Persistent Cloudy Water

nikkigill50

My tank is over a year old and I suddenly have cloudy water. I haven't added any new fish or ornaments to the tank lately, the only changes I have made in the last 3 weeks was that I removed all of the gravel to take out the pure laterite that was mixed in with it, and I put a new sponge in my filter, which I rinsed first. I can't understand it. I have done 25% water changes for 3 days and it looked a bit better, but after leaving it for another 2 days its getting really murky again.

Any ideas whats wrong??

1077

ammonia readings are needed in order to help you. It is possible that by removing the gravel or substrate and replacing the filter ,that you have destroyed the bio- bed or beneficial bacteria needed to break down the harmful chemicals in your tank.

nikkigill50

Geez, I didn't even think about that with the gravel. What an idiot.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5.0

Should I be doing 25% water changes each day? I have added some rocks and ornaments that I have taken out of the tank a little white ago - will they still have some of the beneficial bacteria on them even though they have been sitting?

1077

Pobably very little. You may have to cycle your tank again. But look at it this way , You now have the opportunity to make any and all changes you wish . If you should have to cycle again and wish to do it fishless, you could use a large raw cocktail shrimp. As it decays it will produce the needed ammonia and water changes will not be so fequent . It will take about the same length of time to cycle and ammonia should not be allowed to get too high while bacteria is establishing itself.

1077

Pobably very little. You may have to cycle your tank again. But look at it this way , You now have the opportunity to make any and all changes you wish . If you should have to cycle again and wish to do it fishless, you could use a large raw cocktail shrimp. As it decays it will produce the needed ammonia and water changes will not be so fequent . It will take about the same length of time to cycle and ammonia should not be allowed to get too high while bacteria is establishing itself.

nikkigill50

So, what action should I take while it is recycling? Keep checking for high numbers in ammonia and nitrite and if so, do water changes?

okiemavis

Yeah, just keep doing water changes if those levels rise- hopefully it won't be too bad.