New Tank Cloudy?

[equinecpa]

Hi all;
I am a newbie to this forum but not to fish. I worked in a LFS for several years in my teens (long time ago!) but have forgot a lot.

I am setting up a 30 Gallon Hex tank. I put the water in it Friday, and went to set up the filter -it didn't work so the tank is sitting with water but no filtration. I did put in lots of gravel which was used and quite dirty. I rinsed and rinsed the gravel but I'm not sure if I got it totally clean.

Anyhow my question: The water is kind of hazy? Will this go once I get it moving with a filter? (I've ordered a new one). I've never had cloudy water before. I did add Chlor out to the tank (probably unnecessary) . Can I start the cycle without filtration? I intend to move the sole inhabitant of a 5 hex -a betta to this tank. I figure I should probably move him and the water and plants all together when this tank is ready.

Carolyn

 

[treedae]

the bacteria you need to run a cycle are aerobic, so no you can't cycle without filtration. And you need to provide a substrate (ammonia) to get the cycle running. You can do this w/o fish (I believe there's a link on this website on how to do this) or with some fish that are able to tolerate adverse water conditions until the biological filter is established.

 

[equinecpa]

Does this explain the cloudy?

Ok tank is not cycling until I get filtration working. Would this account for the cloudiness?

Carolyn

 

[Newbneedshelp]

treedae is absolutely right nothing will happen until your new filter arrives!! and that is the reason for the cloudiness,or its because the gravel wasnt cleaned completely.

 

[chasgood]

Could be just tiny air bubbles being released as the water settles and warms up.
Or it could be a bacteria bloom.
Or it could be the the gravel wasnt clean.

 

[equinecpa]

I think it's the gravel, now what?

The gravel was pretty dirty. I rinsed it cupful by cupful but I stirred up the aquarium today with a siphon and there was a lot of debris. I siphoned off 5 gallons and added new water today. I guess I'll do that until the gravel is clean and hope the haze goes away. I would have thought the haze would have settled if it was debris in the gravel but we'll see.

Carolyn

 

[treedae]

Once you get the filter going, all the debris is going to disappear quickly. And since you're not going to be able to get a biological filter started (and therefore not be able to add fish) until you get the mechanical filter going, just hang that puppy and let er rip.