Help With my Tank

[minimagoo]

I went on vactation for about a week and a half last week and when i got back my tank looked extremely cloudy and i have no idea why. I had my neighbor feed the fish daily and just check on the tank in general. Its a 16gallon bowfront with an emeror 280 filter. Ive tried just about everything that i know of to get it back in good shape. I changed the filet and replaced the carbon, i also took the entire filter apart and cleaned it really well. Heres a pic of what it looks like. Ive got some pictures of it but im not sure how to upload them. Thanks in advance!

 

[flower]

Is it just cloudy water? Are the fish okay or showing stress? Have you run tests to see if something is off?

 

[minimagoo]

Yeah, the fish seem to be doing fine, they are eating normally so they dont appear to be stressed. The water almost looks dusty? if that makes any since. Like the filter is just stirring up whatever is in the tank. What kind of tests do you think i need to run? Thanks

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by minimagoo
http:///forum/post/3073898
Yeah, the fish seem to be doing fine, they are eating normally so they dont appear to be stressed. The water almost looks dusty? if that makes any since. Like the filter is just stirring up whatever is in the tank. What kind of tests do you think i need to run? Thanks
PH, alk, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate.
I assume you haven't been testing... Get a master marine test kit, it will explain each test and what the numbers should be for a healthy tank.
Is it a hang on the back type of filter?
This may sound silly but, do you have a freshwater tank or saltwater? I ask because it sounds like a FW setup. A fresh is a whole different ball game, and my advice will change.

 

[minimagoo]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3073907
PH, alk, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate.
I assume you haven't been testing... Get a master marine test kit, it will explain each test and what the numbers should be for a healthy tank.
Is it a hang on the back type of filter?
This may sound silly but, do you have a freshwater tank or saltwater? I ask because it sounds like a FW setup. A fresh is a whole different ball game, and my advice will change.
A buddy of mine at school was letting me borrow his test kit, so i was testing it about every two weeks. But since ive moved home for the summer i havent been able to use his test kit so i've only been testing the PH.
Yeah, the filter is the kind that hangs on the back of the tank. I am really considering upgrading my tank, and the first thing i would get would be a new filter. Do you have any reccomendations?
The tank is a salt water tank. Ive got about 12 pounds of LR in it if that means anything.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by minimagoo
http:///forum/post/3073917
A buddy of mine at school was letting me borrow his test kit, so i was testing it about every two weeks. But since ive moved home for the summer i havent been able to use his test kit so i've only been testing the PH.
Yeah, the filter is the kind that hangs on the back of the tank. I am really considering upgrading my tank, and the first thing i would get would be a new filter. Do you have any reccomendations?
The tank is a salt water tank. Ive got about 12 pounds of LR in it if that means anything.
Sounds good. A small canister filter would work much better than the one you are using.
I think the "dust" you may be getting from the filter is also known as marine snow. Coral loves it and it comes from the dead things that die on the rocks and is part of the saltwater tanks natual cycle.
the "snow" should stop in a few days.
I have to go to work...I will check this thread when I get home in the morning. To test if the "dust" is indeed from the rocks...take a NEW, NEVER BEFORE USED turkey baster (not your moms) squirt it on the rocks, "dust" should really fly if its what I think it is. A powerhead pointed at the rocks, will almost eliminate the dust or sediment from building up and getting stirred up by the filter.
This is just an idea of what it MIGHT be...so I will check in morning on whats up.

 

[minimagoo]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3073927
Sounds good. A small canister filter would work much better than the one you are using.
I think the "dust" you may be getting from the filter is also known as marine snow. Coral loves it and it comes from the dead things that die on the rocks and is part of the saltwater tanks natual cycle.
the "snow" should stop in a few days.
I have to go to work...I will check this thread when I get home in the morning. To test if the "dust" is indeed from the rocks...take a NEW, NEVER BEFORE USED turkey baster (not your moms) squirt it on the rocks, "dust" should really fly if its what I think it is. A powerhead pointed at the rocks, will almost eliminate the dust or sediment from building up and getting stirred up by the filter.
This is just an idea of what it MIGHT be...so I will check in morning on whats up.
Thanks for all your help, my LFS has already closed, so im just gonna wait til tomorrow when i get off work and just borrow my friends kit for now.
Right now i am almost positive i am going to start fresh on my tank. I kind of rushed into this and i'm really starting to get bored with this tank. I was really crunched $$ wise when i started it, and right now i'm in a good financial position to start over new and do it right. I just need to find a new home for my clown fish and shrimp.
I've got a lot of researching to do now.