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	cloudy water, oh no!
lucho Enthusiast Posts: 178 Kudos: 120 Votes: 0 Registered: 16-Jul-2003	Hi! I was away for a week. I left my tank with an automatic feeder I has used with no problems many times before. This time, I got home, the compartment that hold the food in the feeder was empty, there was still food at the bottom of the tank, and the water is quite cloudy. I immediately changed about 30% of the water and haven't fed the fish. This was about 3 hours ago and the water still looks as cloudy as when I got here- I assume this is some sort of bacterial bloom from all the food decomposing. Will it clear itself up? What are the steps to follow? Thanks!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
Fallout Moderator Communications Specialist Posts: 6416 Kudos: 4053 Votes: 742 Registered: 29-Jul-2000	I would get a water test as soon as you can, there has to be ammonia, or more often than not with food, nitrites present. You may want to do another water change a day after tomorrow to dilute the pollution a little more, but definately get a water test kit. Keep an eye on the fish, if they are visibly distressed, then do a water change then, but it will clear itself in time.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
lucho Enthusiast Posts: 178 Kudos: 120 Votes: 0 Registered: 16-Jul-2003	Thanks for your help I tested the water. Ammonia reads 0 and nitrites are approx. 0,3 to 0,5 mg/l. I do not have a nitrate test kit though. I test my water regularly and had never got a nitrite reading other than 0 before. Should I not feed the fish today or tommorrow and change the water the day after tommorow? Thanks again
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
Gomer Ultimate Fish Guru Small Fry with BBQ Sauce Posts: 3602 Kudos: 1709 Votes: 106 Registered: 29-Mar-2002	Well the first thing i would do would be to remove all the excess food (you done this i hope? ). Then i would keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels. I would also not touch the filter media for awhile, until all this settles down. The cloudiness is most likely a result from the food mirking up the water and a bacterial bloom. Also the use of some Cycle or a similiar product which works may help speed it along, but is not actually needed as it will clear itself. -- Gomer
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
lucho Enthusiast Posts: 178 Kudos: 120 Votes: 0 Registered: 16-Jul-2003	Thanks again. I did remove all the food since I changed water while doing a gravel vac. The fish appear to be behaving normally (although I can't actually see them that much ). The water remains just as cloudy as before. I'll follow the instructions in this thread and hope that it clears up and no fish gets ill. Thanks for all the help
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
Gomer Ultimate Fish Guru Small Fry with BBQ Sauce Posts: 3602 Kudos: 1709 Votes: 106 Registered: 29-Mar-2002	No problem mate. Good luck with your tank and fish. -- Gomer
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56


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