2 General tank questions

[Owlbehere]

My 46 gallon tank has been cloudy recently. I checked the levels three days ago ( Am 0 NIts 0 NAts 10) and did a water change. I checked again today (still cloudy) and they were same only NAts were 5 today. Anything I should check about... I just added some fish (3 platy) and I'm wondering if maybe that may have something to do with it? Its been set up a while and cycled using a cycled filter (canister) from another seasoned tank. There are 5 danios and 5 black skirt tetras.

2nd question... I tore down the 20g planted just because I was having issues. Now its been drained for a couple days but I'm changing the gravel and cleaning it but I need to make sure I get rid of the snails. I want to use the same driftwood I'm just not planting it. How can I treat the driftwood to rid the snails and eggs but make it safe to reuse?

Thanks :)

[candice&jeff]

You may be having a bacterial bloom in the tank.

I would boil the driftwood to get rid of the snails.

[EmmanuelJB]

I agree with candiceandjeff,
You may be having a bacteria bloom... How long has the tank been set up. Bacteria blooms are common in newly set up up tanks...

Boiling it would probably be best. You could try baking it (be careful if you do that) or you could even try rinsing it in a copper solution.

[Owlbehere]

Hey thanks for the replies. I was thinking bacteria bloom from the new fish. Just because the water was fine. I shall wait and see :) EmmanuelJB it's been set up in the living room about 6 months now and the filter was running on another tank longer.

[Owlbehere]

You know now that I think of it after I added the three new tetras to the tank I also had to up the food as well thats probably why it got cloudy (bacteria bloom) I don't feed so much though that some fall to the bottom, only enough for each fish to have a chance... None makes it past them!

It was weird when I did the change :P The water that was filling it was near the bottom and that area was crystal clear and there was a haze like fog in a field. After the filters kicked in it mixed the water... But it did seem clearer.

So when I boil it how long do I keep it in for?

[EmmanuelJB]

Hey thanks for the replies. I was thinking bacteria bloom from the new fish. Just because the water was fine. I shall wait and see :) EmmanuelJB it's been set up in the living room about 6 months now and the filter was running on another tank longer.

Then it was probably from the new fish added then. Somtimes adding fish will cause a mini bacteria bloom.

[EmmanuelJB]

So when I boil it how long do I keep it in for?

I think 6-10 minutes would be enough. I would do around 10 to be on the safe side.

[Owlbehere]

I think 6-10 minutes would be enough. I would do around 10 to be on the safe side.

Great thanks! :D Yea I'm thinking a mini bloom. I'm just making sure I keep up with the water testing to watch for a spike... I don't think it will happen but you never know... it hasn't yet though.

[Kevin.W]

Just my 2 cents and may be useless but I thought I read that copper and shrimp don't go together. So if you have shrimp don't use the copper solution.
I had to recently boil some driftwood I acquired and I did a 10 min boil and left it to naturally cool off in lukewarm water for about an hour afterwards. I then left in in a 5 gallon bucket of chlorine free water for 3 days to be completely safe as I was setting up my tank at the time. Again may be useless but thought I would try and help. :-)