"Goldies" tank is cloudy, has been for about 2 weeks now and is not getting better despite 15% daily water changes and 1 attempt at a bacteria treatment a week ago. I don't know if this is a bacterial bloom or dirt from something.

Long story:

I bought Goldie for my daughter on her 4th birthday, Sept 5. Not knowing anything about goldfish at the time, I also bought the "Goldfish starter kit" from Wallmart. This was a 1 gallon bowl, rocks, food, water treatment. Two weeks into it I also purchased a small air pump filter for it. Well Goldie lived fine in it for a month or so. Then serious problems arose. One day I was certain he was dead as he was floating sideways on the top. As I was bracing to tell my daughter I moved the bowl towards me and he came back to life. Relived, though concerned, I figured a entire water change was in order, and Goldie looked fine for a couple more days but a fews days after he looked real bad. He was again floating on the top. When nudged he would swim around a little, but not right. It appeared as if half his body was paralized. I told my daughter he was very sick and I didn't think he will make it.

I figured for Goldie's, and my daughter's sake I must try to learn what I could and see if there was anything I could do. It was at that time I discovered this site, as well as some other internet resources. I quickly realized that Goldie was in way too small a bowl. So, I bought a 10 gal tank. As there was no time to let the new tank sit I had to put Goldie in right away. I didn't have any new rocks yet so I put his old rocks in aswell, though of course they didn't cover the bottom. Goldie made a quick transformation. Within a couple days he appeared, to me at least, to return to full health. We picked up some more rocks, probably too much as now there is about 2 inches of rocks on the bottom. The new tank came with a waterfall type filter with the bag in it. I also put the old air pump filter in the new tank.

About 2 week into his new tank I decided a to do a partial water change, about 20%. I also took out the filter bag and rinsed it under the tap. Shortly after this is when the water slowy became cloudy. I came here for info and realized I probably killed benificial bacteria in the filter bag and the cloudyness was a bacteria bloom. I went out and bought some treatment for a bacteria bloom and gave the water 1 dose, figuring it would be clear in 24-48 hours like the directions say, though it hasn't and this was over a week ago.

The water looks smokey. When a light shines on it you can see what looks like smoke swirling in the water. There is also some bubbling on top. Not much, but the bubbles from the air pump float for a few seconds. A test kit show GH 120, KH 120, pH 7-7.5, nitrites and nitrate very low and hard to read.


I have reduced his feeding, 15% water changes, and left his light off for the last 2 weeks but it is not getting better and I am unsure if there is anything else I should be doing, or should I keep doing what i am doing? I am not even sure that it is a bacterial bloom which is why I haven't preceeded with another treatment. I am wondering if there is a partical coming off one of his decorations, or the rocks, or the filter bag? I am hesitant to change any of those as I don't want to remove any benificial bacteria. Goldie seems to be doing fine despite the cloudy water.

Mike

Hi Mike and welcome!
When you set the new 10g tank up, the tank has to cycle. I suggest you get a water test kit with Ammonia test in it. You really have to check the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and ph everyday while cycling. It can take as long as 6 weeks for a tank to cycle, or longer. You have to do water changes everyday during this time to keep ammonia and nitrites down. Ammonia should not get above .25.
Are you using a water conditioner, such as Prime?
I suggest you read up on cycling the tank. You can find the link under the forum for water treatment and also a chart of cycling a tank. The link is right under the chart.
The cloudy water could be the beneficial bacteria blooms. You need the BB to help fight off nitrites and nitrates. The cloudiness will go away after a while. Don't try to treat it with anything.
Another thing, you mentioned that you have a lot of gravel in your tank. When you do water changes, you have to vacume the gravel very good or it can harbor nasty bacteria and parasites that can kill your fish. I would suggest taking some, or all of it out. You can always scatter some small river stones on the bottom and it makes cleaning much easier and it is healthier for your fish.
Remember, check your water params at least once a day, keep ammonia to below .25, keep nitrites as low as possible.
I am cycling a new tank myself and I am on my second week. It is a 29g tank and I change at least 50% of the water everyday. I treat it with Prime water conditioner by Seachem. I check my water twice a day; once in morning and once at night.
If you have any questions after you read about cycling, please let us know!