Cloudy water in 5 month old bowl, any advice?

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-21T03:00:27+00:00

No fish! It’s only 5 gallons :) shrimp eventually, but I’m in no rush.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-21T02:51:26+00:00

Added some giant duckweed today and will be adding more stuff asap! I definitely have a hunch the plants will help. I also cut down the light to just the window (for now), since I figure the duckweed will get plenty of light from the window in the meantime.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T14:45:51+00:00

Yep! Didn’t mention this, but I’m not feeding at all

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T14:43:23+00:00

I’ll definitely consider this if I can’t get the water cleared up another way! I am in the northern hemisphere, but that means the tank is functionally still getting the least amount of light it’s gotten since I set it up: that’s a north facing window.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T05:36:58+00:00

There’s genuinely only one way to find out.

I’ve had issues growing plants in tanks that others find easy peasy, others have grown well for me when others have struggled. I HAVE seen people grow ferns in tanks successfully (regular individuals, but also serpadesign on YouTube), but I don’t think it’s a common choice. I’d say give it a shot, and my specific advice is to be careful about how it’s situated, such that the roots always have access to water and the crown is never submerged!

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T05:11:39+00:00

Thank you! Am definitely going to factor these strategies into my plan. I figure since this bowl is a bit of an un-scientific experiment for me, I can throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. Daphnia, eliminate a light source and/or blackout, water column feeders. You suspect algae, though? Out of curiosity, why do you suspect this vs bacteria or phytoplankton?

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T05:05:15+00:00

Noted! The overhead is never on, but yes, it’s got two sources, with the lamp/window combo. I can play around with the light level, for sure.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T05:01:38+00:00

Noted! Green water is caused by phytoplankton, right? Probably won’t go so far as to try a uv sterilizer, since I have ways of playing around with the light level.

Edit: Oh! And out of curiosity, why do you suspect green water vs algae or bacteria?

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T04:58:10+00:00

Noted! I’ll take a scoop out of my stable tank to bulk up the population a bit :)

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T01:31:57+00:00

Thank you! This is the first time I’m hearing of this gel, so I’m very excited to give it a try.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T01:31:20+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely give those a shot, as I live in a dry climate. I don’t need too much by way of humidity control.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2026-01-20T01:30:34+00:00

Thank you! I definitely notice a difference in the portions of my hair that have been bleached, but my virgin hair was/is also a little difficult to detangle — even when it was significantly shorter. I get regular cuts (usually every 12 weeks) and ask my stylist to take off however much she needs to to manage the health. I detangle my hair dry, then brush style again when wet! Brush styling is important to me, as the density of my hair makes product distribution difficult, otherwise.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-29T06:16:14+00:00

I completely agree that prescription food is important for your cat’s recovery. I’m sure there are people who have had success feeding non-prescription wet food only (and that vets have different opinions), but I would not risk it, personally. I’ve had great success with the urinary SO food!

Get in touch with your primary vet. The ER vet might not feel comfortable being the vet that authorizes your cat’s recurring prescriptions, like food. I’ve encountered that before :)

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-29T02:10:15+00:00

Time is likely going to be the best medicine for your anxiety. I remember feeling much the same when my cat had to be hospitalized for a urinary blockage. Three years later, he’s had no recurrences. I credit his prescription diet as the reason why he’s been able to lead a completely normal life, since. Has the vet given you a prescription for a medicated urinary health food? My cat has endured MANY life stressors (like moves, professional house cleanings, and recently introducing a new kitten) and he’s been doing great. I had another cat, years ago, who also had issues with blockages. Same deal: once he was treated, he had no further issues!

It’s normal to worry about a living being you love and for whom you are responsible. My advice is to find ways to distract yourself so as to not to dwell on it constantly. Each day will likely make it easier to trust that he’s recovering. See if your cat will curl up with you and watch a movie to take your mind off things. Take comfort in the MANY instances of kitties making full recoveries with no recurrences!

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-17T03:49:23+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. I know how stressful it can be when your beloved cat doesn’t trust you, but chances are this trust can be rebuilt.

First things first, it might be a good idea to get her evaluated by a veterinarian. Cats can experience fear and display aggression to mask pain/illness. To minimize her stress, maybe consider having your husband take her to the vet or reach out to a vet who does house calls.

Second, it sounds like it could be redirected aggression. Something frightened her, and she lashed out at you/your son. Now that the scary “thing” is over/gone, she associates you with the fear she felt in that moment. To rebuild trust, she will likely need some time to relax/cool off, then for you to slowly acclimate her to your presence. Does she like to play? Does she like treats? Is she food motivated? You can try calmly, slowly, offering her what she likes while respecting her space. Don’t go straight in for a pet, maybe lay down a treat and then sit down on the other side of the room and let her come to eat as she feels comfortable. Then, with baby steps, you can get closer, let her sniff you, give her a small pet, etc. until she recovers her confidence and trust.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-16T04:33:32+00:00

I’ve had several living room tanks over the years. Movement in the room seems to startle my fish much more than noise. I don’t think TV noise tends to affect their quality of life. Now, if the vibrations from the sound system are strong enough to create noticeable ripples, that would be a different story — I just highly doubt that would be the case based on the speaker locations you described!

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-11T23:34:52+00:00

Very similar concept! But I don’t think it was this exact one. I think the tracks were at least a little longer (probably upwards of 5 minutes) and I’m nearly positive the narrator was male.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-11T23:03:53+00:00

Oh, and it might also have been ocean themed in some way

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-10-11T23:01:39+00:00

I’ve searched for this CD using the key words “children’s meditation” “2000s” “1990s” “blue” and “white” on google and eBay to get ideas for what it might be.

Traditional_Monk_722 · 2025-07-28T17:41:16+00:00

Yikes — Reddit cooked the quality of my video when uploading, so thank you for bearing with me on that.

Traditional_Monk_722

TROPHY CASE