Tank problem?

I cannot get the cloudiness out of my tank, and some of my fish have died. The cloudiness is white in nature, I have used Kent Pro-Clear and it clears it right up, but it doesn't stay clear. A couple days later it will cloud right back up. I have added cycle on a weekly basis to keep the good bacteria working. I do water changes weekly with a siphon to clean the gravel. I have not added any new fish or plants in months. Most of the fish I have are a close to five years old; I almost think they are just dying of natural causes. There are no spots, or other physical signs of illness. They are not acting strange either. This is an established planted 55g aquarium, with a magnum filter (with the bio-wheels). I have 3 Nutrafin Natural CO2 systems. There are lots of plants in the tank (excuse any misspellings) from Java Fern, Winditii, Amazon swords, etc. Most of the plants seem healthy enough. I add Flourish after water changes. I have tried turning the lights out for 48 hours, fasting the fish for 3 days, and boosting the good bacteria. But the cloudiness keeps returning. Here are the stats: 0 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 7.2 pH (I am working slowly on lowering it) 0 Phosphate 2.5 Nitrate 50 mg/L KH 60 mg/L GH There are about 10 fish, different tetra species (Buenos Aries, White Cloud, Red/Blue) and one Angel fish.

Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks,

White, or milky colored water is a bacterial bloom.

That is why your having a bacterial bloom - the fishs waste will keep the 'good bacteria working'. The extra bio-load from trhe Cycle your *weekly* adding to the tank, is overloading your filtering system, causing the bacterial bloom. Stop adding the Cycle - what you have going on, is called a 'never ending cycle'.....

Could be old age....

To build immunity, fish need protein and energy. Fasting them, is not helping the fish........Frank

I agree with your analysis, Frank. One of the reasons I don't use Cycle or similar products. Nature's way really is superior in my opinion.

I agree with the previous suggestion to cut out Cycle - I have tons of customers using it but have yet to hear conclusively one way or the other that it makes a huge difference. What about your iron levels? I *suppose* elevated iron could be desirable to the species of bacteria that are causing the bloom (yeah right...), but I'm more interested in the fish deaths.. Were there a lot of them within a short time span? You might want to make sure you aren't consistently overdosing your iron. The pH is a bit of a concern as well, especially for tetras. But provided this isn't a new thing, that shouldn't be sufficient for them to start dying in numbers.

I tested the product Cycle 3 or 4 times, and it works, but not a bit faster than a little media from an established filter...

Quite some time back, one of the gals in this news group kept saying that a Java Fern plant or two in the tank, would also kick start the cycle on a newly set up tank. She said it enough that I also put the plant to the test, 3 or 4 times - it also works, and just about as fast as useing Cycle or used filter media........ Frank

I also agree. I do not use any chemicals to change my water quality and once your fish are used to your specific water type trying to lower or raise Ph could do more harm than good. Just stick to your weekly water changes and don't forget to add your de-chlor. Let us know how this helps you.

So, let me recap. I should just be patient and let nature take its course. And do not use the cycle, maybe buy some more java fern. I am thinking of switching to RO water for the plants, I have heard that it is soft and helps with plant growth. The fish deaths have occured over the past few months. A couple here, a couple there. I was at one time adding Flourish Iron, but I ran out about 4 months ago. The only thing I add (aside from cycle) is flourish, which has iron. A question about pH, since I am currently having to use tap water, the pH is high, but I heard plants and tetras and Angels like lower pH. Is it better to try to lower it, or just leave it as is? I know Angels are especially sensitive to pH changes, so I am very slow with the change; but if it would be better just to leave it as is I can.

Thanks for all the suggestions!