are excellent filters.
More water changes will help clear your tank and should lower your trates..I am amazed that you have no ammonia with that stocking.Your fish all have a large bioload.Your lucky.

[Bristley]

Welcome to the AC, glad to have you aboard.

[Trillianne]

One thing you may want to check is if its actually the WATER that is cloudy and not just an algae/bacteria film on the inside of your glass.

[Swampy]

Master Shutterbug,

Will check into other filter. I just bought a Penquin Bio Wheel 350 and I have a power head with 2 places for filters. Do you think that is OK? I will (Rip out):ssmile: the UWG. Do I vacuum good after doing that?

Little Hawai,

What do you mean? Do half rain water and half well water?

[Swampy]

Cory I will go right now and see. I don't think so as it is cloudy in a jar.

[Red]

Do I do this 50% water change daily? And when I get rid of the under water gravel filter do I clean good?

I would do it every three days or so. I still think your well water is fine IMO. I would get some big buckets to fill your tap up and let it sit. its go to a crap storm after you take out the filter, be prepared to do 50% of water change. It will get messy. I would still add your dechlorater/stress coat to the water.

[Swampy]

Thanks Loachman...Will attack t.m.

[gadget228]

Welcome to the AC... :22:

[Swampy]

Well I did it:18:

I got rid of theUWG. What a mess. Hope the fish survive. Thanks for your help. Will let you know when the water clears up.

[jahser420]

get rid of the undergravel filter.. it might be a turbidity prob with the well water..if u can afford it try bottled water.

[Swampy]

jasher 420

What is turbidity ?

[MrRobarto]

Welcome to the AC!

[Red]

Hows the tank doing?

[Swampy]

Wow Red you are a sweet heart. Did the second 50% change yesterday and tested water today. Nitrate is 10ppm-pH 7.6-Nitrite is 0-Ammonia may be a tad high between 0 -.25.

Thanks to you I can see my fish :)

[Lady Hobbs]

Welcome to AC. I see your questions are well in hand but since this is a discussion thread and not an introductory, I will move the thread into the general forum so more people will see it.

[Swampy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!
I also suggest ripping out the UGF but you need a good filter on there.A would get a rena xp3 and an aqua clear 110 on there.They are both reasonably priced and are excellent filters.
More water changes will help clear your tank and should lower your trates..I am amazed that you have no ammonia with that stocking.Your fish all have a large bioload.Your lucky.

I purchased the aqua clear filter and I love it. Thanks for the help.

[Lady Hobbs]

You need to bring those nitrates down. I'd simply do a large water change today and tomorrow and start adding a bac booster. I did not read the numerous replies so if this has already been recommended, disregard this post.

I would not use rain water for fish tanks. Years ago the rain was considered more pure than it is today. And if you do use it, you do not want to collect it from gutter run-offs. It would take a ton of rain to fill up a pail. How often does a person get 18" of rain?

[Swampy]

Lady Hobbs,

Thank you for your help. I have done a couple water changes and the water is much clearer and the nitrates are down between 40 and 80. Since my nitrates are high in my source of well water would you recommend using Nitra-Zorb with each water change?

[Pleco380]

Glad you like the filter. I love Aqua Clear filters. They work well.