Can’t fix cloudy aquarium water!?
I recently set up my 10-gal. aquarium that I had had in storage for several years. I rinsed everything and scrubbed it all with hot water (didn’t want to use any chemicals). The tank had been in plastic while in storage so it was pretty clean. I still vacuumed the gravel. I did this three weeks ago and added a stablizer that a worker from PetSmart recommended to help with cycling the aquarium. I then added four fish (two blue gouramis and two banded leporinus) approximately one week later after ensuring the water was stable.
My water became cloudy a few days later so I added some water clarifier, which fixed the cloudiness overnight. A few days later, it returned so I added more of the product and it was fine afterwards. Within the past few days, the water clouded up again and nothing has fixed it. I’ve added the same product and it hasn’t worked. Yesterday, I did a 25-30% water change and changed the filter (I’ve changed the filter three times). I’ve broken the filter down and cleaned it. My pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are within normal limits. I took some water to PetSmart today to have it tested and they can find nothing wrong with it. My fish are fine (surprisingly) but the water has a milky haze that has gotten worse. I got a different water clarifier today, hoping it would help, and so far it’s done nothing. I’m not overfeeding the fish. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks! : )
I also have an under-gravel filter.
The good news: you aren’t doing anything wrong. The cloudiness is caused by a bacterial bloom that is essential for the health of your aquarium. They are the "de-nitrifying" bacteria that are the cycle of your tank. Because it is a brand new tank, they are just starting to become established, and will soon settle into the filter media and the gravel in your tank. They are good don’t worry! 
Don’t change the water unless your ammonia levels start to creep up, and leave the filter alone so the bacteria can hang out in there. It may take up to two weeks for this to clear up, especially since it is a smaller tank. Just be patient and it will work itself out. The clarifier stuff you can buy doesn’t really work well. ..it is just a temporary problem.
Good luck!
The good news: you aren’t doing anything wrong. The cloudiness is caused by a bacterial bloom that is essential for the health of your aquarium. They are the "de-nitrifying" bacteria that are the cycle of your tank. Because it is a brand new tank, they are just starting to become established, and will soon settle into the filter media and the gravel in your tank. They are good don’t worry!
Don’t change the water unless your ammonia levels start to creep up, and leave the filter alone so the bacteria can hang out in there. It may take up to two weeks for this to clear up, especially since it is a smaller tank. Just be patient and it will work itself out. The clarifier stuff you can buy doesn’t really work well. ..it is just a temporary problem.
Good luck!
References :
Experience and working at a pet store for 4 years
I believe that filters, only work for 6mo. to a year. Then you have to change the water, and start over. You clean it as best as you can, if for some reason the filtering system failed, then you have to change it sooner. A fish store will tell you how to store the fish while you clean the tank, and prepare it for the fish.
References :
Cloudy water is a natural reaction of bacterial growth in a tank
Reduce the light exposure to 6 hours a day and reduce how much you feed and how often
I would not fed the fish but every three days and just enough for them to eat all of it in 5
minutes. Make sure you vacuum the gravel once a week and do not keep changing the
filter, your taking away the very bacteria that you need to help break down the waster in
the tank.So leave the filter alone, stop buying bottled CURES and leave the lights off more
then on and reduce feedings and your tank will even out.
References :
Stop cleaning so much! lol
It is a good bacteria bloom. It needs to build up in your filter. So stop changing the filter.
Leave the tank alone unless ammonia or nitrite get too high. Leave it alone for a couple weeks until it is established.
Clarifiers don’t really do anything for a bacterial bloom.
References :
fish don’t actually mind murky waters that much because in the wild it means they can hide themselves better from predators, so that’s probably why they’re ok, as long as the nitrates/nitrites/ammonia levels and pH are ok.
i think the cloud is some kind of algae growth – and algae won’t really damage fishes health either so its ok
References :
It’s probably just new tank syndrome. I had problems with it in my first tank, but if you just keep up with your water changes, it’ll go away.
References :
Your at your last couple of days of cycling.
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