Cloudy tank?
- Thread starter cabin7882
- Start date
florida joe
Well-Known Member
When you first set up your tank, your tank has to cycle so the biological elements of the filter are ready to handle the waste produced by the fish. Cloudy or milky water is common during this process, but it usually does not show up until fairly late in the cycle. If your tank has only had fish in it for a couple of weeks, or if it is new and has had a lot of fish in it for a few days, then this is the most likely cause of the cloudiness you are experiencing. Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of this cloudiness is to have patience. As the cycle runs its course, this cloudiness will clear up—usually your tank will go from cloudy to nearly crystal clear overnight—as soon as it is ready. During this time, remember to continue your regular water changes (about 10-15% twice a week while the tank cycles), and to be very careful about feeding your fish. Adding chemicals to try to clarify the water in a tank that is still cycling will often hamper the cycling process, and is unlikely to have much effect on the cloudines
Chemicals that have been added to the tank could react with other chemicals in the tank (or even something in your water) and create a variety of forms of cloudiness. This cloudiness can be prevented by minimizing the use of chemical additives in the tank. Also, testing with small amounts of chemicals in water containers may give you an idea of what could be reacting. In many cases, this cloudiness will be corrected quickly by the chemical elements of your filter, and, of course, by your regular water changes.
Insufficient water changes can be a cause of cloudiness, as assorted debris collects in the water or the remnants of fish waste and uneaten fish food begin to float through the water. Insufficient water changes can also lead to algae or bacteria blooms that will make the water appear cloudy. You should perform a weekly 10-15% water change in your aquarium, though you will need to increase the frequency of these water changes if the tank is still cycling. Oddly enough, excessive water changes can also cause cloudiness, as removing too much water from the tank will disturb the bacteria bed that is providing your biological filtration, and your tank may become cloudy for a few days as the biological filter reestablishes itself. Regular, frequent, small water changes will help to keep your aquarium clean, clean, and healthy.
Over feeding, can also cause cloudiness in tanks that have been set up longer. Remember to feed sparingly. Your fish's stomachs are usually smaller than their eyes, and they should be able to completely consume all the food they need in under two minutes.
Overpopulation can also be a a cause of cloudiness in an aquarium. Too many fish in a tank leads to stress, shortened lives, additional maintenance, algae growth, and cloudy water. Keeping your tank's population at or below 1" of fish per gallon of water for small community fresh water fish will keep this cloudiness under control.
If your tank is insufficiently filtered, or if your filter is not maintained properly, then the filter will not be able to efficiently process all the water in the tank, which, like insufficient water changes, can lead to cloudiness directly, or to algae or bacteria blooms that appear cloudy.
ALL THAT BEING SAID try running a poly filter pad
Chemicals that have been added to the tank could react with other chemicals in the tank (or even something in your water) and create a variety of forms of cloudiness. This cloudiness can be prevented by minimizing the use of chemical additives in the tank. Also, testing with small amounts of chemicals in water containers may give you an idea of what could be reacting. In many cases, this cloudiness will be corrected quickly by the chemical elements of your filter, and, of course, by your regular water changes.
Insufficient water changes can be a cause of cloudiness, as assorted debris collects in the water or the remnants of fish waste and uneaten fish food begin to float through the water. Insufficient water changes can also lead to algae or bacteria blooms that will make the water appear cloudy. You should perform a weekly 10-15% water change in your aquarium, though you will need to increase the frequency of these water changes if the tank is still cycling. Oddly enough, excessive water changes can also cause cloudiness, as removing too much water from the tank will disturb the bacteria bed that is providing your biological filtration, and your tank may become cloudy for a few days as the biological filter reestablishes itself. Regular, frequent, small water changes will help to keep your aquarium clean, clean, and healthy.
Over feeding, can also cause cloudiness in tanks that have been set up longer. Remember to feed sparingly. Your fish's stomachs are usually smaller than their eyes, and they should be able to completely consume all the food they need in under two minutes.
Overpopulation can also be a a cause of cloudiness in an aquarium. Too many fish in a tank leads to stress, shortened lives, additional maintenance, algae growth, and cloudy water. Keeping your tank's population at or below 1" of fish per gallon of water for small community fresh water fish will keep this cloudiness under control.
If your tank is insufficiently filtered, or if your filter is not maintained properly, then the filter will not be able to efficiently process all the water in the tank, which, like insufficient water changes, can lead to cloudiness directly, or to algae or bacteria blooms that appear cloudy.
ALL THAT BEING SAID try running a poly filter pad
cabin7882
Member
thanks a bunch! I just added a turbo snail, 2 peppermints and a hairy red legged hermit could that be why? I'm waiting on my calium test to be delived along with a refractometer so I will check when I get it! I did notice my powerhead blowing microbubbles into the tank and I thought that was why. And my stupid bak pak 2 skimmer is sucking at it!! I need a new pump for it cause it is not producing any foam at all!! Thanks again!