Cloudy-water in cichlid's tank

[knicely-cichlid]

We have started a 75 gallon tank about 2 weeks ago, there are 4 electric yellow, 2 bumble bee, 4 albino sunburst, 4 hap. venustus, 4 hap. polystigma in tank.

The only problem we are having is the water is cloudy. The filtation system is a emperor 400 and penguin 330. We have city water the ph level is fine, ammonia is fine. We feed twice a day and shrimp brine every couple days. They only get fed a little at a time to make sure it does not go to the bottom of tank. If anyone can help, or any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

 

[wayne]

ounds like a bacterial bloom - how did you cycle the tank? Did you try to put in bacteria from another tanks filter? Are you testing for anything else other than ammonia - something won't be at zero.
Well , you're going to have to wait for some bacteria to grow. In the meantime you'd better get busy with water changes because those fish aren't very resistant to bad water conditions, so you need to keep toxins at sub toxic levels.

 

[zimmerlyct]

If tank has only been running for 2 weeks, I would guess that your tank is JUST starting to go through the nitrogen cycle. It's common. Good thing you have cichlids. They are a hardy fish. Water quality is going to go through some changes. You should know about this cycle. I would read an article on it in this website.

 

[Torpedo]

Complete cycling for 75 gals should take between 6 and 8 weeks. Keep an eye on you chem. levels. You're going to get spikes in your amonia and nitrites as your bad and good bacteria develope. You might lose some of your fish in time...just don't add any more for a month or so. Eventually things will settle down.

 

[wayne at home]

Unfortuneately African Cichlidsaren't nearly as resistant to bad conditions as Central or S Americans. Get ready for water changes if they start looking a bit grim

 

[AmazonTankz]

Darn, what a bummer sounds like a nice setup. I would not have added fish so soon. But whats done is done and if any of your fish survive, patience is the best way to deal with cloudy water(from bacteria) It will go away in time when you tank levels itself out. In the mean time go learn about the nitrogen cycle!

 

[knicely-cichlid]

Thanks for all the advice! We have completed our first water change which made the ammonia levels went off the chart. We took the water and had it tested and was told to do another water change of 50% and pretty much start over. There is a chemical out there called Bclear for cloudy tanks, but we have all come to the conclusion it is a new tank syndrome. We in the mean time have added two wonder electric blues. Just can't seem to stay out of the fish store. But we are done adding and let nature do it's thing for the next few weeks and hold off on the next water change. The rest of the fish are doing great, but one of the electric yellows is just laying at bottom of tank just keeping to himself, not in danger of dying just yet real lathargic. So hoping he starts swimming soooooon. Thanks Again!!