im really really tired of this

Sep 27, 2009
143
0
0
#1
ok my forty gallon tank has been cloudy lately. over the last months its been cloudy first i tried water clarifiers because the water parameters were fine. the clarifier hardely cleaned it at all. then i did about a 50 percent water change and it was crystal clear for about 5 days. then slowly got cloudier. again did a water change made the water. now my water is still slightly cloudy im very piss off about it two so what do i need to do?????*ALL**ALL**ALL*
 

brian1973

Superstar Fish
Jan 20, 2008
2,001
3
38
Corpus Christi, Texas
#4
I am wondering what your water parameters are when the water gets cloudy? How are you testing it and are you testing correctly? You have a pretty high stocking level so what kind of filtration are you using? Are you doing weekly water changes and if so how much? From what you describe I would guess uneaten food is the problem since after a water change it is clear for about 5 days then back to cloudy. Also are you using a good water dechlorinator when you do the water change? If not you could be killing off you good bacteria and going thru mini cycles every week. Also how long has the tank been up and running?

If your using the API master kit to test you water parameters make sure you are doing the NitrAte test by the book and not the illistrations on the card, you would be suprised how many experienced people screw that test up.

Edit.. try not to use any chemical in your tank other than water conditioner (recommend Prime). They do little more than mask a problem and can throw off water parameter readings.
 

Last edited:

Newman

Elite Fish
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#5
If your using the API master kit to test you water parameters make sure you are doing the NitrAte test by the book and not the illistrations on the card, you would be suprised how many experienced people screw that test up.
This bothers me...cuz i go by the card each time... I know the numbers the have are placed in awkward locations, somtimes not even directly next to the right illustration but i think i figured it out...

Can you confirm this? :

1. add 10 drops from bottle 1 to 5 ml of tank water
2. shake tube and start shaking bottle 2 for 30 sec.
3. add 10 drops from bottle 2
4. shake the tube for 1 min
5. let sit for 5 min...

Is that it or is something still wrong? (this is from memory so i coulda forgotten something...)
 

brian1973

Superstar Fish
Jan 20, 2008
2,001
3
38
Corpus Christi, Texas
#6
This bothers me...cuz i go by the card each time... I know the numbers the have are placed in awkward locations, somtimes not even directly next to the right illustration but i think i figured it out...

Can you confirm this? :

1. add 10 drops from bottle 1 to 5 ml of tank water
2. shake tube and start shaking bottle 2 for 30 sec.
3. add 10 drops from bottle 2
4. shake the tube for 1 min
5. let sit for 5 min...

Is that it or is something still wrong? (this is from memory so i coulda forgotten something...)
the biggest problem is the diagram shows the same picture for shaking on the back of the card that it does on the other cards that just require a few twists to mix the contents, the instructions specifiy "vigorously shake" and it does make a difference in the results.
 

Newman

Elite Fish
Sep 22, 2009
4,668
0
0
Northern NJ
#16
because we all suck at setting up tanks and arent one with nature to innately know how our particular tank works until we actually work with it for a while :O
that was a joke btw.
 

Apr 14, 2008
691
0
16
32
#17
Wow you've got WAY more patients than I do. I would have pulled it apart to figure out what the problem was after a couple of months. Also what the heck was it?
My tank sucks. lol

Back then I had 8 goldfish, 2 angelfish[the same ones I have now], 1 B/N Pleco, & 1 Gold Weather[Dojo? Same thing?] Loach. It eventually cleared up...until I tore it all down and bleached it for the tropical fish that outgrew the other 29, then it clouded back up. No plants either time since it's only got 36W of T8's over it ATM....Now, it's got plants that out compete the algae[filtered sunlight & fish waste]. Also, the green spot & green diatom algae that drive me to the point of wanting to sell the stupid 55 and replace it with a better tank...