by Barb Okla on Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:07 pm
Seems you took out to much water on the last water change.. Did you remove more than half??
Yes the fish store is right, dont' do anytihing and give the tank a chance to rebound.. It should have clear on its own in a few days.. BUT THREE weeks?? NOT good.. You do however, need to monitor the Ammonia and Nitrite and do a 20% water change if they get to high.. Above 1.0 to 2.0. As they are not yet to the 1.0 you are OK, but when it gets to 2.0 it is time for a water changes and you can VAC if you see lots of waste/food in the gravel, Bio is not easily removed that easily, so you can vac to remove waste/food.. With the filter, if you have NOT cleaned it in the last 7 days then do so, just rinse the filter BOX out with dechlor water, to not kill out your bio that is trying to rebound.. I have mixed feeling about the filter media pad, they do need to be cleaned or changed out to new as you have a Oscar, those are the messest fish around.. AS this can influence the water greatly if left too dirty.. Up to you here as I can't see your filter pads.. Your bio will rebound in days, but a dirty filter/pad is asking for high nitrates..
Also if you dont' want to go through this again, get some filters with Bio-wheels like Emperors.. Two 400 will keep the tank seeded and keep it clean and clear.. I never have any problems with my juvie tanks with 30+ in a 55 gal with two of these filters running.. cheaper to purchase on line..
HAVE you done any major water changes or CHANGED dechlorinater??
I had this problem when I went from Stress coat to Tetra Aqua Safe. My tanks all clouded up but cleared in a few days..
DID you add in ANY other type OF water conditioner/other BEFORE the 3 weeks to now??
Any time you add in any kind of water conditoner or purifier, you change the chemistry in the tank..
A whitish haze/cloudy is a bacteria bloom as the tank is trying to catch back up. So harmless really, but the Ammonia and Nitrite together say a mini cycle is taking place.. This tells ME that you removed to much water AND OR you/OTHER added in something to crash the tank.. Do you have KIDS?
The only problem I see here is to monitor the Ammonia/Nitrites and make sure they dont climb to high. Do a 20% water change to combat this on either one.. that is 85 x .20= 17 gal of water, Best to do 20 so you can measure out the dechlo/salt right..
IF you have NOT done a W/Change in 5 days and the tank is stil cloudy, best to do one now..
Feed the fish ONLY ONCE DAILY until the tank goes to normal.. NO meaty foods, Beefheart/other messy treats/ meats..
On the yellow lab, it takes months to get them big enought so the others don't eat them.. so when he is at amost 1/2", then he can rejoin the others.. I have some at 1/4 in and they are doing fiine in my 125 gal.. But I have lots of rocks for them to hide in.. They are smart, and dart fast into any crevis they can get into when the others are near.. they are mostly ignored at 1/4 to 1/2".. and that is 2 or 3 months old or their about..
Others may have more/other advice but it seems someone messed with your tank IF it has been 3 weeks and this is still going on, then you best find out who it is and make them stop.. Removing to much water at once does this too, but it is stil messed up after three weeks.. not good..