Cloudy Substrate Water, not sure what to do with the livestock

[CrazyDuck959]

I just siphoned my fish tank and the sand made my tank all murky, I get my saltwater from my LSF and they are closed, I did a water change with the saltwater I had remaining. I’m worried there was 1. Either a ammonia spike, or 2. The fish should not be in murky water. I have moved all the livestock into a bucket. But idk I’m lost I just need help with opinions on this.

 

[fishguy242]

hi, what size tank?
how many fish in bucket, need air !!
do you have ammo test kit?

 

[CrazyDuck959]

hi, what size tank?
how many fish in bucket, need air !!
do you have ammo test kit?

13 gal, I got a airstone and a heater in there, and yes I have a test kit.

 

[fishguy242]

should be starting to settle, give an hour and check ammonia,
can use floss in filter to help clear ?

why are you thinking ammo high ?
older deep sandbed ??

 

[Lavey29]

My water gets cloudy all the time if I siphon or turkey baste the sand. It doesn't hurt the fish at all. Clears up in an hour.

 

[TheOldSalt]

Does it smell bad, like rotten eggs?
If not, then it's probably okay, especially after the water change.
The water should clear up in several hours.

Siphoning sand is usually not such a great idea, as you've discovered. If you're trying to clean the top of it, there is a technique commonly used to put the siphon tube just over the sand and suck up the dirt without stirring up the sand very much.

Since tomorrow is Easter, I don't know if any shops will be open. Another water change should help if the water currently does have the rotten egg smell.

This leads to a helpful pro tip:

Get a few bags of extra salt and other supplies, and store them for emergencies.
An even better tip?
Get a large container of some sort and mix up a big batch of water. Keep this water stored for emergencies.

Freshly mixed water is often not suitable for life. Having some already mixed, and fully aerated, water on hand would allow you to make much larger water changes in an emergency without the risks associated with large water changes.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

should be starting to settle, give an hour and check ammonia,
can use floss in filter to help clear ?

why are you thinking ammo high ?
older deep sandbed ??

Worried it make have released something that would affect it.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

Thank you all for your responses, I’m not too worried anymore but the tank is starting to clear, and the tank smells like a good ol fish tank. Not rotten eggs. So I will do a test in a little bit to see what the ammonia levels are at.

 

[CrazyDuck959]

Next day update, the cloudy water war is over and there are no casualties!