cloudy tank

[iluvstartrek]

Hello:

I have a 125g tank that is cloudy. It is new and I do know that when a tank is new and the cycle is starting that it will be cloudy, but everything tests normal now. I have had it up and running since August 14. The first week I had the tank the ammonia went up and I put Amm Lock 2 in it, plus Ammonia Chips. The nitrites never went up more than one color above none.

It has tested fine for about a week. During this week I had a fish die and called someone and they suggested I do a small water change. There was no ammonia or nitrites, but the nitrates weren't hardly there. A couple of days after I did that the nitrates went way up. I did another water change and the nitrates went down. This was around five days ago.

The tank it is still a little cloudy. Is it because it is going through a second cycle? If everything tests normal, no ammonia, no nitrites, and nitrates around 40, than why is it still cloudy? Last week I put Biozyme in it, plus stuff from my other, healthy, tanks. Yesterday I took the sponges out of well established tanks and put them in the new tank.

I have had a fish die in this past week, which I guess could have been because of stress. I don't know If I should do a water change or leave it alone.

Should I leave the tank alone or do a water change? When I did a water change before I did a gavel vac. Maybe this was a mistake. I have no idea why it is still cloudy and why a fish died. Even though everything tests normal, there is still something happening because the water is cloudy right? Could this be why the fish died? How come the water tests fine, but is cloudy?

I realize that maybe there are no answers to my questions, but I hope someone has some idea.

Thank you,

[SGypsyMermaid]

your tank is still cycling--it's probably a bacterial bloom. just keep an eye on your ammonia levels and feed very lightly. i personally would not vacuum the gravel bed until the tank is finished cycling, and when you do vacuum it, only do half the gravel bed, or even one third each time(alternating sections)

[iluvstartrek]

Thank you for your help. You know a lot about fish. I think that is great.

So, I shouldn't do any kind of water change at all until the cloudyness is gone? That may be a redundant question, but I just want to make sure I do it right. It hasn't even been up a month, but it seems to be taking forever.

[SGypsyMermaid]

try to be patient--sometimes a full cycle takes six months! at this stage, i would only do water changes every two weeks. many people don't like this idea, but i use ammo carb until the tank is fully cycled. it slows down the cycle, but the fish are safer during the cycling period, in my opinion. the cloudiness will go away--just be patient and feed lightly.

[iluvstartrek]

Hi Sharon:

I will try to be patient, although I hate having to be patient. I have other, smaller, tanks and I look at them and they look so pretty and clear. I really wanted this large tank but I had to wait for my birthday, then I had to wait for the gravel, then for the... Now that I finally have it up and running, I have to wait (it seems like forever, but it really has been less than a month) for it to look pretty. I'm still waiting for the fake plantes and airpump and other things to come. I think the UPS man forgot me. Of course research, planning, waiting and putting it together are more than half the fun. After I get it all done, I'll want another tank. O.K. I already want another tank. What will my husband say, I already have four and my daughter has one. I'm I crazy or what?

Thanks a lot for your help,

[SGypsyMermaid]

:rofl: you're no crazier than the rest of us--have you read any of the posts in the lounge? go to "cichliaquarist--tell us about yourself and your tanks". read all of our posts, then introduce yourself. the tank will be gorgeous--it just takes some time. you might as well use the time to start planning your next tank!

[Beaker]

I agree with Gypsy on the water changes. I have a 125g that went through the same thing. I think I did a 10-15% change every two weeks until it was cycled. Just be patient and feed very lightly like she said. The fish won't starve, but you just don't want overload your tank. I used 20 neon tetras to cycle the tank, then I used 1 bicher to cycle the tetras. :lol: I used a small bottle of Cycle, but I didn't have anything that I could use from established tanks. Everything turned out great for me and yours will too! But also like you, even with the 125g I'm still thinking more!! Whah ha ha!!! (sorry for the evil laugh)