Loaches Online Forum

Hi, my water is cloudy and I'm worried that it's affecting the health of the fish. There are treatments you can get for cloudy water- do they work?
I'm getting ready to go to the store for some kits and was wondering if this would be wise to pick up.
I did a water change 2 days ago.

Sometimes cloudy water is an indication of a bacterial bloom...

We had a lengthly convo about this last night but she didn't believe me

Those bacterial treatments are worthless, except bio spira, which you dont need in your case as it will end up causing more die off as you cant use it all up.

Just leave it alone. Nature fixes itself. I promise. Lights off no food 3 days like I told ya

if it's milky cloudy, it's bacteria.
don't feed, water changes, listen to the angelfish.
always treat your water with a dechlorinator when you change it...

(what's with the lights out, btw?)

She uses bottled groundwater, no need for water treatment.

Lights off because light reduces the efficacy of nitrifying bacteria and also slows their processes down. Lights off will allow the bacteria to settle and start working faster

This is why, most filters are either opaque plastic or black or green, just like you make a beer bottle green, because the light affects the contents.

based on what we've been talking about this sounds like a bloom caused by an abrupt stock change, she just removed all the tetras.

A water change might clear the water a little faster, but again, if you just leave it alone it will fix itself

Sophie thats TWICE you publically agree with me now!!

(Twilight Zone Theme)

Found the cause of the murky water today, took an ammonia test.
It was between 1.2 & 2.4!!!
And the culprit turned out to be the tap water- there'd obviously been problems with it before they announced so.
I tested it shortly after and got a reading between 0.6 and 1.2.
No wonder there's a ban on using it for cooking/drinking purposes

My water tests positive for ammonia, too. The water company says its because of the way they treat it (chloramines). Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia. As it sits in the pipes waiting to enter my house, it breaks down and some of the ammonia becomes free.

Still, there should not be a problem with it in your tank. The biological filter, if it was healthy, would be cycling it out almost as soon as you put it in. The fact that the ammonia is even higher in your tank than in the tap is even more of an indication that there is a problem.

Since the ammonia in the water is still lower than that in the tank, water changes will still be helpful.

Shes using bottled water, and theres no way you get 1.2mg/L with chloramine. That'd be killing people's cats.

Chloramine tests out at MAYBE 0.2mg/L and thats a lot

I agree that there is also a tank related problem and that something in there is leeching amonia but that much ammonia in tap water given the right circumstances could have caused her situation.

Leeching ammonia? But what?
The contents of my tank are as follows: gravel (previously used in a healthy tank), 3 rock decorations & two caves (also formerly used in tanks with the exception of one, which was rinsed before being put in... all are specifically designed for aquarium usage), an aeration disk, a heater, and an aqua clear foam insert.
Any suggestions as to what might be the cause of the problem?
Everything that's in the tank now has been in there previously with absolutely NO problem, with the exception of the aqua clear foam- which I highly doubt is the cause of the problem. the water HAS been tested with the items listed above in the tank with ammonia coming up 0, nitrite 0, and the pH staying unwaveringly on the borderlines of 7.0.
I did a nearly 100% water change. Halfway through I was getting a reading of 0.6-1.2. After finishing the water change and dissolving an ammonia controlling tablet, I'm getting a reading of 0-0.6.
My nitrite level is at 0.1.

well 0.6 is better.

Leaching like something dead or rotting food...

You had the cloudy water before the foam so it cant be the problem. The biowheel wasnt doing much nor was that blue cartridge and removing the biowheel wouldnt affect the tank that much- besides the point that we know we can rule that out

I would certainly suggest you do a head count if at all possible I recently had a devastating experience with one of my beloved Atya gabonensis (shrimp) dyeing and I did not know it and he polluted the tank killing my other shrimp and some fish It was very sad but if you have shrimp or fish missing than that could be it.

Also hold off on the feeding like it has been said until you know what the problem is. Did you do anything to your filter media?

Just my thought I am far from an expert so anyway good luck let us know how it turns out.

Hey good news everyone!
The head count shows nobody is AWOL or DIA, and my water is now nearly 100% smog free! There's barely a hint of it left, and all fishies have returned to their playful selves. And of course, my rainbow shark is mouthing every little crevice he can get his barbels on.
Also, angel- remember that little issue I had about feeding? (My loaches, like every other loach in history- GLUTTONS!) I put a portion of food in his little cave and voila. Dinner for 1B coming up. The loaches duel it out for their turn at the pellet in the evenings. Order is returned to the force.
And the moral of the day kids: Never trust Corner Brook to provide you with decent water.

shazam26 wrote:Hey good news everyone!
The head count shows nobody is AWOL or DIA, and my water is now nearly 100% smog free! There's barely a hint of it left, and all fishies have returned to their playful selves. And of course, my rainbow shark is mouthing every little crevice he can get his barbels on.
Also, angel- remember that little issue I had about feeding? (My loaches, like every other loach in history- GLUTTONS!) I put a portion of food in his little cave and voila. Dinner for 1B coming up. The loaches duel it out for their turn at the pellet in the evenings. Order is returned to the force.
And the moral of the day kids: Never trust Corner Brook to provide you with decent water.

Then said pellet should be made into a sufficient number of pieces so as to prevent fighting no?

No worries angelfish. My idea of fighting is the 3 second thrash that happens when the pellet hits the bottom of the tank. They've got it shattered within seconds. They sure know how to raise the crumbs. Oh, and I found out that if I request specific fish to the pet store, they'll order it. They don't keep a stock list. They go by popular demand or special request. Also, I was talking to the manager about cichlids and he can get in touch with someone that sells madagascar and african origin cichlids. I'd love the get a tank with a cichlid and a couple catfish. That would be a lovely set up.
I'll leave my poor kuhli's away from the cichlids... I hear they can be some bad muthas.