Tank suddenly looks "soapy" - bubbles..

[alex76]

I wonder why my shrimp tank, 1.5' big, suddenly looks so soapy...a lot bubbles floating...

what's happening? I just change it, but yet the water so cloudy and soapy...

Cherry shrimps still stays healthy....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43695682@N02/4045097932/

[alex76]

I wonder why my shrimp tank, 1.5' big, suddenly looks so soapy...a lot bubbles floating...

what's happening? I just change it, but yet the water so cloudy and soapy...

Cherry shrimps still stays healthy....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43695682@N02/4045097932/

Anybody any idea? I just did a 90% changed water of water yesterday, today the water turns cloudy again! sigh... what's going on...I have stop feeding for 2 days too... the feed is usually 3 tablets of Nutrifin sinking tablet for the shrimps...

[shrimppaste]

Stop changing water. Soapy, milky looking water means you are getting bacterial bloom. Cut down feeding. Look to see if it turns green, f it does, then it's green water. Good news is THese two problems can be solved the same way using the same solution which is using UV filter.

[alex76]

Stop changing water. Soapy, milky looking water means you are getting bacterial bloom. Cut down feeding. Look to see if it turns green, f it does, then it's green water. Good news is THese two problems can be solved the same way using the same solution which is using UV filter.

Thanks for reply... means now the tank needs to go through UV filter?

[bossteck]

Just leave it alone. Bacterial boom will clear up in 1-2 weeks time.
What you're seeing a free floating bacteria in the water (most of them dead), after bacteria have colonize your filter media, the tank will reach equilibrium and the water will clear by itself.

You should never do 90% water change, unless you're keeping livestock that are 'built' for such large volume w/c, like discus for example, otherwise it will do more harm than good.

[alex76]

Just leave it alone. Bacterial boom will clear up in 1-2 weeks time.
What you're seeing a free floating bacteria in the water (most of them dead), after bacteria have colonize your filter media, the tank will reach equilibrium and the water will clear by itself.

You should never do 90% water change, unless you're keeping livestock that are 'built' for such large volume w/c, like discus for example, otherwise it will do more harm than good.

Means I dun even change my hanging filter cotton for the time being?
I usually change 90% water once a month using boiled water left over for a few weeks... but I'm not sure ok or not... so far my shrimps r ok... just that the moss r covered with brush algae till I have to remove them all

[Shadow]

If not mistaken boiling water will oxidize whatever trace element in the water, so probably not good for your plant. It also drive the O2 and CO2 away, not sure if O2 and CO2 come back after cooling it down

[shrimppaste]

You should only wash your wool with the aquarium water. Chlorine might kill the Bacteria on the wool. And 90% water change is way too much especially yours is a shrimp tank!!!

[StanChung]

Check for dead shrimp/rotting carcass or uneaten food.
Bubbles on rim of glass indicate bacteria activity and sometimes alkaline conditions.
Sooner you find the problem the better. Keep changing some water[~30%] to reduce buildup of toxins.

[alex76]

ops... once a while got dead shrimp I will bury it under the sand if not, other shrimp will cannibalised it. burying it I thought will provide nutrient to the plants ... ok ok...now I know I should discard the carcasses...

about the filter wool I usually throw away and replace with new cotton.

so should I sit and wait now? or is there any medication for it?

[StanChung]

Wipe down of inside tank glass with a sponge/cloth, 30-50% WC. Night aeration will help the BB[beneficial bacteria] proliferate. If you remember where you bury the carcass-remove it or else don't bother digging or you might make it worse. Do this first before you WC.
Adding some seed bacteria will help.
Filter wool doesn't need to be replaced unless it loses it's shape very badly. If fact it should be maintained for as long as possible.
Cleaning it involves patting it with dechlorinated water/tank water. It's meant to be full of BB. Keep changing it and the tank water will keep becoming cloudy because the BB have no home to settle on.

[alex76]

Wipe down of inside tank glass with a sponge/cloth, 30-50% WC. Night aeration will help the BB[beneficial bacteria] proliferate. If you remember where you bury the carcass-remove it or else don't bother digging or you might make it worse. Do this first before you WC.
Adding some seed bacteria will help.
Filter wool doesn't need to be replaced unless it loses it's shape very badly. If fact it should be maintained for as long as possible.
Cleaning it involves patting it with dechlorinated water/tank water. It's meant to be full of BB. Keep changing it and the tank water will keep becoming cloudy because the BB have no home to settle on.

the hanging filter is small, thus the cotton is as small as 3"x1", everytime clog the filter with dirt, that's y I change occasionally. Ok next time I try to wash see if it's help to remove some dirt so water can flow thru...
Think by now the carcasses already fully decomposed...
I do WC first...

[StanChung]

Okay then, maybe a bigger filter is perhaps a wise investment.

Don't worry the tank is fine, you just need to create a what I call a buffer for error.
In time when you have more and more shrimps the filtration may be inadequate as it seems it's running in a pretty tight line.

[kenny1111]

just leave the wafer along for a week, it should get better

[alex76]

just leave the wafer along for a week, it should get better

hopefully lo...

I've reduced the feeding... only one tablet... the shrimps are so hungry..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43695682@N02/4057900998/