Coconut Cave

hi, I have just cleaned out and re-designed my 120 ltr tank, into which I put a shop bought coconut cave and an artificial log, which I was given. Since refilling the tank, 2 days ago, the water is very murky, I have put fresh media in the filter, but it's still murky. it was clear as a bell before the re-designing!

Hi Sanjo.......it's new filter pads, I think the mistake I've made is putting the coconut in the tank without soaking it, it emits tanning apparently. But the tank is really murky. I have a Talking Catfish, a Plec , a Blue Acara and two Keyhole Chichlids....all doing fine. It's a mystery.

GJR,

In addition to Sanjo's helpful advice re the coconut halves, I also think her earlier comment re a cycle/mini-cycle/bacteria bloom might be happening too if you've put new filter pads in. Did you take out and discard the previous filter pads, replacing them with these new ones, or have you kept some of the old filter pads/sponge? The previous filter media (usually filter pads or sponge) will be where the 'good' bacteria colonizes which will help deal with the fishes' waste, whereas discarding them completely and putting new ones in will re-start the process of cycling and needing to generate new bacteria (which may also partly explain the murky water/bacteria bloom). If, however, you have kept some of the older filter pads/sponge and have it in alongside the new filter pads, that will help the good bacteria to colonize on the new ones, and so hopefully will mean that any bacteria bloom/contribution to the murky water will be shorter lasting.

Hairnets seem very few and far between Cod.  The only place I know I can get them is Wilkos. 

If you ask in the hair section of any of the major supermarkets as well as Boots, the staff who are usually young say "What's that then" !!
Makes me feel sooooooooo old

Mind you, I only knew Wilkos had them because my 41 year old daughter rang me to say she had frightened the life out of her husband the night before. 
When he came into the bedroom she had done all her beauty treatments and was in bed wearing a hairnet.  She said he literally screamed in fear and begged her to take it off!!

My son in law is the most laid back man I know so he must have been badly affected by it.!! 

I probably oughtn't to admit this but, having discovered a hair trapped in the mouth of one of my tetras during its first week which was very traumatic for all concerned, I bought a selection of very fetching hairnets purely to wear when cleaning out the fishtank. A great buy! Sometimes I forget to remove the hairnet afterwards, though, and some day I reckon I'll answer the door to the postman or a neighbour, or set out, with the hairnet still on...