Hello all! I recently got a new tank with 3 goldfish and 1 snail. The problem is that within 1 day the entire tank is cloudy. What can I do to prevent this? What am I doing wrong? Here is as much info as I have to offer:


Contents:
3 goldfish all in the small size, 1 snail also small.
10 pounds red rocks
2 plant pieces
1 big rock in the middle.

Info
Size of tank: 10 gallon. The tank has a top with lights as well.
Filter: Whisper Power Filter for 5-10 gallon aquariums
How long had tank: 3 days
How long had fish: 1 day
Water additives: stress coat water conditoner
Feed Fish: Flake goldfish food

Thank you for any help you can offer.

What color is the clody water? If it's white, then it might be a beneficial bacteria bloom and it'll settle down shortly.

But your tank is over crowded, so it may be as a result of that. Goldfish can pollute their own water very quickly. As I learned just a short while ago, you should only put one fish per ten gallons of water because goldfish are much messier than other kinds of fish. You probably also want to invest in another filter to go along with the one that you have. Like I said, goldfish are messy and should probably have double the recommended filtration on the tank, especially if you're overstocked (like I am, unfortunately).

Also: did you cycle your tank first, or add the first fish and the water all at the same time? It also might be helpful to discovering what's causing your cloudy water if you listed your parameters.

pH
kH (buffering capacity)
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
etc.

You can test these with a kit that you pick up at either your local pet store or nooppee. I personally use Mardel 5-in-1 for pH, kH, Nitrite, and Nitrate, and then Aquariums Pharmaceuticals Ammonia test kit.

Hope you get back to us soon, so we can help out.

the cloud is bactiria witch is growing and will settle in your filter and gravel in a day or two your tank is cycling,change some water it will help your fish [your tank must be living for it to hold life] good luck!!

It is a whitish cloud. Here is a picture I took just now of the case so you can see without me explaining. Just in case I am explaining it wrong.



I did not know this. I will grab another filter for sure.


What does cycling mean? I purchased the tank, the rocks, and the filter on Saturday evening. I then set it all up. Before adding the rocks I did run them under water, and I also ran the filter under water first as well. Then once it was all up I filled it with water and then dropped in two table spoons of the water conditioner.
One hour later I added one gold fish I had from a previous smaller tank. Then the next day I added the two new fish and the snail.

I will post my ph and all that later today after I purchase a thing to test it.

Thanks for the help!

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/cycle.html

Here's some information about cycling. It has to do with the breakdown of the waste that fish produce ^_^.

Since your tank hasn't cycled yet, you're probably going to have to do pretty consistent water changes -- 25% a day or every other day -- to make sure that you keep the nasties under control while the tank cycles. I would reccommend BioSpira if you can get it. It's a refrigerated bacteria colony in stasis that you pour into your tank. Refrgerated = live bacteria. I can get it at my local store, so you might want to call around to your local stores and see if they carry it. It has to ne added quickly, though, or refrigerated soon after purchase. It's a product of Marineland Labs. One ounce will cycle up to thirty gallons and costs somewhere around 11.99, depending. This will establish the cycle quickly and keep your fish from getting sick from too much waste as you strugge with establishing the cycle while they're in there.

Don't feel too terrible about this. I unfortunately killed my entire bacteria colony halfway through the cycle with an ill timed washing, so I had to reestablish with BioSpira. It worked like a charm, and within a week, a tank that had out of control Nitrites is fine again ^_^.

cycling is a what happens when ever you start up a tank.water is clear for a day or two then it clouds up with a bacteria that soon will find a home in your filter and gravel then the water clears up and i consider it live water ready for fish. this bacteria is needed for eating the ammonia produced by fish/waste but it cant eat it all so change some h2o regularly!!! look around here this is a very informational site i've learned alot istarted many years ago breeding angels,discus,african cichlid, all with sucsessand no internet for answers. now im ready for orandas and im getting all my answers here at KOKO'S making life easy!!! }<{{{;('> ~

Please take a good look around the site. One page I would read is this:)
http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/care.html

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