General Care Discussion :: Cloudy and smelly tank

[Skippy204]

Okay so I have had my RES for about 5 months and this is my first encounter of this problem. I emptied the tank (as I have done numerous times in the past few months) and refilled it on Monday. When I woke up on Wednesday Koopa's tank was cloudy. Now today is smelly too. I realize now I shouldn't have cleaned the filter media as I did, and probably have a bacteria blossom going. Koopa's tank is close to a window and when the water was changed, it just so happened to be super sunny the next day so I am guessing that aided in the issue.That being said, I went and picked up a top fin bacteria supplement and added it to the tank today. So far there has been no change, so I am looking for suggestions on what to do. Should I empty the tank again and start over or let it cycle? Is there something else I should be adding to the tank? Is tetra safe start better than top fin? I feel terrible I messed up Koopa's digs!

[steve]

Sounds like cycling / new tank syndrome, which is normal. What kind of filter media do you have and what kind of filter? I would skip the supplement and do partial water changes.

[Skippy204]

I have a Sunsun hw302 that has carbon, ceramic rings and bio balls inside it.how much of the water should I change? Should I do that every day? For how long?

[steve]

I'd change a 1/4 every day or two until it's sorted out. Did you add new carbon into the filter?

[Skippy204]

No I didn't, I just rinsed it off when I cleaned the filter. The new carbon is on order. Rookie mistakes!

[steve]

That's OK, we all make 'em

Buy it in bulk and get a couple of bags. Fill your own during filter cleanings and it'll last you a very long time.

[Skippy204]

How often do you change yours?

[steve]

Depends, but about it averages to every 6 weeks-8 weeks.

[Skippy204]

Okay so I went today and got the bag and filled it with the new carbon and did another water change. The water is a little less cloudy with the change but not as much as I would like. koopa didn't eat today but she may just be being picky because I didn't feed her her favorite food. I made sure I took out whatever she didn't eat within a half hour today just go not aide in the cloudiness.

[steve]

How bad was all the cloudiness to begin with? Did you change all of the water?

[Skippy204]

It was cloudy to the point it was hard to see her in the water. I did a 25% water change on Friday and then yesterday did closer to 70% because she decided to go crazy over night and detached the filter and created quite a mess. I had to drain so much to reaattach everything and to retrieve everything. I don't know what got into her. Anyway, today it's less cloudy but still has a tint to it, she didn't eat today again and is hanging out at the bottom of the tank a lot, I don't know what her deal is.

[steve]

I'd just give it a little more time, but it sounds like the problems should be over soon.

[Skippy204]

Okay good. I was hoping it was going to go away in one day lol no patience. Also, I'm noticing she's spending an awful lot of time at the bottom of the tank. I got her to eat very little today but at least some. Her water is the same temp as it has been so I don't know what is going on with her. Do they act funny in the winter? Maybe she is sensing it's winter in northeast PA. I've only had her since I was given her in July so I don't know what she normally behaves like this time of year.

[steve]

There are a few RES that do seem to be more picky during the winter, including my male. Even though nothing changes indoors, they do sense these things.