Cloudy tank

[suzi]

I have a 55gal., that has been staying cloudy for the past two months. I run this tank with an undergravel filter and a Whisper (don't know the # but it's huge) filter. I have two decent sized Oscars, a Dempsey and a Texas Cichlid, and have had the same fish in it for a year or better. The only change is that my Texas (Peter by name) has decided he needs to dig out every cave in the thing. Now, since I run undergravel, could his digging be causing this? I've tried everything to clear it including an almost complete water change. I'm at a loss here. Also, no algae has grown, and nothing has died. Please help, the tank is awful!

[rustysdragons]

Your tank may be dirty due to the amount of fish in there, It depends on how large they are. And Peter may be digging due to sexual maturity or territory issues.
How large are your fish?
Rusty

[suzi]

Oh, about this big. *holds hands apart*
Honestly, the Oscars are roughly 10in., Peter is about 7in., and the Dempsey is maybe 8in. I truly have no concept of size, so I just believe my man when he tells me how big something is. Could my tank be overpopulated? There is no fishy smell, just cloudy water. And Peter is a weirdo, so I'd believe anything about him.

[rustysdragons]

Well,
For comparison
I have a 75G w/ one oscar (8 inches), 1 Pacu (9 inches) and a full grown dempsy pair
And we are setting up another large tank to house the pacu by himself. (our oscar and dempsey pair have been quite abused by said pacu), Pacu are a whole other issue, so lets gowith what you have,
A full grown oscar should have at least a 55G for him/herself. So I could guess that you have an over population problem. Plus oscars are dirty dirty fish, eat allot and releive themselves allot. You may want to invest in a fluval 403 or 404 canaster filter for your 55. Plus maybe giving up a few fish, or you could upsize.
Hope I've helped some
Thanks
Rusty

[suzi]

Giving up the fish isn't really an option, as I've grown attached. Cichlids in general have so much more "personality" than other fish, in my opinion. I totally dig these guys. I guess I can do some rearranging and get two of these guys into another 55. Have a whole setup put away, now to find room and outlets. *looks around*
If running two tanks with two fish each doesn't work, well, time to fork out the big bucks. Thanks a ton for your ideas, RD. Off I go to move furniture!

[slaponte]

Yeah, overcrowded. I had my two oscars one each on a 40G. Now one has a 90G he shares with a couple of pleacos. ANd even he on the 90G seems to run out of space.

[Ed_r]

Could it be over feeding too? The food may be going to waste, and clouding the water. And yes does sound overcrouded.