The water in my tank appears 'dusty'?

Question

I recently removed the live plants from my 80l aquarium and did a 25% water change. The water seemed to clear up nicely after that but now ( a week later) the water appears 'dusty'. I'm worried I may have set off a'mini-cycle' in the tank. The NH3 values are 1.5mg/l (everything else appears normal). What do you think it is? What should I do ( I did another 10% water cahnge today)

Answer 1

yes you did set off a cycle. You also managed to bring all the crap on the bottom of your tank (including the good bacteria) You should not have changed the water. I learned the hard way myself. If you do arrangements, then don't mess with the water. If you clean your substrates, wait to do a water change. If you change your water, don't mess with the substrates or the plants. ALWAYS ONLY DO ONE ACTION in 5 to 7 days.

As to what to do, until the numbers settle all you can do is partial water changes of 10%. Also try to keep the water temp stabilized throughout the day. High temp does affect the pH and that affects nitrate and nitrite. Adding bacteria might help. Adding carbon substrate will help too.

Answer 2

NH3 (ammonia) should always be 0mg/l (or 0ppm). Since you have detectable NH3 your tank is cycling; what you're seeing is a bacteria bloom. It'll eventually go away when your tank fully cycles (and when ammonia and nitrite are both undetectable).

Answer 3

It sounds like you simply have a bacteria bloom. If your water parameters are reading ok.....your tank will clear in a few days. Here is a link so you can read more about "bacteria blooms".

Answer 4

If it is in the sunlight it will get dirty. If not, its just dirty. If you get a big tank with one fish in it, it wont get that dusty.

Answer 5

u can always try to add activated carbon.. it should make the water crystal clear :)

Answer 6

empty, scrub glass and put in new water

Answer 7

It's dirty.