Cloudy Water (cycled tank)

[legoms013]

Ok so my tank is one month old cycled and what not...the fish are happy and GROWING, ammonia levels are at 0 or very close to zero.....pH is fine.....my question is about 4 days ago my water was incredible clear but is getting more cloudy by the day. I don't think its a baterial bloom b/c its not a milky cloudy (I've had bacteria blooms before but correct me if I'm wrong). Its looks kinda like very, very small air bubbles but the're not b/c they don't settle out. My water has thousands of little white specs that I don't really know what they are. Also there is some splotchy stuff growing on the glass but its hardly noticable (algae?).

HELP!!!

Thanks

[RobbieG]

It could very well be algae - does your tank get any direct sunlight?

What did you test the ammonia with? (Just asking because some testers are better than others)

[Lady Hobbs]

I have no idea unless your filter is not taking care of the excess food and waste as it should. How long since you've done a water change?

[legoms013]

It gets no direct sunlight......I use a liquid based ammonia test kit (like for a pool but not) and my last water change was performed yesterday (20%).

[RobbieG]

Strange - the only time I've seen what I am picturing from your description in my tanks is when I was almost but not quite cycled.

Have you tested nitrite and nitrate?

[legoms013]

I tested nitrate (I don't have a nitrite kit) and it was at 5 PPM

[RobbieG]

have you added any fish recently - you may have overloaded you beneficial bacteria.

What fish do you have / what sized tank is it?

The 5 PPM seems a little low - was that after the water change? Do you have plants?

Can you get a nitrite kit at some point soon?

[legoms013]

I have a 30 gal tank with two baby redfinned tinfoil barbs and one small pleco. I added the pleco a week ago (maybe I overloaded the beneficial bacteria).

yes the nitrate test was done right after a 25% water change.

I do plan on getting a nitrite test kit soon.

No i don't have any LIVE plants.

I'm thinking the only thing I can do is continue with my everyother day partial water change and wait it out.......

[RobbieG]

That sounds pretty reasonable.

I've seen pretty much what you are describing in a lot of the tanks I have had during the first month or so and they all settled out pretty quickly (a few days to a week)

The water changes may not speed it up - but they never hurt!

You may need to get a bigger tank sometime down the road for your barbs - some of the tinfoils can get pretty big. They sure are nice looking though!

Good Luck

[legoms013]

Thanks

Yeah the barbs will need a bigger tank after awhile.

[gm72]

Is there an airstone in the tank? If so, does the cloudiness disappear if you turn it off for a day or so?

[legoms013]

There is, its running in conjuction with my 145gph powerhead/bubbler.

If I turn off everything that makes bubbles and surface agitation won't my fish run out of oxygen? Thats why I haven't tried what you mentioned already in fear of them dying.

[gm72]

Do you have additional filtration in the tank other than the powerhead? I am assuming yes, so in which case you would be okay to shut down the powerhead for a day to see if your water clears.

[legoms013]

Yeah I have a Top Fin 30 power filter.

Do you think my fish will die if I turn off my 12" airstones and powerhead for a day or two???

[gm72]

Not at all. If you keep your 30 power filter running it won't hurt anything at all.

[legoms013]

Even if the waterline is right at the bottom of the spillway so that its not really agitating the surface that much???