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Murky water tank

H

Heidi L

New Member
Joined
17 Dec 2023
Messages
3
Location
Europe
Hi to all

I’m new to having an aquarium and I’m trying to set it up but can’t get past my murky brown water.
I have used Tropical Aquarium Soil Powder and put in a few plants and added water but after 48 hours my water is still very murky. I did not put sand or gravel on top, and did not rinse it , for I was informed I don’t need to.

I’m using a Hydor Crystal filter which is set oon slow for the fast setting was making the water more cloudy.

I’ve even tried changing the water more than once but I’m back to murky water where not even the plants are visible?

Any suggestions please on how to get past this hurdle?

Thanks
Heidi
 

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That looks like cloudiness from the substrate to me. If it were a bacteria bloom, I would think it would look milkier in colour.

I would first take a handful of the substrate out, place it into very clean water, and wash it vigorously to see if that water turns brown with the washing. That should give you an indication of whether the soil is leaching into the water.
 
Heidi L said:
I have used Tropical Aquarium Soil Powder and put in a few plants and added water but after 48 hours my water is still very murky. I did not put sand or gravel on top, and did not rinse it , for I was informed I don’t need to.
Click to expand...

Heidi L said:
Any suggestions please on how to get past this hurdle?
Click to expand...
Several large 75% + water changes should do the trick, and then do at least 2x 50% water changes per week for the next couple of weeks until things settle down.
 
Hi there,
Do you mean Tropica Substrate soil powder?
If so, that is a fine powder which, when wet, forms a clay-like layer under sand or gravel.
It is normally capped with some other form of substrate (I have used sand) else you end up with a muddy tank. It will settle out if there isn't much water movement but as soon as you try to plant it ends up murky again!
 
I tried rinsing out some but it keeps leaking darker and darker. I was informed that I can use on its own and I’ve seen online aquariums with just this soil which looked clear . I won’t be putting any fish in before I know it’s clear and safe for them. Would changing my filter to a bigger one help?
 
Heidi L said:
I won’t be putting any fish in before I know it’s clear and safe for them.
Click to expand...
Murky water is not dangerous for fish per se. Fish are used to murky waters with soil (clay) particles in it. It's rather dissolved compounds which may be dangerous. You should not introduce fish before the tank is cycled, i.e. before essential microbial processes are established. As a rule, it takes from four to seven weeks. The longer you wait, the better. ... And yes, plants can help it significantly.
Keep on changing water to 'dilute' the dust.
 
If your filter is powerful enough to stir up more sediment then a larger one probably is unnecessary in that size of tank.
Water changes as @_Maq_ suggests are your best option as you will be removing the finer particles. Just be careful not to stir up the substrate when you refill!
 
That’s what I used (I placed it in laundry bags) and capped it with sand, I soaked the bags in water and changed water several times, still had 3ppm ammonia in tank before filters kicked in
 
Heidi L said:
I tried rinsing out some but it keeps leaking darker and darker. I was informed that I can use on its own and I’ve seen online aquariums with just this soil which looked clear . I won’t be putting any fish in before I know it’s clear and safe for them. Would changing my filter to a bigger one help?
Click to expand...
@Heidi L
Best for you to switch the filter off....then wait till the dust settles then remove as much water as possible without disturbing the substrate!
Clean the sides of the glass also with Kitchen/Paper towel.
You may have to do this multiple times.

Replace the water as slowly as possible.....you could use an Air Line tubing if you have it available filling from above the aquarium.
A larger filter will only stir the dust/fine particles more.....you can put your filter on the lowest turnover and pack it with fine filter floss and increase the turnover as the floss gets clogged up!

Unfortunately.....these soils take a fair time to settle and stop producing dust if not capped with sand or gravel.....but they are great for plant growth!
Use Amazon Frogbit or Pistia stratiotes as these will collect detritus on their long roots.....you can remove the roots and discard, the floating plants will regrow fresh new roots!
hoggie
 
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I know next to nothing about growing plants, but can tell you that my plants are doing well on this soil
I read and inwardly digested the info given by knowledgeable people on this site
 
The Miniaturist said:
Hi there,
Do you mean Tropica Substrate soil powder?
If so, that is a fine powder which, when wet, forms a clay-like layer under sand or gravel.
It is normally capped with some other form of substrate (I have used sand) else you end up with a muddy tank. It will settle out if there isn't much water movement but as soon as you try to plant it ends up murky again!
Click to expand...
bazz said:
Hi,

Are you sure you are not using this? Tropica Substrate - concentrated bottom layer for aquariums - Tropica Aquarium Plants
Click to expand...

+1 to this, @Heidi L - looks like you've used the wrong stuff, you've used the base layer/substrate product. It'll likely keep clouding up your tank until you cap it off.

Drain the tank completely, and cover it with a layer of Tropica Soil or sand, then refill.
 
Thanks I’ve changed most of the water and wiped down the sides of the aquarium and slowly refilled and am leaving it to settle but it looks better than it was the last few days! Thanks so much for the advice to all .
 
GHNelson said:
Tropical Aquarium Soil Powder will cloud if not treated with caution, Ive used it many times without capping it.
Click to expand...

I don't think its soil powder though, its this:

1702986479384.png

Its a nutrient rich sub-layer for putting under Soil or Soil Powder (which is just the smaller grain soil).
 
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