Cloudy water in QT tank

[janakaybravo]

I just started two fish on hyposalinity. The filter is cycled, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15. The water has been cloudy for the last two days. I keep checking the parameters. I changed the carbon but it's not working yet. I guess I'll do a water change.

Anybody know what could be wrong?

Thanks.

 

[BlackOnyx]

how big is the QT small right? Its the fact your using to much food.

 

[leebca]

"Cloudy" is generally from a limited number of possibilities, or a combo of them:

1) Microorganism bloom; or
2) Particulates; or
3) Chemical; or
4) Any combo

Hunt down the culprit.

If it's particulates, filter with a small micron filter (pad, bag, etc.)

If its microorganisms; get the dirt out. Remove uneaten food. Find out what, if anything, has died and is decaying. Is your QT bare bottom? Any pods, micro animals or micro plants in the system?

Carbonates can precipitate out of a saltwater solution when out of balance. An excess of iron additive can also cause a cloud from temporary precipitation. There are other things, like the QT was unclean or the things in the QT (decorations, rock or ?) are leaching chemicals that are reacting with the salt water ingredients.

In the thin saltwater mix for the hyposalinity treatment, maintaining proper pH is a challenge. A shift in pH to being low, can cause some salts to precipitate from the water causing a cloudy condition.

Good luck! :rollface:

 

[janakaybravo]

Thanks Blackonyx and Lee! The qt tank is 40 gallons, has established bio filter. I just put 6 fish through hyposucessfully, changed out 50%, and added these two new fish, a small blue tang and a female bellus.

This morning I did a 40% water change trying to syphon out the stuff on bottom, which looks like pieces of brown algae. There's a little gravel on bottom also that is there since we caught the fish. I know it's supposed to be bare bottom, but with hypo I'm hoping it won't matter. I'm not using any meds.

Anyway, with the 40% water change, it looks a lot less cloudy, altough the brown stuff is still down there. I got as much as I could. I just need to get through 4 weeks of this and I'll tear the tank down and clean it. Also put in some new carbon.

Thanks for all your advice!