Cloudy Water/Shrimp Exo-Skeleton Question..

[HopefulHobbiest]

so i have a random question about something i've never experienced before...

so my water was clear 1 1/2 days ago and became REALLY cloudy almost overnight. i spent all day trying to figure out way and came up with no conclusions.

water test shows normal results

ph 7.4
ammo 0
trite 0
trAte 10

although one thing i just found in the tank was the exo-skeleton from a bamboo shrimp sitting on the bottom behind a piece of driftwood...

would decomposing(sp) shrimp exo-skeleton cause water to turn cloudy or white?

i REALLY REALLY hope thats what the cause was otherwise i need to keep investigating.

hope someone has the answer

thanks in advance

 

[Zimmanski]

I doubt it was the exoskeleton, I have rcs and there's always at least on exoskeleton in the tank somewhere. Maybe a mini cycle? Other than that I have no idea, sorry

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

i dunno if its a mini cycle... my levels are normal. but its kinda freakin me out

 

[Puengsac]

I had the same issue yesterday. I think it is the cycle!!

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

I dont think its the cycle either... no new additions to my tank in weeks and its been up and running for atleast a few months and I know its fully cycled... ive added plants to the tank but I doubt plants woukd do this... unless its being caused by the planter thing that holds one of my plants and I hope its not, I was told those things were safe

 

[Puengsac]

There is good and bad bacteria. It needs to be balanced!!! If you see cloudiness I added live bacteria, it will balance you water and clear the cloudiness. I used Nutrafin cycle and it works great!!! I have no experience with the plants due to no plant in my tank!! Good luck!!!

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

I do understand the need for a balance in bacteria. But judging by the test levels I would assume there is a balance considering I have no ammo or trites.. im gonna do a wc tonight and see if it helps... the other thing is, I have no shops near me that sell "live bacteria" its all that junk in bottles thats most likely past its expiration date so im stuck on that one lol

 

[Zimmanski]

A couple pwcs would probably be best, seeing as your parameters are good and we can't identify what it is just do several 30%ish pwcs. There's no need for bacteria or seeded materials if your already cycled and params are good

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

I was thinking a 50% tonight after work.. would you agree with that or would you suggest smaller water changes?

 

[Zimmanski]

50% is good, for the smaller tanks that's what I do, you just don't want to do too huge pwc, because its said that drastic changes of any chemical including nitrates can stress your fish out. You can definitely do 50% changes every day until it clears though

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

I have a 55G tank I normally do 1 50% wc a week but this will be like an emergancy wc

 

[Zimmanski]

I have a 55 as well, I do 40-50% a week too but 50% every day until it clears is good. Hope it clears for you soon

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

Yea so do I... I'll keep everyone posted

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

Just a quick update... the 50% wc did the trick... my tank is back to crystal clear water.

Thanks for all the help ladies and gentleman

 

[Zimmanski]

Just a quick update... the 50% wc did the trick... my tank is back to crystal clear water.

Thanks for all the help ladies and gentleman

Yay!! good to hear