From: pjs@gvgdsd.GVG.TEK.COM (Peter J. Stonard)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: CLOUDY WATER
Date: 26 Dec 92 00:31:16 GMT
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: gvgdsd.gvg.tek.com

In article <2446.246.uupcb@u2u.lonestar.org> damon.bowman@u2u.lonestar.org (Damon Bowman) writes:
>I have a 55 gallon freshwater tropical tank that I have never had
>running right.  
[.....]
Stuff about hiring an expert to help solve problems and move tank.
(Great idea! Did it cost you money? How much?)

>After setting this up and allowing it to run for about 4 days empty, we
>put the fish that made it back into the tank.  3 or 4 medium to large
>gouramis, a bala shark, and a medium plec (fed him cabbage for a couple
>of weeks since all algae was cleaned out.)

>My problem now is that after running fine for about two months, the
>water started getting cloudy.  

What is you definition of cloudy? Is this a white haze or is it some
other colour? Is it uniform throughout the tank? Are you sure it's not
on the glass? Are those new powerheads injecting microsopic bubbles
that look like cloudy water?

Have you added any water treatment chemicals such as Novaqua? 

Do you have test kits for pH, Nitrate, Ammonia? A local pet shop will 
test a water sample for you at no charge. (pH and ammonia usually. If they
don't you need another pet shop). 

Excessive feeding, which we all do from time to time :*) :*) may be the
problem, try going three days without adding any food. The fish will 
survive easily and increased hunger will drive them to look for any left 
over scraps. 

>It has been VERY cloudy for over a month
>now.  I was concerned at first, but was told that it would clear up in a
>few days and was due to the cycling of the bacteria.  

>I have changed the filter media on a rotating basis so as to allow
>bacteria migration.  
Good. It is not necessary to change this every time. Try to avoid
changing both the filter media and doing a heavy gravel cleaning at the
same time - it reduces the bacteria colony too much. How about a water
change from the tank surface and the media change once every three
months and a thorough  gravel-stirring clean the next week (and every
second week for the next couple of months)?

>I recently read that I should be changing 30
>percent of the water every month using a vacuum siphon to try to clean
>loose waste from the bottom of the tank.  I have not done this, but will
>do so if the majority here agree with this method.

I vote for regular water changes! For small ones, say 10%, you could risk
using the water from your tap, assuming it has not shown problems in
the past (ie chlorine/chloromine from a treated water source). A 30%
to 40% every 2 to 3 weeks is better, use 'aged' water that has sat over-
night or longer.

>All I ever get from pet stores is conflicting advice. 
Alas. Typical story. Many pet shops are like this. Keeping looking
there are some very knowledgable folks in the business, who want to
see you grow in the hobby and be steady customers, etc.

>Please E-mail me
>with any ideas on what could be causing this.
Oops. I forgot to 'R' instead of 'F'.

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Peter J. Stonard        +                                /^\  /^\
Grass Valley Group      +                       /^\     /   \/
Grass Valley, CA. 95945 +                     /     \ /    /  
pjs@gvgspd.gvg.tek.com  +     Fish keeper in the Sierra Foothills
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If it looks like; sounds like; quacks like; an Opinion. It's mine.