cloudy water in fry tank

[Lifes A Beach]

I have 40+ clown fry that are on day 22 in a 5 gal tank. Everything has been going well. This morning the tank water was very cloudy. I siphoned the bottom, did a 50% water change and cleaned the sides of the tank (since they looked cloudy too). After the water settled, I siphoned the bottom again and replaced that water.

This afternoon, the water is more cloudy than this morning. The ph this morning was 7.2 but this afternoon is 6.9. No ammonia, no nitrates. I've been neutralizing the water daily with Amquel.

The good news is that the fry seem to be doing okay.

Should I be concerned? Should I do another water change? Should I move the fry to a new clean tank? I have increased the aeration. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Hendersonracing]

bump..

 

[gpsmart]

I have had similar issues this year with cloudy water and it sounds like we have tried most of the same things to try to solve it. On the up side I got 145 B & W Ocellaris and 72 Orange Ocellaris to 30 days in 7G tanks with cloudy water and no filter. After this they were moved to grow out tanks. I have also had tanks with juveniles dying where I added a cycled sponge filter and the water has cleared up and the fish are doing well.

I would say wait it out (watch that pH) and you may not have to do anything but if you start to have problems add filtration or move the fish. They are old enough to move to a grow out tank.

Good luck!

 

[Lifes A Beach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12066878#post12066878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gpsmart
I would say wait it out (watch that pH) and you may not have to do anything but if you start to have problems add filtration or move the fish. They are old enough to move to a grow out tank.

Do you think I should move the fry to another tank now?

Regarding the ph, should I be watching for it to raise? It's been around 7.1 today.

I took a filter pack from another seasoned tank and placed it in the tank with the airstone circulating under it hoping that the beneficial bacteria on it might help until my other filter is seasoned enough to place in the tank. I'm figuring it's better than nothing.

How long do you think it will take before it's clear? I'm aerating the heck out of it for now!

Thanks!

 

[gpsmart]

If the fish are still doing well then it is up to you when you move them, cloudy water or not. I usually move mine between 3 and 5 weeks depending on when I need the tank for new larvae.

If my fish are doing well I don't usually test the water so I don't know what my pH normally is in a good tank. If I have 100 fry in a small tank I know the water is not particularly good, even with water changes and bottom vacuuming. If your pH isn't changing rapidly then the fry are likely to cope with non-ideal water parameters. Keep an eye on it.

My water was clear within a day of adding the filter.

If the fry are doing OK then don't stress too much. If you are not happy with them then carefully move them to another tank.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

All the fry are doing well! The water is gradually starting to clear even though it's still a bit cloudy. Tonight I did a 20% water change with water from my main tank so we'll see what it looks like in the morning.

 

[gpsmart]

Good to hear that they are doing well! Just keep an eye on things.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

Just an update that the water turned crystal clear the next day and all the fry are doing well. Didn't lose any with this ordeal. Just another learning experience!

--Barbara

 

[gpsmart]

Thanks for the update. Good to hear that they are doing well.

 

[Hendersonracing]

sounds good barbara!

 

[dalilgriffith]

one word, alkalinity can cause poor ph readings. What kind of water are you using?

if RO/ which one?

 

[Lifes A Beach]

I use natural sea water that I collect myself.

 

[dalilgriffith]

yikes, you really cannot tell what is in that.

 

[Lifes A Beach]

The natural sea water goes into my main reef tank, but I use the aged water from there for the fry tank. For the tanks with the younger fry, I sterilize the water in the microwave.

 

[dalilgriffith]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12147493#post12147493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prideprops
The natural sea water goes into my main reef tank, but I use the aged water from there for the fry tank. For the tanks with the younger fry, I sterilize the water in the microwave.

Thats deep man, like abyssal plain deep.

 

[billsreef]

Nothing beats good clean natural sea water :thumbsup: