Cloudy Water

**cubby** · 08-16-2009, 02:32 AM

ok. my water is clouding up.... its been up for awhile, and its cycled (second time, params are: ammo: 0, nitrites: 0, nitrates: dunno. outta that test!!)... last week the water began to cloud, and it has gotten a bit better, but is still a bit cloudy... not bad, but its there....

any ideas?

**Northernguy** · 08-16-2009, 02:38 AM

Are you doing your water changes?
How much ,how often?

**Little Embers** · 08-16-2009, 04:49 AM

There are many threads on "Cloudy water" and "Bacterial Blooms". What colour is the cloudiness? If it is a bacterial bloom (usually white cloudiness) which can happen at any stage and it is usually caused by overfeeding and food left decaying. As ray mentioned, water changes help, also syphoning the gravel more and cutting back on feeding. They usually will clear up on there own.

If it is an algae bloom, I would try and get another nitrate test kit, as high nitrates can be one cause of algae blooms, as well as overfeeding and too much direct sunlight.

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-16-2009, 12:27 PM

If you have just finished with your cycle, I wouldn't be cleaning any gravel or filter media yet. You start cleaning too soon and you'll have that cloudy water which sounds to me as what you already have.

Leave it alone and it will clear back up again.

**cubby** · 08-16-2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

If you have just finished with your cycle, I wouldn't be cleaning any gravel or filter media yet. You start cleaning too soon and you'll have that cloudy water which sounds to me as what you already have.

Leave it alone and it will clear back up again.

this is probly it. i cleaned the gravel the last water change.

i usually wc once a week, around 20% or so.........

**cubby** · 08-22-2009, 09:12 PM

any other ideas? have done, i believe, two water changes since this thread.... still a bit cloudy, but not as bad... i am at: ammo: 0, nitrite: 0, mitrates: i don't know! don't have that test!!

anyone?

anything that can help? i would HATE to use some kind of chemical unless i have to... our well water is very good..... and not a fan of using chemicals unless i HAVE too..... but i don't want to do water changes every two days either.......

i still hesitate to change the filter....... plus, its not really dirty... tank is still what i would consider new, and the filter is working fine... i don't think thats anything to do with the cloudiness........