waste management chemicals?

ErinBBC

Hello all,
My 5 gallon tank has a sponge filter in it and it has cycled but between 25% water changes it sometimes gets cloudy even though Marley eats all his food. A guy at the fish store suggested a chemical waste management product like this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2755149

What do you guys think?
Erin

iamntbatman

I'm always a little hesitant about adding chemicals to a system that should be pretty stable on its own. Telling us your water parameters would be helpful. Also, do you have live plants? Live plants do a great job of using fish waste as fertilizer and create a more balanced ecosystem in your tank.

Meatpuppet

ive had stuff like that- the brand was cycle
it puts good bacteria in the water. i only used when i cycled my tank though

Flashygrrl

Do you have a small gravel vac that you use when you do water changes? If not, there's probably fish waste that's fallen into the gravel and not getting cleaned out so the water changes are less effective. Only do about half the gravel when do you a water change though.

Lupin

If the sponge filter appears already coated with too much dirt. Clean it a little thoroughly. Consider adding another filter filled with filter floss to collect even the smallest particles. Vacuum the substrate thoroughly. How often do you feed your fish? No need to use the chemicals.

ErinBBC

I cleaned up the gravel and that did the trick. Thanks!!