What causes the water to cloud up in a fresh aqurium tank?

Answer 1

I wish I could help you much here, i need to know what type of filter you use and how big is your tank, and what type of fishes you have in your tank. Basically cloudy tank means weak filter machine. You would need to provide those information. But I only can help you is to get bio-wheel filters from marieland at your local fish shop, OR get an good cansiter filter, I'd recommend Filstar XP Canister Filter or Eheim filter. They will solve your cloudy problems.

The rule of thumb is that---- you must circulate fresh water 6 times per hour for example 55 gallon tank should have any power filters that ciruclates 6 times per hour equals 330 gallon per hour, therefore, you need to find filter that circulates about 350 g.p.h.

Personally I like Marineland's penguin bio-wheel filters, Filstar XP Canister Filters or Eheim (expensive kind).

The reason is that the bio-wheel will provides about 30,000 times more oxgyen in your fish tank, which will break down those dirty substances in your tank quicker and your fishes will be much happier. If you decide to go with Bio-wheel filters, air pump will not be needed.

If your tank is Saltwater, you will need much more sophicate filter which is kind of complex.

Wish i could help much more.

Answer 2

If you have just changed 100% of the water and cleaned out the tank, then you have killed off all the beneficial bacteria your tank had in it. This bacteria is something the tank needs to stay healthy. That is why the water turns cloudy.

The cloudiness is a normal part of what is called the nitrogen cycle. It will clear up on its' own in 5-7 days. This cycle must happen when a tank is first set up so that the bacteria can help with the elimination of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. The complete cycle takes about 3 weeks.

During this time you should be doing 25% water changes every 3-4 days so the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate spikes don't kill your fish. These spikes are called "new tank syndrome" and are responsible for most of the dead fish when new aquarists first set up their new tanks and put in the new fish they bought the same day because most fish store people are idiots and fail to talk about cycling a new tank before filling it up with fish.

Depending on the size of the tank, you should only add 2 or 2 fish when first setting up. You should also use a product called "Cycle" which is beneficial bacteria in a bottle. This will cut the full cycle time from 3 weeks to about 10-12 days.

If the tank is not a new set up, then you are probably feeding them way too much food. Cut back on the food and do 3-4 25% water changes over the next 6-8 days. Only feed once a day and only feed what they will eat in about 3-4 minutes. If there is food floating after that length of time, you have fed too much.

If the cloudiness is green in appearance, it is an algae bloom and is caused by too much light and nitrates. Turn off the light for a week and also cut back on the food. Nitrates are the end result of the decaying uneaten food and fish waste. Ammonia is first, followed by nitrites and then nitrates. Live plants use nitrates and will out compete the algae for it if you have them in the tank. If not, only the algae will use it.

Answer 3

Lots of good answers already stated. Fish poop, too much food, the killing off of beneficial bacteria. Also, anything decaying in your tank (including the food and the poop) can set off an ammonia or nitrate spike and that can make the water look cloudy at times, so make sure that there are no dead fish tucked under anything (or sucked into the filter) make sure if you have life plants that you are keeping them well pruned (pulling off any dead/dying leaves to keep them from disintegrating in your water). Some of that decay stuff could be hiding in your gravel as well, but make sure you don't do all your cleaning at once. Maybe clean half the gravel and 25% of the water one week, change the filter another week, and then then the next time you do you cleaning, do the other half of the gravel and 25% of the water so you don't make it 'too clean' (which is certainly possible, and actually a fairly common "mistake" made in fish care)

also, if it's simply a new tank, cloudy is very common and normal-- the bacteria colonies forming.

Answer 4

It depends on a number of factors. It is not uncommon for that to happen when a tank is new or the bacteria in it has taken a major hit. One thing that can cause it in established tanks is large water changes because you are removing a large portion of the bacteria which deal with waste in your tank. I recommend a 10-15% weekly water change (people will disagree, but this is my opinion). One way to deal with the bacterial issue is to use Biospira. It is pricey, but well worth the cost.

All that being said, I agree with what someone else said. There is simply too little information to make an accurate diagnosis. If you took that to your local fish store (LFS) they would tell you the same thing they told me. To get an accurate answer you will need water parameters, a history of the tank (when you set it up), and your maintenance schedule.

Something else you should be doing if you are not is keeping a log book of what you do for your tank. Change the water, put it in the book. Feed, put it in the book. Also keep track of your parameters when you test your water. This will give your LFS a better idea of how your tank is doing overall and how to address your issues. Remember that giving the LFA a water sample is giving them a snaptshot of what your tank looked like when you took the sample (changes in reading due to temperature not withstanding).

Answer 5

We just got fresh water fish for our daughter and the water kept getting cloudy and we noticed that the filters clog within just a week or two. We came to the conclusion that we were actually feeding them too much. Now we feed them just a small pinch of food (about the size of a dime) twice a day. We started that about a month ago. We have 7 fish in there and they are all doing fine. We haven't had to change the filter since and the water is still clear. So my suggestion is to cut down their food intake. You can also buy liquid to put in there and it supposedly clears the water temporarily.

Answer 6

It really depends on alot of things. If it is getting cloudy after awhile of not being cleaned then it needs to be cleaned more often or the filters need to be changed more often. You could also be feedint them too much. My fish aquarium gets cloudy right after i clean it for some weird reason and they make these drops you put in the water to make it clear again. you can buy them almost anywhere they sell fish supplies.

Answer 7

My AC's get a similar way. it extremely is purely like a brown algae or diatoms. it may usually be reason from the surplus in foodstuff, and since the clear out tube won't get a super form of sunshine, brown algae can boost in low lighting fixtures fixtures. ultimate component to do is get your self a pipe cleansing device or a toothbrush, and scrub the interior the tubes. it won't harm your fish in any way, so do no longer hassle approximately it too lots..

Answer 8

Over feeding your fish to much access foods and their waste can build up and cause problems. You need a good filtration system plants and to maintain a better regime of feeding for your fish.

Answer 9

Ulitmately it is caused by overfeeding the fish.

Do more frequent water changes and feed the fish less!

Answer 10

could be a bacteria or algae bloom do small frequent water change and do not add any chemicals except dechloinator