Murky 10gal starter tank

[thecameraguy]

Aqua Culture Aquarium Starter Kit.
current pH 7.6
temp 74f
Water set for 2 weeks before adding fish.
Survivors: 2 mollys (black and dalmatian), Talking, Bumblebee, Lace and BullsEye catfish.
After 2 months, the water remains murky and cloudy.
We are not over feeding them. We try to vacuum the bottom once every other week or so. We've even tried periodically using Accu Clear. Nothing seems to help.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

[Kif]

Do you have a filter in your tank as I can't see one ? if no then this could be a cause of (I'm guessing by survivors)your loss of fish, and if yes then 2 weeks would be too soon for the filter to mature properly and again the cause of your losses.

[thecameraguy]

Yes, I have a filter. The tetra internal that came with the tank kit. & yes we've had losses... 2 panda cats and 2 glass cats.

[.Plecomania.]

your tank is still cycling. murky water is a bacterial bloom in the water. normal for cycling tanks.
get a test kit and tell us the water levels for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

[Kif]

I would recommend cutting down on feeding and carry out daily water changes while your filter finishes cycling.

[Jools]

BTW, this was probably caused by adding too many fishes too quickly and also the added stress on the filter/cycling process of dead fish in the tank. I wouldn't add any more fish until the water is clear for a week or two.

Forget additives, the advice you've got here is good. If you're doing daily water changes, don't do more than about 15%, if it were me, I'd do 30% weekly and I wouldn't feed the fish for a week. They won't starve, they might die due to water quality issues (and make that worse).

Just go slowly! Hope that helps with your catfish hobby.

Jools

[thecameraguy]

Thanks .Plecomania., Kif & Jools for the advice! We've been doing 15% every other week or so... every day or more every week seems sound. We'll try it and keep you posted.

[.Plecomania.]

yea just keep up the water changes and be patient. eventually it will clear up and fish will stop dying and your tank should finish cycling.

[thecameraguy]

Ok. Thanks a million guys! After a week of 15% daily changes, we have a happy tank.

[.Plecomania.]

it's improving! congrads.