EXTREME cloudiness!

[FlyingChicken]

This is my 2ft tank...there are 18 goldies inside. I know it's overstocked but it's only temporarily. Take a look at this level of cloudiness...is it normal?

Taken from the side of the tank. Notice I could not see through the other side even though it is only 2ft. I can only barely make out the outline of a fish swimming by.


The whole tank...

[vinz]

It is normal if your filter is not mature enough or the tank is grossly overstocked. The excess ammonia/nitrite/nitrate might have triggered a bacteria bloom in the water, causing the cloudiness.

Even if you filter is mature, a sudden large increase in bio-load can cause this too. Goldfish produce a lot of waste.

If your goldfish are not gasping at the surface or showing stress or illness, I suggest you leave the water alone and let the bacteria in the filter build up. IME, frequent water change in a new tank often sabotages the build up of bacteria in the filter. If you do water changes, try to use aged water and anti-chlorine/chloramine.

Btw, if you are on MSN messenger, do add me... I'll like to converse with you about the tap water in our area (I'm living near Hougang).

[FlyingChicken]

Hi vinz, actually you're right, I know that new tanks and excess bio load will lead to tank cloudiness but this is the first time I experience this level of cloudiness...though it is not shown in the pictures, the water surface is rather foamly. I did daily 50% water changes to try and improve the clarity with anti-chlorine/chloramine added. My fishes have since recovered from the last ordeal and are behaving as if nothing had happened and are eating more greedly than ever! hehe...

I do not use MSN messenger because my company network blocks it...sorry about that. I do not really know about the tap water condition at my block because I do not use any testkits(I use only my instincts which can be wrong at times....). But is it an issue? I drank from my tap directly...so far so good to me!

[vinz]

Well, supposedly, PUB is adding more or new chemicals to the water, but it's not announced to the general public. They wouldn't add anything that will harm humans, but I don't think they are so concerned about fish tanks (except that they mailed and visited fish farms to inform them). Wierd things have been happening to my fishes and tank water after water changes recently (i've been keeping the same tanks for 3 or more years now), so I'm wondering if it's related. A few other people and LFS I've spoken to has noticed wierd things too. Apparently, aging the water 2 or more days seems to help.

By the way, which floor do you live on? Higher or lower then the 4th floor? I believe flats higher then the 4th floor get their water from the rooftop water tanks. The rest gets it straight from the pipes. Water from the storage tanks could be aged already.

Sigh... all I have now are theories. I'll see if I can get off my butt to test some water.

Anyway, I suggest you try aging water for the next water change.

I've been told that bubbles will form on water surface when there is too much nitrite or amonia, I can't remember which. I'm not sure if foaming in your case is the same thing. Probably is, if the tank filter isn't mature enough.