Why is my fish tank so blurry?

Question

Is it just me, or is my tank cloudy as hell? I put new gravel in, rinsed it out, but maybe not enough? Help please??
Link to pic of it:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/BrownSigs/PICT0033.jpg

Answer 1

Its dirty..buy one of the gravel vacuums ..so u can pick up like the old food and fish poop...then check ur filter to see if it needs to be cleaned..also you might have to buy some algae destroyer...I had that same problem and half of my fish died because my water was really dirty..lol

Answer 2

Ok first off it's hard for me to tell what is causing the cloudy water. If this is a new tank then it could be that the filter just needs to run for a bit to get the PH levels under control. If this is an established tank then you could have too many fish in it.

So lets start with if this is a new tank.

Without knowing what size you have and what kind of filter I am kind of blind but here goes.

If there are no fish in this tank then you can break everything down and wash it down with vinegar. Vinegar will break down with time and won't harm any fish you put in the tank. Rinse the gravel well until the water runs clear and then put about a half cup of vinegar per gallon of water used to wash the gravel. The best way to do this is by putting the gravel in a large bucket like a 5 gallon, stick a hose in the bottom, pour the vinegar over the gravel and then turn on the hose. The water coming in from the bottom will rinse the gravel as the water level rises. Let it rinse out for about 15 minutes to get it clean then drain excess water off of the gravel.

Next you need to rinse the heater, filter, tubes, and any objects that are in the tank and the tank itself with vinegar and warm water. Once it has been washed and rinsed let everything dry to allow any excess vinegar to evaporate.

Then assemble the tank, gravel first, then water, then filter and heater. Turn on the filter and let run for 48 hours. The water should be fairly clear and the PH levels should normalize.

Now if this is a new tank then you need to start the culture in your tank for bacteria levels. Get some Danios, about 5 and dump them in. Danios are hardy fish and their poo will help start the beneficial bacterial ecosystem that you will need to keep a good viable tank. After 2 weeks you can add in more fish but make sure you keep the numbers down to a manageable number.

Remember 1 inch of fish per gallon. If you notice that the water is getting cloudy then you should not add any more fish and get a larger filter. Also do not over feed your fish. Overfeeding is the number one cause of cloudy water. Your fish will always act like they are starving but really they can go 2-3 days without food and be fine.

Another way to help keep your aquarium healthy is to plant the aquarium with live plants. This of course depends on what you are keeping. If you have goldfish your plants will end up eaten and shredded and your tank will be cloudy because goldfish exude a slime coating on everything.

Now if your tank is established and you have fish in it then you can drain the tank but do not rinse the gravel with vinegar. Drain the tank about halfway and remove the gravel. Rinse the gravel with normal water dechlorinated water. Then replace the gravel, add fresh water, and change your filter cartridge. Now this is going to make your aquarium look really bad for a day or so because there will be a lot of particles in the water but after a day or so the particles will settle and the filter will suck up the rest. Change your filter cartridge once the water has cleared up. If you notice it still being hazy then you may need a stronger filter, especially if you have too many fish in the tank.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Come on people! The cloudy water is a normal part of the nitrogen cycle of a new tank start-up. It will clear up on its own as the beneficial bacteria multiply to the proper levels to help in nitrifying the ammonia and nitrites. I can't believe some of the answers you are giving this poor guy.

Water changes every four days at a rate of 25-30% of the tank volume will keep the ammonia and nitrite levels at a manageable amount until the cycle is complete. In about two to three weeks, you can go to every 7 days. Never change 100% of the water, you will have to restart the nitrogen cycle from the beginning again!

Weekly partial water changes are the most important thing you can do to keep your fish and tank healthy and happy. A good filter and heater are important too....

Answer 4

This is a very important question, you washed all the gravel you said, did you also rinse the filter by any chance?

I am 89% sure I know what your problem is, just need that info.

Answer 5

I think you should use a sponge and put your hand into the tank rub it. Use distill water only not the tab water. Replace water every week, rinse and rinse many times.

Answer 6

Try adding a water conditioner which removes the chlorine from water. I did this and about 24 hours later my fish tank was not blurry anymore.

Answer 7

You probably did not rinse your gravel enough, do it again and make sure your water runs clear.

Answer 8

Perhaps you need to either take out about 1/2 the water and replace it OR try to use "Tank Clear". I get the same thing sometimes.

Answer 9

You need to wash the gravel and the inside of the glass and then rinse,rinse,rinse!

Answer 10

wash the tank itself. the glass. may be dirty. a old toothbrush is good to use.