Aquariums

[bomelia]

Surely someone in here has an acquarium and can help me. My 7 year old boy wanted and got an acquarium for his birthday. 15 gallons, freshwater. It has some live plants, heater, charcoal filter.

I cannot keep the water clear! Its always foggy and the folks at PetSmart are about as helpfull as Home Depot folks. I have tried ph balancers, stabilizers, treatments. Nothing works. I even cut back on food but that just does not seem fair to the fish. What do I do?

I have also done some 15% water changeouts

Mike

[392cobra]

Originally Posted by bomelia

I even cut back on food but that just does not seem fair to the fish. What do I do?

Mike

Fish Food + Fish = Fish Crap (Milky Water) ??

[J. T. Toad]

Mike,
any number of conditions can create less than desirable water conditions.
brainstorming.....
What kind of fish? how many? what's your tap water like? How often are you having to change the water? Under-gravel filter? Is there gravel? Are you using the tank to brush your teeth in it?

I am sure you have done a google on tank maintenance, but without knowing your setup it is hard to address what could be causing the problem.

Additionally, feel free to email me if you want to respond off post. I wouldn't want to be part of locking down an inappropriate thread.

[Fordzilla]

I think this thread is in the appropriate section. I believe the whole reason for the lounge is for topics such as this. It's refreshing to see it used for what it was meant for.

[J. T. Toad]

My apologies. It was my attempt at being facetious. I would be amazed if a discussion of confined fish excrement would degrade to a point that it got locked down.

But than again, this is, thankfully, the lounge.

[Fordzilla]

Originally Posted by J. T. Toad

I would be amazed if a discussion of confined fish excrement would degrade to a point that it got locked down.

You never know!

[bomelia]

You guys try hard!

Anyways, its an external filter. No under the gravel filter. There is gravel. There are live plants, glo-fish, x-ray fish and a tuxedo fish.

I have been reading a lot about "new tank" syndrome. This is where it goes through a phase while developing the closed loop environment. May be nothing I can do about it. Gonna stop at pet smart on the way home and get some ph strips.

Mike

[J. T. Toad]

I'd pick up an under-gravel filter and a good air pump and not worry about the external, not for 15 gallons. Remove the live plants, at least for now.

It should never really get that cloudy, whereby cloudy is a relative term.

The fish actually need very little food. Anything they don't consume within 2 minutes is a waste. Feed once to twice a day, at most, and skipping a day every now and then doesn't hurt.

[J. T. Toad]

How long have you had the tank? Did you clean the tank and anything you added with anything before you filled it? did you clean the gravel?

[SPF2245]

Also try and call some of the other pet shops around, many offer free or VERY cheap tests of your water to let you know if your PH is right or if there are other problems.

[Roscoe]

Get a Pleko and/or Geophagus. The Pleko will eat algae off the glass and stuff in the gravel and the Geo actually mouths gravel and shoots it out his gills. Helps considerably with tank maintenance.

I used to have a 55 gal with South American Cichlids. Considered the pit bulls of fish. Unfortunately, over the years the Cichlisoma Labiatum (Red Devil) killed off the others one by one. He got to be about 9" long. Loved goldfish, crayfish and the occasional 'pinky'.

Roscoe

[J. T. Toad]

are you rinsing the charcoal before using it? That adds cloudiness, although that usually dissipates or settles down after a day or two. Although, you really don't need a lot of charcoal for 15 gallons.

[bomelia]

Ah, the air pump. My aquarium "kit" did not come with one, so I do not have an air stone. I wonder why they do not use air stones?

[J. T. Toad]

Eureka.

Air stones increase diffusion of air, which allow for better oxygenation of the water and movement of water as in an under-gravel filter tube. They also lesson tube blockage from calcification when the water enter and exits the tube for each bubble.

I'd get a pump and under-gravel set up. A plus to this is that you won't need the plants which can contribute their own additional debris. I'd loose the external filter (for now) as they really are good for 'chunks' in the water (filter screen) and odor (charcoal) neither of which should be a problem for, say, six months if feeding a fish to gallon ratio is correct.

I have run tanks for years with only an under-gravel and annual 10% changes of water.

The under gravel really provides a great medium for healthy bacteria and filtration through the gravel.

[bomelia]

From what I have read, air stones (can) increase bacteria blooms. But, I will go get one, it never made sense to me that there was not one in the kit. I hope they make 'em quieter than the ones I use long ago!

Mike

[bomelia]

I added the air stone. Also, I topped offwith distilled water (no chlorine)

Wait a week and see how it goes.

Mik

[J. T. Toad]

Mike,

Use caution in using distilled water. Topping off is fine. Does your tap water necessitate it?

I understand reasoning behind it, but the fish won't live in it. If you want to make the argument that the chlorine kills the good bacteria, ok, but the lack of minerals in the water will kill the fish. Regarding chlorine, ever see a frog live in a pool? (high ppm chlorine/sensitive animal) They live for quite a while.

I haven't read anything about an under gravel filter yet.

Have you considered an experiment with an empty jug and tap water? Let it sit for the same time as the aquarium and see if the cloudiness you describe occurs. It'll help you know where the problem lies.

[J. T. Toad]

http://www.aquariumguys.com/aquarium...l-filters.html

[Ron61]

JT & Mike,

I have a 20 gallon tank with both the under gravel and an outside filter on it. The outside filter will clear the water after a cleaning quicker than the under gravel one will and it has 4 tubes with air stones in it. I never had the experience Mike did when I got mine new. I washed the gravel and everything and it was a little cloudy from the minerals we have here for about 30 minutes and then turned clear. My biggest problem is the green algae that covers the inside walls of the tank. I have to brush that off every month or so and for a few minutes I can't even see the back side of the tank and then it will be all clear. I did take a sample of my water to the pet store to have it tested and they told me it was the minerals that caused the cloudiness for a short time.

Ron

[bomelia]

Instead of distilled water, I am thinking of adding distilled alcohol. Least wise, the fish could have some fun during this transitory mode.

Mike

PS: It is starting to get clearer.