55 gal - non planted
XP2 canister filter
Fishless cycle completed ~ 1 month ago
PFS substrate
2 weeks ago, added 10 blue neon tetra. 4 died within a week - others fine. Feeding flake food, breaking into smaller bits. Note 'film' on water surface.
1 week ago, added two tiger barbs, and two hatchets. Seemed the hatchets were not eating, so I changed to freeze-dried tubifex worms. All fish seem to enjoy these, though the hatchets still seem to be picky eaters.
This past Thursday, water crystal clear in AM at feeding time. In afternoon, very cloudy. Also noted all fish at surface. 'Not good' sez I to self. Performed 30% PWC. Fish behavior returns to normal. Still cloudy.
Friday AM, still a bit cloudy, fish behavior normal. Friday afternoon, decidedly cloudier than the morning. Fish at surface, again. Ammonia at 8.0 (or more). 50% PWC. Added air pump, and air stone. Changed microfiltration padding.
Saturday (today) AM - Very cloudy, again. 75% PWC. Water still a bit cloudy, but better than previous days' condition.
Present readings:
pH -7.0/7.2
Ammonia - 1.0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0
What is causing the cloudiness - the ammonia? After all these water changes, I would expect the water to be clear and the ammonia to be at zero.
The rapid change in cloudiness (8 hours!!) is causing me concern. Seems the PWC's are helping, but not to the level of clarity I had earlier this week.
I plan on another PWC this evening or tomorrow AM.
What am I missing? What to do next?
XP2 canister filter
Fishless cycle completed ~ 1 month ago
PFS substrate
2 weeks ago, added 10 blue neon tetra. 4 died within a week - others fine. Feeding flake food, breaking into smaller bits. Note 'film' on water surface.
1 week ago, added two tiger barbs, and two hatchets. Seemed the hatchets were not eating, so I changed to freeze-dried tubifex worms. All fish seem to enjoy these, though the hatchets still seem to be picky eaters.
This past Thursday, water crystal clear in AM at feeding time. In afternoon, very cloudy. Also noted all fish at surface. 'Not good' sez I to self. Performed 30% PWC. Fish behavior returns to normal. Still cloudy.
Friday AM, still a bit cloudy, fish behavior normal. Friday afternoon, decidedly cloudier than the morning. Fish at surface, again. Ammonia at 8.0 (or more). 50% PWC. Added air pump, and air stone. Changed microfiltration padding.
Saturday (today) AM - Very cloudy, again. 75% PWC. Water still a bit cloudy, but better than previous days' condition.
Present readings:
pH -7.0/7.2
Ammonia - 1.0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 0
What is causing the cloudiness - the ammonia? After all these water changes, I would expect the water to be clear and the ammonia to be at zero.
The rapid change in cloudiness (8 hours!!) is causing me concern. Seems the PWC's are helping, but not to the level of clarity I had earlier this week.
I plan on another PWC this evening or tomorrow AM.
What am I missing? What to do next?