New rescape cloudy water! Pictures included

**tangjyd** · 11th Feb 2010, 20:56

Hi guys,
I have redid my Low-tech tank scape last saturday, the 6th of February. Water until now remains very cloudy, dirt particles settling on ornaments and on plants which I believe is causing their death :/ Did a check on AQ as I think its quite common for water to be cloudy with ADA soil but will cloudiness cause plant death and the water quality seems to remain cloudy even after around 40% water change today, the 11th of Feburary.

Would appreciate any suggestions on what went wrong/ remedy.

SPECS:
Tank: L x B x H : 60.5 x 45 x 44
Filter: Atman HOF
Substrate: ADA amazonia II as the base, top layer of lapis placed at the side (non-planted area), back has a layer of some red gravel to create more depth.
CO2: Non, but have been dosing excel
Lighting: 55W
Fauna: none, still cycling
Flora: some moss and one spieces of unknown plant at the foreground. Is it microsword?

My other 2 month old tank with the same foreground plant species in ADA soil ( different packet, bought from forumer)

The "new" tank with cloudy water and dying plants.

More pics of the affected tank.

Would appreciate any help!

Thanks!

**madnugget** · 11th Feb 2010, 21:13

bro, your soil is fresh pack or used? so far i used fresh from the pack i should have much particles that will settle on surfaces... i used before used ADA soil, and it was like milo..

**tangjyd** · 11th Feb 2010, 21:20

Fresh 9L pack from C328, yep the particles that floated already cleared off

**dna9179** · 11th Feb 2010, 21:49

How you fill your tank? it should be the way you fill the tank cause the cloudy

**felix_fx2** · 11th Feb 2010, 22:04

fresh packet? it should remain cloudy however your pictures seemed abit "TOO" cloudy.
maybe you filled up the new packet too fast, causing it.

Maybe try this,
Siphon out 40-50% of the water and leave things as it is for the night. (Without your HOF on)
Tomorrow night with some aged water, Siphon back using some air tubes.
but before you do so, compare with the day before.

Alternate way, use newspaper cover the plants then fill it back up. this will help prevent the water from disturbing the current substrate.

Credits to Mr Loh who taught me that.

Just a small question, did you rinse the ADA soil in the brand new packet?
I made a mistake in the past by using "Virgin soil" direct from the packet, it resulted in similar results. It took ages to clear (around 1 week) but i was using OHF so you know.

**tangjyd** · 11th Feb 2010, 22:05

Yea it maybe. So how should I remedy the problem? and is my hypothesis correct that the dirt particles are killing my plants by blocking out the light?

**felix_fx2** · 11th Feb 2010, 22:07

Originally Posted by madnugget

bro, your soil is fresh pack or used? so far i used fresh from the pack i should have much particles that will settle on surfaces... i used before used ADA soil, and it was like milo..

hey madnugget,
i had the same experience with "used" ADA soil when i started planted

Now the tank sits outside my house with zero filtration, But i still see the "milo powder" that settled down

**tangjyd** · 11th Feb 2010, 22:13

Originally Posted by felix_fx2

fresh packet? it should remain cloudy however your pictures seemed abit "TOO" cloudy.
maybe you filled up the new packet too fast, causing it.

Maybe try this,
Siphon out 40-50% of the water and leave things as it is for the night. (Without your HOF on)
Tomorrow night with some aged water, Siphon back using some air tubes.
but before you do so, compare with the day before.

Credits to Mr Loh who taught me that.

Just a small question, did you rinse the ADA soil in the brand new packet?
I made a mistake in the past by using "Virgin soil" direct from the packet, it resulted in similar results. It took ages to clear (around 1 week) but i was using OHF so you know.

Okay tmr night I will do the siphoning if it does not improve.

Ouch, yes I did because the packet said not to wash and I read in some threads that there was no need to wash also.

**madnugget** · 11th Feb 2010, 22:49

Originally Posted by felix_fx2

hey madnugget,
i had the same experience with "used" ADA soil when i started planted

Now the tank sits outside my house with zero filtration, But i still see the "milo powder" that settled down

that was a very very bad experience for me. initially i thought it was ok if i add in the soil through a pipe. that doesnt work, i tried repacking into those sandwich bag and open it up when its inside too. doesnt work too.. haha end up i have to overcrowd my 2fter, drain out all the water, settle the soil in and add water. Cant remember how long it took to clear off and its good now =)

Originally Posted by tangjyd

Okay tmr night I will do the siphoning if it does not improve.

Ouch, yes I did because the packet said not to wash and I read in some threads that there was no need to wash also.

I set up twice without washing too and it was not that cloudy..
I guess it must be the way you filled it up. i recently rescape my tank with used + new soil and this is how it look..place a flatten plastic bag inside the tank and allow water to fill up the overflow into the tank..

**zonkkie** · 11th Feb 2010, 23:23

I used new ADA soil II without washing as well. It was cloudy but cleared up within a day with my internal filter.

**Blue Whale** · 12th Feb 2010, 20:33

People,

Just cycle your tank first. You can put the plants in a seperate pail but ensure lights is regulated and Co2 supply if possible. Just cycle the tank and the soil with the filter will do. You still have to do that regular water change. Once it is cleared, you can lower the water, and start planting. But added the water would be an art. If you do not know how to introduce water slowly, put a small bucket on top of the tank corner (not too big bucket), lay a plastic tube down (you have to suck the water downwards), just keep filling the small bucket with a mug. Once it reach certain level, you can re-trace back to ADA Journals Basic Lesson 8.

Watch the right top side, how water is being introduced.

For those who DON'T KNOW or FORGOTTEN.

Please start from lesson 1.
http://www.aquajournal.net/na/basics/basics_01.html

**tangjyd** · 12th Feb 2010, 23:39

okay thanks guys, will try to do the whole tank over again later... hope during the CNY it will clear up.

Thanks!

**Blue Whale** · 13th Feb 2010, 08:28

Initially I was skeptical about this method of pouring since I worry that I do not have the "muscle" to lift that bucket. But once you tried it, it just seems to be secondary concern. So for those who have not tried it yet, you could use a mug (about 2 mugs of water filling), close to water surface for slow release, then start the lift pouring action with the other hand below. Always remind yourself not to lean the bucket against the glass. Can weaken the side glass if you are not careful.

**tangjyd** · 13th Feb 2010, 11:39

Okay now that I am going to refill the water. The last remaining question is does cloudy/ dirt filled particles kill plant? Through blocking out light by landing on the leaves?

**Blue Whale** · 13th Feb 2010, 20:41

If given sufficient light based on wpg, the plant won't die so easily. But the residue that settle on the plant makes it very difficult to "clean" the plant. You need efficient creatures such as otos, yamatos, mollies, etc. to do clean up job. scavenger class fish. Note that not all of them is mixable. Water reflect light right? =) Have fun.