Any suggestions?

[mwojo586]

I have had my fish tank running for about 2 months now. I have a 20 gallon tank and I am currently getting ready to buy a 60g. I have 2 many fish I think atm but that is also the reason I am purchasing a larger tank. There are 2 cory cats, I albino rainbow shark, 5 odessa barbs and 5 clown barbs. All of them are very small at the moment but I know will grow and thus the need for a larger tank.

My questions is that about 2 weeks ago I added a piece of driftwood into my tank and for the past week my tank has begun to get extremely cloudy. I consistently test my water and it is just about perfect now for the past 2 weeks.

What could be causing this cloudiness? I dont like adding chemicals to my tank but I have read that there are items to clear up cloudyness. I would prefer to just find the source of the problem and eliminate it. This weekend I also purchased a pleco which has died after being in my tank for 3 days. All the other fish are perfectly healthy.

Please help

Thanks for your time!

 

[Doomhed]

yes, it is possible that it is caused by driftwood you did not clean and prepare appropriately. also, when in doubt, ask yourself..."was there a price tag or upc sticker on this item?" my aunt made that mistake once and killed a few of my fish.

 

[mwojo586]

well funny you should mention the price tag, I did remove a piece of paper debris but that was well over 3 weeks ago and then I did check the few fake plants very well again.

The driftwood though, I was told I should not clean or rinse it off. I bought it out of an aquarium, not a dry piece. THey said that would remove all of the "healthy" bacteria that has built up during it duration in the tank.

I just checked my water again and all levels are fine. my nitrate level climbed from 10 to 20 which I found a bit odd since my ammonia and nitrite levels have stabilized at zero.

 

[misterking]

You may just be having a bacterial bloom, in which case I wouldn't add any chemicals. They're a good sign as they suggest a healthy bacterial population, they can last a while but when things balance out it should settle again.

 

[ValRasbora]

yes, it is possible that it is caused by driftwood you did not clean and prepare appropriately. also, when in doubt, ask yourself..."was there a price tag or upc sticker on this item?" my aunt made that mistake once and killed a few of my fish.

I have left price stickers on the bottom of decorations and it did no harm.
LOL
It might be the tannins in the driftwood?