Cloudy white water AND temp issues...

spelljunkie · 10-24-2007, 04:40 PM

I apologize in advance for the long post! I put our 46 gal bowfront back in action about 12 days ago after having it in a spare room for about a year and a half, and well, things just aren't goin' well... Cannot get rid of the white couldiness, and can't get the water temp above 76 (typically is about 74, which is ok but some of the fish I plan on getting like it around 80).

First the temp issue since is it simpler and less major. Started with a Tetra 200w submersible; returned it after a week when would only rarely get above 74. Now have a 14" 300w and just isn't doing the trick either. Have it horizontal with an airstone somewhat nearby to create a bit a current to draw the warm water away. Have it set on 84, but ON light is still rarely on and temp stays around 76 (and I have done everything to close the gaps around the hood to prevent heat loss). Not a big deal but just adding to the frustration, and hoped it may be a clue to others as to the cloudiness problem...

Now the white coudiness. Clear when water is put in, but turns coudy within hours. Prepped the first fill by using Aquasafe for chlorine, copper etc, EasyBalance to stabilize pH, phosphate and nitrate levels, and Cycle to help age the tank to reduce ammonia levels since had to give everything an extenisve cleaning since was dusty etc from storage. The day after setting the tank up and making sure nitrate, nitrite, hardness, alkalinity/buffering capacity, pH, and ammonia levels were within safe ranges, added 2 golden apple snails, 2 gourmis, and 5 neon tetra. Two days after that added 2 more gourmis, 6 cardinal tetras, and 10 more neons, a very small pleco, and 1 live plant (all the fish are very small juveniles). The water was still milky cloudy but tested fine so just figured it would clear in a few more days.

At about day 5 added the minimum dose of a water clarifier. The next day, the water was still cloudy and I felt guilty about adding the clarifier so figured it was about time to do a partial water change to get dillute the clarifier and as a firther attempt to clear the cloudiness. Did about a 40% water change, went and took a shower, then checked on the tank and found the tetras dieing in masses!

Quickly added a full does of Aquasafe and waited to see the damage (unfortunately I fort to test the water just then as I was in a panic to save the gourmis...). By morning 9 neons and all 6 cardinals were dead..., but thankfully nothing else, and the Aquasafe seemed to save the last 6 neons (though they now hide a lot as though traumatized...). I was surprised by this since I live in a moderately sized city with water that does not smell or taste funny at all, though this is the first aquarium I have set up since living here (Grand Forks, ND, about 50K).

Since this I have added no new fish. The tank has a Regent 30-60 filter. The standard replacement cartidges are very stingy on carbon so 2 days ago I upgraded that by removing the fliter pad, filling the plastic cartridge with AmmoCarb, and using to rubber bands to secure new 100% white polyester matting - thereby creating much more effective cartridges. Did this after research on how best to do it, and reading posts here that say adding fresh carbon should help remove the cloudiness; and guess what? Still cloudy... The tests are still within safe range and the rest of fish seem active and healthy - except the skiddish tetras...

I don't know what else to do. This tank used to be healthy and crystal clear when it was set up at our old place. I read in post about someone having great results with a uv sterilizer. Those aren't cheap, and just sure if it will help my situation and don't want to throw away $ on something like that if it won't help - though I will buy one if I need to. It is going on 2 weeks with no end in site and didn't set the tank back up to lose the coloration of the fish to milky water...

Sorry again for the long post, but just wanted to show that I have been taking advice from the posts and to show that this isn't just from inexperience. If anyone has any advice or first hand experience I, and my fish, would greatly appreciate it!

reefboy · 10-24-2007, 07:42 PM

i think all the cloudy white wate is detritus. whitch can be removed.

RoxiesMom · 10-24-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spelljunkie

had to give everything an extenisve cleaning since was dusty etc from storage.

What did you clean it with?

spelljunkie · 10-24-2007, 08:16 PM

Just cleaned it with very hot water and a scrub brush. Tried to get things in a like new condition just in case bacteria etc had grown on the items (i.e. filter) while drying - as you know, nooks and cranies can retain moisture for quite a while providing great places for organisms to grow. Also, before the first full fill, I filled about half way and vacuumed the gravel till the water was gone (I have a Python). I looks like light rolling clouds coming out of filter. I just don't get it...

By the way, I think I have a handle on the temp issues. Bought a new thermometer - old stick-on one seems not very accurate any more. Also, there is a draft issue. Temp is slowly going up since the new heater (though still not on as often as expected).

Pinkrblu · 10-24-2007, 08:41 PM

The most likely cause of death of the tetras is quite simple. Your aquarium has only been up for less than two weeks. You are really lucky you haven't lost your other fish. Tetras, especially neons and cardinals, really need a well established tank. They will usually die within hours of being put into a new tank. I would recommend you have the tank up a couple months before adding any more tetras. Your tank hasn't had a chance to cycle. Read some of the great posts on here about tank cycling. If you have access, through a friend or something, to another well established tank, I would take some of the media from the other filter, or some gravel or something to use in your tank.

spelljunkie · 10-24-2007, 09:25 PM

I don't quite buy the "quite simple" statement. I have a 125gal in storage that I had running for 4 years, this 46 gal which was was fully functional for about 1 1/2 years, and as many as 6 other support/breeding tanks from 10 to 20 gals all running at the same time, and I have set up ALL of them in a similar fashion and have NEVER run into this type of issue. Over the years in those tanks I have had piranahs, corys, tetras, cichlids, various catfish, dragon eels, groumis, and likely others that I can't remember that I have either sold, given away, or had to give up to my ex (as well as a 55 gal tank). The most common cause of death was incompatable tank mates. There are plenty of bacterial additives on the market that help to rapidly age tanks that have always worked just fine without causing cloudiness to this extent and for so long - it is usually a few days, maybe a week, but this is going on 2 weeks and is just as dense as day 1. The tetas died because of changing nearly half the water without adding anything to get rid of the chlorine, that was my fault, but just added that part of the story to help as a clue to the cloudiness. All things changed after moving here so am wondering if since this is farm county there is another water issue that I haven't run into previously or that I am overlooking. For example there are a lot of fertilizers/chemicals used around here that aren't at levels harmful to humans but am wondering if them in combination with other tank additives may be contributing to the problem. Thank you for the input; I am sure you are correct that the nitrogen cycle is at the root of this, but there is something else at work why it is continuing at this level. Obviously, someone else has had similar issues - the post about the UV sterilizer - and was just looking for another first hand opinion. Simple it is not.

RoxiesMom · 10-24-2007, 10:26 PM

You may want to take your tap water and have it tested. And although I have never used them, I believe there is a posting on this site where a member actually tested several of the market additives and none of them cycled a tank in 2 weeks time. I had white cloudiness a couple of times in one of my tanks due to bacterial bloom. You may have some bacteria in your tap. Just a suggestion - to have it tested. If it were me, I'd do that before spending a lot of money on the UV until I found out what the problem is. But like I said, if it were me...

Also, sometimes you can add too many chemicals when trying to fix a problem. So, I don't use them at all. Prefer to find the problem and fix it... but I know you are trying to save your fish...

spelljunkie · 10-25-2007, 12:04 AM

Ok, I'm convinced it is a bloom. I was just a bit shaken by the mass die off with only a partial water change. Everthing is stable and the fish and snails all seem happy, so I will just ride it out a bit longer. Thanks all for the input!

lilmomma · 10-30-2007, 07:09 PM

So is the only fix for a bacteria bloom daily 10% water changes?
I am having the same problem right now
Bacteria bloom & tiny white worms on the glass....dunno if they are from the same thing or 2 different things going wrong.
Just wondering?
Thanx
Lisa

RubberFrog · 11-01-2007, 10:15 AM

This is a cycling problem. You're being impatient and relying on chemicals to clear the water and chemicals to establish your bio filter.

Did I read correctly that you replaced your filter pad? Not a good idea when your tank is only two weeks old.

Relax. Let this thing run for a month and then slowly start adding fish. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the way it works. Let this thing run for a month and all of these problems will go away.