Why so cloudy?

[Kodanky]

I changed fresh filter, did water change and less food, help me

 

[gkuzel]

Well, Welcome to AA first of all!
What are your water parameters, temperature? What do you have in it? Is it cycled?

 

[Bettababe1011]

So you changed your filter cartridge?

 

[Kodanky]

I changed fresh filter, did water change and less food, help me

So you changed your filter cartridge?

I have assorted cichlids, newbie at this I need to get a test water kit. Also got a 55gAl

 

[Kodanky]

Temp is 72

 

[Kodanky]

Temp is 72

Er 78

 

[needmorecowbell]

How long has this tank been running?

 

[Kodanky]

3-4 months

 

[needmorecowbell]

If you did not put any new substrate in recently, ask your lfs to get you a water test. They may do strip tests for free and liquids for a price or something. If so, go for liquid. And if it is high in nitrate do more pwc and maybe put a specified filter cartridge in like phosguard.

 

[Kodanky]

It's a 20 gal never tested water,I started with tap, and then I had used some reverse osmosis water from friend but time and money has set me back. I have a tetra ex45 filter, maybe a better one?

 

[Kodanky]

What is pwc?

 

[allaboutfish]

What is pwc?

partial water change

 

[fr33zingtill]

when ever you change your filter cartridge you need to take some of the bacteria that has built up on the cartridge and shake it into the tank. you need to do this because bacteria is what keeps your tank clean in the first place. its basically like restarting your tank all over again.

 

[needmorecowbell]

You should only use ro water if you are planning on adding nutrients back in salt form. That may be the reason. Ro water is usually used for saltwater and sometimes discus because there would be an excess of nutrients if not. I would stick with tap and dechlorinate it using prime. You should do pwc weekly or biweekly depending on bioload ( nice way of saying how much your fish poop) and amount of water you are planning on changing. I do 10-20% weekly and I have a high bioload. You may have the same thing

 

[needmorecowbell]

Oh, wow didn't see the size of the tank. Those fish may be too big for your tank. How many and what size?

 

[allaboutfish]

i dont get it i see 20 gallon once and 55 gallon once which tank is this

 

[needmorecowbell]

Lol Im so confused I thought there was only one 20 gallon tank?

 

[Kodanky]

Sorry new to all, here more pics. I already did another water change. If y'all could help with some names of my fish in 55gal would be sweet. The 20gal guys and gal photo shoot will have to wait.

 

[Joyler]

Uh oh...is that a common pleco??

 

[Bettababe1011]

Uh oh...is that a common pleco??

Looks like it. *Gulp*

To the OP. I don't know if you are aware, but common plecos grow to about two feet and need a minimum of a 125 gallon tank by themselves.

In a tank this size they will be stunted and die prematurely.