Cloudy water during lights on period

[Kingfisher]

Recently I noticed that my tank's water is more cloudy after lights come on a couple of hours later. In the morning when the light just switched on, you can see the water is clearer but after a couple of hours, it become more cloudy. Is it Bacteria in the water?

FYI, I have not been feeding the fishes the last 2 days. NO3 is measured at 40ppm or above even after water changes.


4x2x2ft planted tank with:

100 Cardinal Tetras
14 Emperor Tetras of various types
8 cories
17 Cherry Barbs
12 Discus (about 1cm size)
3 Anchor Catfish
40 Yamatos shrimps
4 Wood Shrimps
5 Blue Shrimps
2 Hill stream loaches
2 Mini Puffer fish
5 Scarlet Badis
10 Blue Badis
3 Cigar fish
6 Otos

[fleekk]

Hi Bro,

I have the same experience started just a few days ago, out of a sudden. I did a check on pH & Kh, seems like the co2 is too low (1 bps)vs too much lighting & I guess NO3 is high resulted algae blooming. As too much nutrients in water, the plants are not adsorbing due to lack of co2. I did a 20% water change & planning to do it again 3 days later if necessary, increase co2 (2 bps). I have seen some improvement now.

I guess mine is due to increase in fishes as I just started my tank for 3 weeks only. Due to a sudden increase in fish, increase in N03.

Please share your experience.

[Kingfisher]

My tank was setup one month ago. I'm trying to combat the high NO3 by not feeding the fishes since yesterday. Lights was also increased from 8hrs to 10-11hrs in the hope of the plants absorbing the NO3.

PH 6.8-6.9 but my KH stuck at 2. Have added Dr Mallick's Lushgro Micros, Potassium Sulphate and Potassium Phosphate. And also Sera florena.

And algae growth is limited to the glass of the tank.

[PeterGwee]

Kingfisher, unless you reduce the amount of critters in your tank (clearly overstocked in this case) you are going to have problems especially risk of ammonia spikes if your plants stop growing well for some reason or so.

How much water change did you do before taking the NO3 measurement? It should drop no matter what and if it doesn't, you can retire the kit.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Kingfisher]

30% water changes, the Sera Nitrate Test kit is working well as I tested the tapwater and it has only 5ppm Nitrate.

Look like I have to sell some fishes/shrimps away.

[kadios]

Heh heh Kingfisher!

If you ever wanna let go of your cories, do let me know. All the best with your tank.

Cheers!

[fleekk]

Hi Bros,

I have check,

PH : abt 6.7 -7 (evening)
PH : abt 6.2-6.4 (morning)

Cannot get exact PH, using SERA test kit.

KH : 3

I do not think I have excess livestocks, my tank volume is 220L.

42 tetras
15-18 yamatos
10 small SAE
5 otos

I have started to lengthen the photo period to 10 hrs today. Use to be 8hrs for 1st week, 9hrs for the 2nd & 3rd week. 2.5W/gal lighting.

I do get spot algae on the front glass very quickly now.

It was alright for the 1st 3 weeks with only 15tetras + Algae eaters crew. Then problem comes when additional 30 tetras were added.

Nothing was added, only livestocks.

Increase CO2 to 2.5bps today, is it too little or what?

Should I do some more water change? 50% or what?

Please help.

[Xbox Live]

hi fleekk,

Try using Filter Aid from Interpet.It polishes water to make it crystal clear. It works for my planted tank. No side effect so far.Being using it when water is cloudy.

Previously tried changing water (50 ~ 80%), but it either take too long to settle down or never at all.

Recommended (by Interpet)to use when :
1. Water is cloudy
2. After general tank maintenance has stired up fine material, eg fertiliser,soil,etc
3. To clear white clouding caused by bacterial blooms.

Juz a recommendation.
regards

(any other forumers who tried this , can comment ?)

[Xbox Live]

----------------
On 12/28/2003 9:26:24 PM

hi fleekk,

Try using Filter Aid from Interpet.It polishes water to make it crystal clear. It works for my planted tank. No side effect so far.Being using it when water is cloudy.

Previously tried changing water (50 ~ 80%), but it either take too long to settle down or never at all.

Recommended (by Interpet)to use when :
1. Water is cloudy
2. After general tank maintenance has stired up fine material, eg fertiliser,soil,etc
3. To clear white clouding caused by bacterial blooms.

Juz a recommendation.
regards

(any other forumers who tried this , can comment ?)




----------------

oops, should be addressing to kingfisher.

[Kingfisher]

This Filter Aid is a liquid form or a filter pad?

fleekk: Can try using a PH pen to test. I bought the Eco one but it's abit expensive but comes with one year warranty.

[Kingfisher]

----------------
On 12/28/2003 6:46:53 PM

Heh heh Kingfisher!

If you ever wanna let go of your cories, do let me know. All the best with your tank.

Cheers!
----------------

Err, the cories I just bought. Still thinking of what to let go. Will let you know if I decide to give up the cories. 4 species and 2 of each.

[chua]

Hi kingfisher,

Do you use any base fertilizer?
If you are, i think you can hold on to your fertilizer dosage for a little while.
Nutrients from your base fertilizer will seep through your substrate. Adding more fertilizer to your tank may result in adding more problem to your tank.

As peter as mentioned, your bioload is high. Imagine if all your 12 dicus grow bigger. Maybe you can lighten your load.

Thks.

[Kingfisher]

I'm using JBL base fertilizer. OK, will stop dosing.

I didn't expected the 10 baby discus when I traded 3 of my bigger ones. Will sell off some when they are bigger as currently they are only 1cm in size.

[PeterGwee]

Don't stop dosing. Maybe less KNO3 for your situation but keep up with the CO2, K, PO4 and traces. Stop feeding the plants and they will stunt and die off. That is when the balance in your tank would be heading for a crash if your filter could not cope with what the fishes are putting out. Low O2 would also be a problem if the plants slow down.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Kingfisher]

Currently is dosing sera florena (contain no NO3), Dr Mallick Lushgro Micros, Potassium Phosphate and Potassium Sulphate.

[PeterGwee]

Your CO2 is pretty low...crank the CO2 in and drop the pH down to 6.3-6.4 for the entire photoperiod should help things the most at the moment. How much lights do you have over the tank? Heavily planted? Type of plants?

Regards
Peter Gwee

[Kingfisher]

Current PH is 6.5 and KH 2. Using 6 x 55W PL tubes.

Got Toninas, APP, HC, Lotus, moss, bananas plants and other fast growing plants that grow at a rate of a couple of cm a day.

[fleekk]

Hi Bros,

Anyone has any suggestion/remedies for my problem???

Thanks

[Kingfisher]

My water cleared this morning compared to last night milky white.

[fleekk]

----------------
On 12/28/2003 9:29:13 PM

----------------
On 12/28/2003 9:26:24 PM

hi fleekk,

Try using Filter Aid from Interpet.It polishes water to make it crystal clear. It works for my planted tank. No side effect so far.Being using it when water is cloudy.

Previously tried changing water (50 ~ 80%), but it either take too long to settle down or never at all.

Recommended (by Interpet)to use when :
1. Water is cloudy
2. After general tank maintenance has stired up fine material, eg fertiliser,soil,etc
3. To clear white clouding caused by bacterial blooms.

Juz a recommendation.
regards

(any other forumers who tried this , can comment ?)




----------------

oops, should be addressing to kingfisher.
----------------

Hi Bro,

Where can I buy this filter aid - interpet? Liquid form? How much?