QT tank cloudiness

[Breakthecycle2]

I am having an awful time with my 40 gallon breeder QT tank. I have about 7 fish left in it and I do feed twice a day heavy and one sheet or nori. Its very cloudy and a little yellowish under ambient light. I am using a HOB rated for a 75 gallon tank and a small UV that used to keep the water clear, but not so anymore. In the last week, I have also done about a 30 gallon water change and it has not gotten any better. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[leahfiish]

Rinsing food (if frozen) and siphoning out any uneaten food after a few minutes might help. Do you have sufficient biological filtration? Can you add another sponge or matrix or other biomedia?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Rinsing food (if frozen) and siphoning out any uneaten food after a few minutes might help. Do you have sufficient biological filtration? Can you add another sponge or matrix or other biomedia?

it's been running for almost two years, it should. I've had more fish in there then I do know. What kind of biomedia?

 

[aykwm]

For QT tank you need to break it down every month or 2 to avoid biofilm issues. Also, usually QT tanks are over stocked or a bit small compared to DT and adding heavy feeding to that might be creating issues. You can throw in another filter, maybe sponge filter its cheap and does the job.
Make sure when feeding, you remove the excess food and waste, these all can effect the quality of water, and cloudiness might be bacterial bloom from the nutrients, I assume you have no LR in there or any other porous media, so bacteria has not much space to occupy. If you will use this QT for observation only with no medication at all you can can add cured & disease free LR or some other porous media like ceramic rings, this might help.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

For QT tank you need to break it down every month or 2 to avoid biofilm issues. Also, usually QT tanks are over stocked or a bit small compared to DT and adding heavy feeding to that might be creating issues. You can throw in another filter, maybe sponge filter its cheap and does the job.
Make sure when feeding, you remove the excess food and waste, these all can effect the quality of water, and cloudiness might be bacterial bloom from the nutrients, I assume you have no LR in there or any other porous media, so bacteria has not much space to occupy. If you will use this QT for observation only with no medication at all you can can add cured & disease free LR or some other porous media like ceramic rings, this might help.

Can I add the media to the bottom of the QT?

 

[aykwm]

Can I add the media to the bottom of the QT?

Its better to add it somewhere with high circulation to allow for the aerobic bacteria to live on it, adding it to low flow area can usually create anaerobic environment which can be occupied with anaerobic bacteria which won't break down ammonia. You put it in the HOB, usually they are designed to carry some media

 

[Gweeds1980]

I am having an awful time with my 40 gallon breeder QT tank. I have about 7 fish left in it and I do feed twice a day heavy and one sheet or nori. Its very cloudy and a little yellowish under ambient light. I am using a HOB rated for a 75 gallon tank and a small UV that used to keep the water clear, but not so anymore. In the last week, I have also done about a 30 gallon water change and it has not gotten any better. Any help would be appreciated.

Add a skimmer and some microbacter7. Assume you're not treating with anything? Certain meds combined can cloud the water, but sounds like bacterial bloom feeding on dissolved organics from your description.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Add a skimmer and some microbacter7. Assume you're not treating with anything? Certain meds combined can cloud the water, but sounds like bacterial bloom feeding on dissolved organics from your description.

Should I bother with water changes or should I add carbon as well?

 

[Gweeds1980]

Should I bother with water changes or should I add carbon as well?

Yes, continue with water changes, go for at least 25% a week in a temp QT. Carbon is ok unless you're medicating, which by the sounds of it you're not.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Yes, continue with water changes, go for at least 25% a week in a temp QT. Carbon is ok unless you're medicating, which by the sounds of it you're not.

Sorry, I missed that question. I am not medicating.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I picked up a large sponge filter, some MB7 and some HOB media. The water is awful today, how long should it take for the bacteria to colonizing?

 

[Humblefish]

The water is awful today, how long should it take for the bacteria to colonizing?

Can take up to a week for the bacteria to get settled. I would dose a little each & every day.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Can take up to a week for the bacteria to get settled. I would dose a little each & every day.

Should I continue with water changes or will it just make it worse?

 

[Humblefish]

Should I continue with water changes or will it just make it worse?

I would continue with water changes to keep ammonia at bay.

 

[Gweeds1980]

I picked up a large sponge filter, some MB7 and some HOB media. The water is awful today, how long should it take for the bacteria to colonizing?

Are you following the guidelines on the bottle? From memory it's a double dose for the first 10 days...

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I would continue with water changes to keep ammonia at bay.

There isnt any ammonia.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Are you following the guidelines on the bottle? From memory it's a double dose for the first 10 days...

I am, it says do not overdose as there will be no benefit.

 

[Gweeds1980]

I am, it says do not overdose as there will be no benefit.

Yup. You should start to see results pretty quickly as MB7 is live bacteria as opposed to bacteria food...

Are you able to add a skimmer? Even if just borrowing one from the DT for a couple of hours, just to see if it has any impact. Id guess the skimmer would remove the organics the bacteria is feeding on... maybe even the nutrient loaded bacteria itself.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Yup. You should start to see results pretty quickly as MB7 is live bacteria as opposed to bacteria food...

Are you able to add a skimmer? Even if just borrowing one from the DT for a couple of hours, just to see if it has any impact. Id guess the skimmer would remove the organics the bacteria is feeding on... maybe even the nutrient loaded bacteria itself.

I'd have to buy one, my main one is way to big. I'd rather not spend more money on something just for a few days.

 

[Gweeds1980]

I'd have to buy one, my main one is way to big. I'd rather not spend more money on something just for a few days.

Fair enough. Totally understand that!