QT water is getting cloudy

[AYGurgies]

Hi guys,

My QT water is getting cloudy and I don't know why. My PH is 8.1, Ammonia 0.02, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10. Any idea? Thanks

[cbonito]

How are you keeping this water oxygenated? Sorry, I dont know you so I had to ask.

[AYGurgies]

Aquaclear powerhead, and the return water pump

[cbonito]

I wouldnt waste any more time guessing and just change the water out.
Who knows what's in there that you can't test for...

The nice thing about a water change is that it resets any parameter screwups you might have done and gets rid of any potential crap.

[weimers75]

I agree, do a water change. If nothing else, your ammonia should always be zero - it literally burns fish and is an indicator that you need more frequent water changes.

[AYGurgies]

I actually do water change every day. Well, I'll do a 50% water change tomorrow and see what happens. Thank you guys

[iyachtuxivm]

Probably a bacterial bloom. Water change couldnt hurt.

[BlackGrandPrix]

Well if you just set the QT tank up a few days ago and are trying to control waste levels with just water changes its not going to work. You are having ammonia cycling issues. Do you have any biological media in your filter? Is this media from an established tank and has been in established tank for over 4 weeks?

[AYGurgies]

Originally Posted by BlackGrandPrix

Well if you just set the QT tank up a few days ago and are trying to control waste levels with just water changes its not going to work. You are having ammonia cycling issues. Do you have any biological media in your filter? Is this media from an established tank and has been in established tank for over 4 weeks?

It's been up and running for more than a month.

[BlackGrandPrix]

Originally Posted by AYGurgies

It's been up and running for more than a month.

What about biomedia in the filter?

[AYGurgies]

Originally Posted by BlackGrandPrix

What about biomedia in the filter?

I have the Tetra Whisper Power Filter 10 that has three stages
1. Mechanical Filter: The filter pulls water from the aquarium and pushes it through the filter cartridge where the dense, dual-sided mesh catches debris and waste.
2. Chemical Filter: Ultra-Activated carbon (Which I don't use because I use medication).
3. Biological Filter: Bio-Foam creates a large 3-dimensional area for cultivating aerobic bacteria, which eliminate toxic ammonia and nitrites.

[BlackGrandPrix]

What size is the QT?

More than likely you do not have enough bio media for the tank assuming you have it barebottom also. Between the medications, no substrate, and small filter your ammonia is building up in the tank from food and fish waste.

I would find sponges or filter material from your established tank and gut the powerfilter you have and cram it full of that material.

[AYGurgies]

It's 15g tank, and it is bare bottom. I'll try to get some material from my estalished tank. Thanks