CLOUDY WATER HELP !

[erik sean]

MY 29 GALLON TANK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND ALL MY FISH APPEAR TO BE HEALTHY ( SWIMMING NORMALLY AND EATING HEARTILY), BUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY WATER HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COULDY.....IT LOOKS LIKE SMOKE IN THE WATER. I HAVE A FLAME ANGEL, REGAL TANG, TOMATO CLOWN, AND THREE DAMSELS. THEY ARE SCRATCHING MORE LATELY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SPOTS OR BLEMISHES ON THEIR BODIES. I DO MY WATER CHANGES EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. MY LOCAL FISH STORE THINKS IT COULD BE SOME KIND OF A BACTERIA OUTBREAK AND RECOMMENDED THAT I PUT "TLC" (LIVE BACTERIA) IN THE TANK. I HAVE DONE THIS AND AFTER A WEEK IT HASN'T HELPED. I HAVE A SKILTER FILTER, BUT THE PROTEIN SKIMMER DOESN'T WORK. I ASKED IT I SHOULD BY A NEW FILTER AND PROTEIN SKIMMER....THEY SAID NO. MY FILTER WORKS AND THEY SAY A PROTEIM SKIMMER IS NOT A MUST IF YOU CHANGE YOUR WATER MORE FREQUENTLY. I DON'T NKOW WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO FOR HELP. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY LITTLE PALS. CAN ANYONE HELP ??? HOW CAN I CLEAR UP MY WATER...WILL MY FISH BE O.K. ??? PLEASE HELP !!!

 

[broomer5]

Well Erik, Only my opinion but I too have a Skilter 250 on a 15 gallon QT tank, it does okay but only 1 little clown in there right now. I would consider a protein skimmer anyways. After putting a skimmer on my 55 gallon tank, the water quality ( and clearity ) improved dramatically - just several days after. You have a pretty decent bio-load in your tank, and lots of organic wastes can build up over time, even though you do your normal water changes. Give it some thought on the protein skimmer, I'm sure you will get second and third opinions on this one !
Best of luck,
Broomer

 

[erik sean]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE, I AM GOING RIGHT OUT TO BUY ONE.

 

[mr . salty]

I also have a skilter, Mine is the supreme 400. It filters mo 40gal fine, but the only way to get the skimmer to work is to run an air stone at the base of the tower with the air valve open at the same time. I also heard someone say something about putting a powerhead on the intake.haven't tried that yet. If the fish are scratching there's deffinatly something in the water irratating them. Try the new skimmer and maybe a large water change. Could it possibly be an algae spawn??? STEVE

 

[barry]

Erik,
I agree with wrassefan that you probably are just experiencing an algael bloom (very common). A very safe, easy and inexpensive way to clear your water is to us Kordon "Sea Clear" Saltwater Clarifier. I have used it in my aquarium, and it works great. It actually bonds the tiny particles so they can be trapped by your filter. This product is completely harmless to your aquarium. It does seem to take 2 or 3 times before your tank completely clears, but you are able to repeat the dose every 24 hours with absolutely no adverse effects. BEST OF LUCK!

 

[mainejo1]

Erik, what about your filter medium? I also have a large load on my 29gal, and do fine with very frequent water changes, (5 gal every week) and frequent carbon and cartridge changes. If not, my water gets quite cloudy, and I have observed some fish scratching. Best of luck. Increase your water changes, and watch your filters and I'll bet your water will clear right up.

 

[clayton]

Are you adding calcium?? Probably not as it sounds like a fish only tank. A skimmer is almost essential for a healthy marine tank and will certainly help. If it is an algae bloom then it's because there is way to many nutrients in the water (usualy too much feeding) and a skimmer will help get rid of this.

 

[erik sean]

I have turned on my skimmer, that I thought was on already on my Skilter. (I didn't have the adjustment fixed right) It is pulling froth. My local fish store has ordered some water clarifier that I will add when it comes in on Friday. I also did a water change, changed out my filter and carbon cartridge, and added another pump and air stone for extra water flow. My "LFS" told me a U-V sterilzer would probably do the trick, but they want me to try the "clarifier" before spending the money on a sterilizer. I will keep you posted.

 

[barry]

Erik,
Did you order that Kordon stuff I mentioned. I will betcha it will work, but will take about 3-5 days/doses 'til all the particles/clouds clear. Let me know about your progress! I think you're making a really good financial decision to try the clarifier before investing in really expensive and probably unnecessary equipment to solve a basic problem. GOOD LUCK

 

[todd italion]

Originally posted by ERIK SEAN:
MY 29 GALLON TANK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND ALL MY FISH APPEAR TO BE HEALTHY ( SWIMMING NORMALLY AND EATING HEARTILY), BUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY WATER HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COULDY.....IT LOOKS LIKE SMOKE IN THE WATER. I HAVE A FLAME ANGEL, REGAL TANG, TOMATO CLOWN, AND THREE DAMSELS. THEY ARE SCRATCHING MORE LATELY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SPOTS OR BLEMISHES ON THEIR BODIES. I DO MY WATER CHANGES EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. MY LOCAL FISH STORE THINKS IT COULD BE SOME KIND OF A BACTERIA OUTBREAK AND RECOMMENDED THAT I PUT "TLC" (LIVE BACTERIA) IN THE TANK. I HAVE DONE THIS AND AFTER A WEEK IT HASN'T HELPED. I HAVE A SKILTER FILTER, BUT THE PROTEIN SKIMMER DOESN'T WORK. I ASKED IT I SHOULD BY A NEW FILTER AND PROTEIN SKIMMER....THEY SAID NO. MY FILTER WORKS AND THEY SAY A PROTEIM SKIMMER IS NOT A MUST IF YOU CHANGE YOUR WATER MORE FREQUENTLY. I DON'T NKOW WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO FOR HELP. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY LITTLE PALS. CAN ANYONE HELP ??? HOW CAN I CLEAR UP MY WATER...WILL MY FISH BE O.K. ??? PLEASE HELP !!!

 

[todd italion]

hey sean invest in a diatom filter i dont know why anyone would do without one it will clear your water up in a couple of hours and ]take out any inpuritees in the water also are you ro your water
Originally posted by ERIK SEAN:
MY 29 GALLON TANK HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND ALL MY FISH APPEAR TO BE HEALTHY ( SWIMMING NORMALLY AND EATING HEARTILY), BUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY WATER HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COULDY.....IT LOOKS LIKE SMOKE IN THE WATER. I HAVE A FLAME ANGEL, REGAL TANG, TOMATO CLOWN, AND THREE DAMSELS. THEY ARE SCRATCHING MORE LATELY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SPOTS OR BLEMISHES ON THEIR BODIES. I DO MY WATER CHANGES EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS. MY LOCAL FISH STORE THINKS IT COULD BE SOME KIND OF A BACTERIA OUTBREAK AND RECOMMENDED THAT I PUT "TLC" (LIVE BACTERIA) IN THE TANK. I HAVE DONE THIS AND AFTER A WEEK IT HASN'T HELPED. I HAVE A SKILTER FILTER, BUT THE PROTEIN SKIMMER DOESN'T WORK. I ASKED IT I SHOULD BY A NEW FILTER AND PROTEIN SKIMMER....THEY SAID NO. MY FILTER WORKS AND THEY SAY A PROTEIM SKIMMER IS NOT A MUST IF YOU CHANGE YOUR WATER MORE FREQUENTLY. I DON'T NKOW WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO FOR HELP. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY LITTLE PALS. CAN ANYONE HELP ??? HOW CAN I CLEAR UP MY WATER...WILL MY FISH BE O.K. ??? PLEASE HELP !!!