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Abhay_11
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 Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 12:31 pm Post subject: Cloudy Tank a day after PWC ......???? |
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Hi everyone,
The tank:
42"x18"x24"(H), internal power filter 1200L/hr, medium gravel, some rocks/pebbles and resin tank ornament.
Inhabitants:
2x 6" Red Tiger Oscars
Duration running:
8 weeks
Do gravel vac to remove the muck the oscars make and change about 40% water twice a week. What I have observed is that the water becomes cloudy the day after the PWC - like a bacterial bloom - what could be the reason?
I did tests and the Ammonia and Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates are around 20ppm before PWC and post PWC the nitrates drop to almost nil.
This has started happening only in this tank and have been seeing this for the past 2-3 weeks. Do I need to start getting worried or is it still in the process of stabilizing - Nitrogen cycle?
Thanks, |
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rahulk
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Location: Bangalore
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Abhay,
It could be a bacterial bloom or mismatch of water parameters.
What is the PH and KH of your tap VS your aquarium water, If they are different there could be some precipetation of salts which causes cloudyness in water.
Have you tested the tap water for ammonia and nitrites ?
My advise would be not to do so much of cleaning. partial water changes once a week and gravel vaccuming 2 times a month will be sufficient. This would give the nitrifying bacteria time to colonise you gravel.
But check the water for ammonia and nitrite , if they cross the safe level do a partial water change
Please correct if i am wrong.
rahul |
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Abhay_11
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Rahul,
Thanks for your reply.
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What is the PH and KH of your tap VS your aquarium water
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Tap water pH is 7.0, 0 Ammonia and nitrites, Nitrates less than 10ppm
Do not have test kit for KH - will need to get one and test - but Pune Municipal water is not hard - its quite soft water from what I have heard. The water is stored for over a day before it goes into the tank.
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My advise would be not to do so much of cleaning.
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Have read everywhere that Oscars need clean tanks else they may get HITH and hence the gravel vac regime. Also hate to see the tank dirty - the oscars are great poopers! Hmmmm - so now I am a bit confused - maybe I should change only 20% to 25% water - but then can't clean up the whole surface area in the time 25% water gets siphoned out.
Thanks, |
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rahulk
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
What is the filteration you have in your tank?
Rahul |
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Abhay_11
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
What is the filteration you have in your tank?
Rahul
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Hi Rahul,
Its a 1200L/hr submersible power filter with sponge media - make either Atman or Boyu - don't recollect which. I feel its doing a decent job - the sponges are fairly soiled when I clean them once a week. The sponges are cleaned in the tank water that is siphoned so as to retain some of the useful bacteria.
Thanks, |
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sandeepraghuvanshi
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Location: Mathura, UP
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Hi friend
It is a bacterial bloom that you see in your tank which is often seen in a new tank. Your very through gravel cleaning is killing your bacteria colony.
It should go away in day or two by itself.
I don't think you have to worry.
Your nitrates are on the higher side.
Cut down on gravel cleaning, and continue with water changes. |
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sudhirvr
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| IMO Food is also an important factor in this matter. I have experienced this with my oscars, when i feed BHM or prawns, the water gets cloudy in 3-4 days in spite of the filter. Only option is water changes (50% once in 2 days). |
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sandeepraghuvanshi
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| sudhirvr wrote:
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IMO Food is also an important factor in this matter. I have experienced this with my oscars, when i feed BHM or prawns, the water gets cloudy in 3-4 days in spite of the filter. Only option is water changes (50% once in 2 days).
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Hi Sudhir
Abhay is experiencing hazy water after water change.
This normally happens when tank starts cycling |
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Abhay_11
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Sandeep,
Thank you for the inputs.
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Your very through gravel cleaning is killing your bacteria colony.
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Ok - so excess cleaning also can be a problem!!!!
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It should go away in day or two by itself.
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Yes it does.
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I don't think you have to worry.
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I had also thought that the tank was cycling. The doubt crept in my mind as its over 8 weeks that the tank is running and the fish seem quite happy and thought the cycle would have been set by now.
Haven't seen this happening in the other 2 tanks. The other Oscar tank (exactly identical set-up) also has a similar regime (infact closer to 70% WC as it has a 8" pleco that poops even more than the Oscars) and haven't noticed this happening in this tank. This tank has been running for over 4-5 months now.
The third is a planted tank and no gravel vac is being done - only 20% WC every week. Had read on one of Madan's posts that even that is not necessary for planted - only water top up as reqd keeps the tank stable and is good for plant growth - so will be following that as well.
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Your nitrates are on the higher side.
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That is one of the reasons why PWC twice a week and is 20ppm really very high? Had thought upto 40 is ok with the fish?
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Cut down on gravel cleaning, and continue with water changes.
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Now thats what I will do - PWC twice a week - gravel vac once a week.
Thanks, |
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sandeepraghuvanshi
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Abhay_11 wrote:
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Haven't seen this happening in the other 2 tanks. The other Oscar tank (exactly identical set-up) also has a similar regime (infact closer to 70% WC as it has a 8" pleco that poops even more than the Oscars) and haven't noticed this happening in this tank. This tank has been running for over 4-5 months now.
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As this tank is a older one bacterial colony would be much larger in numbers
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The third is a planted tank and no gravel vac is being done - only 20% WC every week. Had read on one of Madan's posts that even that is not necessary for planted - only water top up as reqd keeps the tank stable and is good for plant growth - so will be following that as well.
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That is the beauty of planted tanks, no problems when properly set up. I do a weekly top up and monthly 20% w/c
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That is one of the reasons why PWC twice a week and is 20ppm really very high? Had thought upto 40 is ok with the fish?
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No 40 is too high, aim for 20-25. |
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Abhay_11
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Joined: Oct 06, 2005
Posts: 156
Location: Mumbai and Pune
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Sandeep,
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No 40 is too high, aim for 20-25.
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Then my tanks are fine - have never crossed 20ppm yet. I had mentioned that the count was 20ppm pre-PWC in my first post and thought you meant that was also too high.
Thanks, |
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