What's with my water clarity?

[Tim]

Tank has been runing since May.
Cleared up nicely for a couple days back in June.
Has been cloudy ever since.
Any suggestions?

Here is my setup.
55 gallon Freshwater
Undergravel filter with 2 power heads
Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter- 170
Assorted fish totaling around 20.

[DARKPHREAK]

What are the water paramiters?

[Tim]

PH 6.8
Amonia 0
Nitrite .10
Nitrate 20

[DARKPHREAK]

An algea bloom maybe. Are you adding any water conditioners?

[Tim]

I have noticed algae growth. I add water conditioner when I do a water change. Could having my light on to long contribute to it? I recently added Accu-Clear which did nothing.

[DARKPHREAK]

When I first started all this stuff(aquariums) I added so called water conditioners when I had milky water, its only got worse. I tested with 5 tanks with cloudy water and everything(conditioners) thats supposed to clear the water does not.  I'll suggest a 25% wc and stop adding conditioners other then chlorine/chloramine reducers.

[Tim]

What about PH adjusters? Can you reccomend the best way or brand?

[DARKPHREAK]

Other then Co2(down) and crushed coral(up) I would NOT used PH adjusters. Which do you need?

[Tim]

well I am not sure. I used proper ph 7.0 when I first set it up.
It seems I have to raise it more than lower it. How much crushed coral should I use?

[DARKPHREAK]

First off, what kind of fish do you have ?

[Tim]

2 marble angels
2 gold gouramis
2 blue gouramis
6 neon tetras
3 candy tetras
1 pleco
1 hong kong butterfly pleco
1 cory cat

[DARKPHREAK]

Normally whats your Ph at? Sorry for questions.

[ambushman2j]

is it cloudy white or cloudy green? your nitrates are kinda high

Do you have live plants?

I would not use crushed coral in your situation, and for a general pH raise baking soda would be a better option, crushed coral is better for keeping the ph high and stable.

those fish I don't beleive require a high ph anyways..if it's at 7 it's probly good enough

how often do you do water changes? and what do you do when you do them?

[zapisto]

is it cloudy white or cloudy green?
[\quote]

Excellent question
i think it should start by answer this one

your nitrates are kinda high

it is not the nitrate my prob , but the nitrite ...... :roll:

[Tim]

It is cloudy white.
I have been doing water changes once a week.
I vacuum the gravel at the same time with my python setup and that is how I change my water. I don't really know what my PH is "normally" as I have been trying to keep it around 7.
I have no live plants.

[BigDaddy]

If you are detecting nitrITE, then something going on with your bio bed.

Have you had all those fish since May, or did you add a bunch just before things got cloudy?

[zapisto]

well white is not a reel cood sign , i woul prefer green

anyway as bigdaddy say something going on with your Bio filtration.

i would recommand water change but with bio filter problem , it can be problematic.
do you have any other  tank already cycle and in very good health ?

[Tim]

Should I stop vacumming my gravel for a while?
I have been adding a couple fish at a time since may.

[artw]

white will eventually turn green if you leave your lights on(ime)

[ambushman2j]

how thoroughly do you vacuum your gravel?

and I would suggest picking up a couple live plants, when I had nitrate problems with a 10 gallon I put in a amazon sword and it had immediate results for me, should also clear your water