Fluffypants Posted November 8, 2007 Report Share Posted November 8, 2007 I set up a new tank about 6 weeks ago with plants but no fish. The plants ended up with slimy green layer that I could peel off the leaves. The tank went cloudy after a couple of weeks, so I did a few water changes. I put betta in it a couple of weeks ago, along with some more Stresszyme but the water is still cloudy. Have done a couple of water changes this week and it clouds up again the next day. The betta doesn't seem to be worried but the water has an appearance of smoke swirling with the current. The tank is 29L, underground filter, 4 plants (Excel added weekly for them), no driftwood and only gravel on the bottom. Is it algal bloom or something else? What suggestions can I try to clear the water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted November 8, 2007 Report Share Posted November 8, 2007 It'll be either: a) bacterial bloom, normally goes away in a few days, I've found the tank also smells a bit off You can use B-Clear etc for this one, but I wouldn't, anything that kills bacteria will likely damage your good bacteria. This is likely when too much food is added, if it was doing this with no fish food, then its unlikely what it is. b) small stuff floating in water, e.g. didn't clean gravel before setting up aquarium, this should settle by itself but you can use P-Clear to help make the particles clamp up, its cheap and at your LFS. I'd go with B at first impression. I'm assuming your filter is on 24hrs, and you dont change more than 30% of the water at a time, and no fish food is left lying on the tank floor for more than a minute or so max, and the tank doesn't smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarBoy Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 i had the same problem when i started and it was because i didnt clan the gravle woops :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffypants Posted November 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 My initial thought was bacterial bloom but because it's been there for nearly 5 weeks, I'm wondering if it's something else. Gravel was cleaned thoroughly before setting up tank. Can't have been too much food as the tank went cloudy before any fish were put in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Is the tank in the sun light? It could be causing regular bacterial outbreaks. Make sure you don't clean you filter media under tap water - it will kill the good bacteria that keep the bad ones in check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffypants Posted November 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Tanks not in direct sunlight and it's and undergravel filter. I'm going to try another water change only this time I'll do 90%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 With changes larges than 30% you need to use water ager to be safe, nand for changes larger than 50% make sure to use premixed warm water. Chlorine or sudden changes in temp don't help. You should see good results from a 90% change though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jn Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Thanksfully she's in Christchurch.. Yummy water down here (while it lasts!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Christchurch water has no chlorine (i think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffypants Posted November 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Water has started to cloud again already. The problem is only with this particular tank. I have 2 other tanks and the water is chrystal clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 10, 2007 Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 The slimy green layer is probably blue green algae which you can get when there are low nitrates. No fish means no waste for the bugs to convert to nitrate. I had it in a tank where the fish had died and I wanted to do a few water changes before puting fish back in. Once I put fish in and it started to cycle again the blue green diminished and it has now gone. Just leave it as it is --add nothing and feed lightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffypants Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Finally the tank has cleared. I did a big water change and found a clear gel like slime around the suction cups on the heater so I gave everything a good wipe down including glass and filter unit. After a few days the water clouded and I could see green/black slime starting to coat the leaves again. I put a Siamese algae eater and a pleco in the tank and didn't feed them for a few days. Lo and behold, the tank cleared!! What great little (now a bit fatter) fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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