Most likely its just the "bacterial bloom" that is normal in new tanks. Its not a risk to the fish and is a sign that your tank has started the nitrogen cycle. Just monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels. Do water changes if it gets to dangerous levels.
Cloudy/Milky Water
Hey all, I am new fish parent and am having a few problems. Quick backstory, I moved my male blue veitail from a 3 gallon tank to a 15 gallon tank on Friday May 23rd. I had intitially set up the 15 gallon tank on Saturday the 17th with no fish. It gradually got cloudy after the 17th but within a few days it was crystal clear again. My fiance moved his 2 female bettas and 4 cory cats into the tank on Wednesday to filter his tank. When I brought my boy home on the 23rd I did a 2 gallon water change and added my male, a mystery snail(his tank mate when he was in the 3 gallon) and 5 cory cats.
It is now Wednesday and his water is very cloudy, almost milky. When I did the water change last Friday I boiled the water first, added Tetra's Betta Safe water treatment and I also use aquarium salt.
In the tank there are 6 plastic plants, 2 caves and a live moss ball. I have no idea what to do because when he was in his 3 gallon with his snail his water crystal clear.
This is the filter I have http://www.petsmart.com/fish/filter...zid36-21344/cat-36-catid-300088#RatingsDetail
I do use algae wafers for the cory cats and Aqueon Betta Food for my betta. Could it be the algae wafers?
It is now Wednesday and his water is very cloudy, almost milky. When I did the water change last Friday I boiled the water first, added Tetra's Betta Safe water treatment and I also use aquarium salt.
In the tank there are 6 plastic plants, 2 caves and a live moss ball. I have no idea what to do because when he was in his 3 gallon with his snail his water crystal clear.
This is the filter I have http://www.petsmart.com/fish/filter...zid36-21344/cat-36-catid-300088#RatingsDetail
I do use algae wafers for the cory cats and Aqueon Betta Food for my betta. Could it be the algae wafers?
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Wait, do you have a male betta, 2 females, and 9 corys all in that one 15 gallon tank?
How often should I change the water and how much at a time if the levels are safe?
NO NOT ALL IN ONE TANK
In my 15 gallon I have one male, 5 corys and a snail. The 2 female bettas and 4 corys are in a 10 (my fiance's tank)
NO NOT ALL IN ONE TANK
In my 15 gallon I have one male, 5 corys and a snail. The 2 female bettas and 4 corys are in a 10 (my fiance's tank)
Oh whew! You never know. People do some crazy things . . .
Once the tank is cycled and all levels stay safe, once a week 50% will do you just fine. That's what I do on my 20g tank.
Once the tank is cycled and all levels stay safe, once a week 50% will do you just fine. That's what I do on my 20g tank.
I did readings for the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate last night. The pH was at about a 7.4 and all the others readings were high on the chart. I did a 2 gallon water change last night and dropped a pH corrector tablet in it also. Then this morning I noticed one of the algae wafers was spoiled on the bottom of the tank.
I'm planning on doing atleast a 50% water change, vaccum the gravel and cleaning all the decor.
While the tank is setting up it's cycle should I be changing the water more frequently and if so how much and how often?
Should I use chemicals that correct pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate or does the tank just need to tank its natural course? Should I use those chemicals ever?
I'm so concerned about the health of the fish and don't want to hurt them.
I'm planning on doing atleast a 50% water change, vaccum the gravel and cleaning all the decor.
While the tank is setting up it's cycle should I be changing the water more frequently and if so how much and how often?
Should I use chemicals that correct pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate or does the tank just need to tank its natural course? Should I use those chemicals ever?
I'm so concerned about the health of the fish and don't want to hurt them.
You should do a water change when any of the following conditions are met:
I would not use any of the pH or ammonia/nitrite/nitrate correction products in the tank. They only mask the issues that can be taken care of with water chages. A pH of 7.4 is perfectly fine. The only exception to this is I do advocate the use of Prime water conditioner which detoxifies ammonia, nitrite, nitrates along with dechlorinating/dechloraminating/removing heavy metals.
For me personally, the only time I would take any steps to correct the pH in the tank is if it is below 6.7, above 8.0, or if you have extremely soft water that has a hard time keeping the pH constant.
- Ammonia reading reaches .25 ppm or higher - a higher reading should equal a larger water change.
- Nitrite reading reaches .25 ppm or higher - a higher reading should equal a larger water change.
- NitRATE reading reaches 30 ppm or higher (some people argue higher on this, which may be valid. This is just what I do).
- OR it has been a week since your last water change.
I would not use any of the pH or ammonia/nitrite/nitrate correction products in the tank. They only mask the issues that can be taken care of with water chages. A pH of 7.4 is perfectly fine. The only exception to this is I do advocate the use of Prime water conditioner which detoxifies ammonia, nitrite, nitrates along with dechlorinating/dechloraminating/removing heavy metals.
For me personally, the only time I would take any steps to correct the pH in the tank is if it is below 6.7, above 8.0, or if you have extremely soft water that has a hard time keeping the pH constant.
Well my readings aren't really changing a whole lot. I removed my betta into his old tank because I noticed some fin rot and I think it was because of the high levels since the water was only about a week old.
The filter I have is for a 20 gallon tank and I have a 15...should I upgrade my filter to one that is for a 30 gallon or higher?
The filter I have is for a 20 gallon tank and I have a 15...should I upgrade my filter to one that is for a 30 gallon or higher?
I'm not very experienced at keeping bettas, but I do know that some of them don't like stronger current. If you put a filter that is rated for a 30 gallon, then the current may become too strong and you may not be able to baffle it enough. Like I said, I don't have a lot of experience with betta, but that is my opinion. I had the PF10 )a filter rated for tanks 5 to 10 gallons) in my 5 gallon, but the current was blowing all of the leaves to the silk plants a lot. I opted for a filter with a lower flow rate.
I am cycling a 10 gallon tank with a single CT betta.
First week I didn't have to do anything but as ammonia and nitrites started to spike, I've had to do as much as 3 50% water changes in 4 days.
How often are you checking the levels? I think you have added too many fish too soon and it's causing your water parameters to go all crazy.
First week I didn't have to do anything but as ammonia and nitrites started to spike, I've had to do as much as 3 50% water changes in 4 days.
How often are you checking the levels? I think you have added too many fish too soon and it's causing your water parameters to go all crazy.
A matter of semantics. Filters are not rated for specific tank sizes but "up to." What this means is an "up to 20 gallons" filter is not rated to adequately filter anything higher than a 20. If it has adjustable flow you could probably use the IF30. Or, you could run two IF20s.
Might want to give the tank a bit more time to clear up. As stayahead suggested it's most likely a bacterial bloom and has nothing to do with the filter.
I'd leave that pH alone, too. Messing with it can do more harm than good.
Filters are not rated for specific tank sizes but "up to." What this means is an "up to 20 gallons" filter is not rated to adequately filter anything higher than a 20. If it has adjustable flow you could probably use the IF30. Or, you could run two IF20s.Might want to give the tank a bit more time to clear up. As stayahead suggested it's most likely a bacterial bloom and has nothing to do with the filter.
I'd leave that pH alone, too. Messing with it can do more harm than good.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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