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I've never noticed a difference using carbon while cycling. I usually leave it in and alone until the cycle is complete.
The problem I see is the fish you have and the size of the tank. Two 5-6" gouramis are not going to be happy in that small of swimming area even without the other fish they would probably feel cramped. Tiger barbs are very active. Tetras need to be in schools of at least 6. Then there's the fact tiger barbs and serpaes are both fin nippers and will probably beat up the gouramis especially in that small of area.
I'm guessing though that these fish are probably still babies and not fully grown so at this point it may not be an overstocking issue. How much do you vacuum the gravel and how often? How often do you clean the filters and change the media?

OK, Paul, something worked for you. Now post the steps that you took and the timeline of what you did to overcome the problem! It will make a good learning post for everyone else.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 21-Jul-2005 10:24

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

thank you very much every one. after trying numerous diferent things my tank is now the clearest it has been since i first got my fish tank

tanks again for all your help

Paul

I like cheese!!!

After doinhg all the things that have been recommended their should be some changes.

Exactly what are you doing and what are the water paramaters, also the number and size of fish?

Do you have any plants?
Are you using any medications or chemicals in the tank now?
Finally did you clean the substrate under running water until it ran clear?

Where are you in OZ

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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IMO remounting would be the best option
i would just start a fresh, so ask someone else to look after ya fish for a week or so and empty the tank completly and throw away the current filter media and start a new and to help the bacteria develop quiker add some "mature" filter material from another tank. once that is complete stick to the normal routine of a 20% water change every 1-2 weeks.

thank you for all your help but i still need more!!!:#(

[font color="#C00000"] i have tried all of these things but my tank is still cloudy i am not sure what else i can do. if anyone else has any ideas please send them to me [/font]

openwater

10 gallon tank are often reffered as "beginners" tank, but in truth can be very difficult to keep sucessful.

I think this is one of the best statements I have seen on FP for some time. Yes they can be extremly difficult reason very little room for any errors.

They are popular for newbies due to the fact they are inexpensive.
This I will certainly disagree on my 11g has cost $600+ and still no plants & only one Betta so far. The main reason for this I have wanted some thing special and have only bought up market equipment.

My motto is buy the biggest you can afford and have room for, cause the bigger the tank the more room for error. Then stock according to tank size and the amount of maintenance you wish to do.
Well said the bigger the better and certainly easer to maintain.

I personally would never recommend a 10g for a beginner unless they have a very experienced person to assist them all the time by this this I mean living with them. Also have a very experienced LFS at hand who is prepared to spend some time and help a new commer to fish keeping

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

The answer is quite simple the tank is overstocked. The water quality issues will only be worse overtime as the fish grow larger, if the fish survive. Generally speaking you should 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of water not including the tail. You should also take into consideration the amount of room some fish need to swim around. Overstocking just leads to a fustrating tank full of ill-health fish.



10 gallon tank are often reffered as "beginners" tank, but in truth can be very difficult to keep sucessful, healthly fish in them. They are popular for newbies due to the fact they are inexpensive, take up little room, readily avaible to buy, and you can put them on a make shift stand(entertainment center, dresser, tables, end tables, etc.) due to the relative light weight of the tank. Since the volume of water is small, small mistakes can cause drastic water quality problems. Alot of people tend to overstock these tank in order to achieve what they desire in their tank. Alot of lfs employee are at fault for not informing newbies on proper stocking limits or simply not informed themselves. My motto is buy the biggest you can afford and have room for, cause the bigger the tank the more room for error. Then stock according to tank size and the amount of maintenance you wish to do.

[font color="#000080"]hi i have a 50 litre(13gal) tropical comunity tank that is about 2 months old and the water has been constantly cloudy:#( dispite measures taken eg: changes of waterevry two days, the addition of carbon (replaced weekly) and paraiters read:
ammonia= 0.25 ppm
nitrite= 0 ppm
nitrate= 20 ppm
pH = 7

and it doesn't seem to be particulate clouding so i'm thinking maby bacterial thing of some sort

p.s. i'm new to the hobby and this club![/font]

I like cheese!!!

The reason for stating this is a personal opinion only. I would consider it "could" be removing the necessary goodies that help with the cycling process.

My 11G tank has been perfectly clear from day one. Also I am not using any carbon at all.

My knowledge is basically based on experience of trial & error.

Just doing a quick research I could not find any referance of using carbon during the cycling process

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

i have two filters: an internal fural 1 plus and an internal air powered box filter

Keith, why would the carbon have an effect, i thought it would help clear the tank?

the inhabitans of my tank are: 4 guppies, 2 serpea tetras, 2 3 spot gouramies, 6 tiger barbs.

whenever i change the water i change 15%

openwater

the amonia spike i'm guessing is from the fact that the tap water has 0.5 ppm of NH3.
as cheese boy told me

Last edited by victa_fish at 13-Jul-2005 02:46

I like cheese!!!

And I think it will be a perminent cloudy if you continue to change the water at that rate. Weekly is ample.
15% water change is sufficient
I suggest cut down on the feeding every second day and lightly at that, for at least a month.

Remove the carbon.

I use a product made be Sera called Bio Started it is extremly easy to use and very simple instructions to follow. You migh have to go out and buy a plastic medicine glass as this is the best way to measure it.

I am using it at the moment and no sign of any cloudyness in a 45Lt

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

From what you have stated it sounds like it is a bacteria bloom in the water from excessive nutrients.

Since the tank has been running for two months and there is nitrate of 20ppm and no nitrite it should be fully cycled. Being fully cycled should also produce no noticable ammonia readings. This ammonia "spike" would suggest the tank being OVERSTOCKED and/or OVER FEED.

Reduce feedings to a single small one per day for the next couple days. Do a waterchange of around 25%-30% and gravel vac 1/3 of the gravel, try to avoid a complete gravel. This could disrupt to much benefical bacteria.
The main thing is to reduce feedings. Also remove any rotting organic material such as dead plant leafs. Also increase aeration if possible. The ammonia presence is a concern because of its health affects on the fish. Depending on the level of the concentration it virtual affect every part of the fish. Mostly it starts to affect gill organs and mucous membranes of the skin and intestine. At later stages of the posioning secondary illness can easily take hold and kill the fish. Multiple exposures to ammonia can have chronic (long-term) affects on fish through poor-health and suspectilbility to disease.

What is your filter on the tank?
Have you changed filter media lately?
When was your last water change?

Like in the previous post.... what is the stock of the tank?

Have you added any new fish lately.
Have you overfeed them by accident?

Bacteria bloom are not a unheard problem. We all have experienced them in the past.

Try to aviod the chemical solutions to this problem. They mostly mask the problem and without finding the root cause there will be no end to it. Most chemical are not answer.
I would however add some biological bacteria starter like NEW AND IMPROVED CYCLE or BIOSPIRA or other similar product, try to aviod those "miracle" all-in-one additives.

Hey,
Just a few of questions, How much of a water change or you doing every 2 days? What fish do you have in the tank?
How much and How often are you feeding them?

ive noticed when i set up a new tank or clean a tank too well it will cloud up. usually when the cycle is complete it clears up.

www.responsiblethrashers.com

could be bacteria but not realy sure, a product like
"B-clear" might help