Why is my aquarium water so dirty it is making me go mad !!!!!?

Question

no matter what i do try it is always cloudy the water is clean but it always has a haze i have a whisper 200 gph on a 10 gallon tank i remove un eater food my 30 gal is never like this the substrate is large because i use it to quarintine oscars please tell me what i am doing wrong do i need an U.G filter ???????????

Answer 1

Don't use chemicals to solve the problem because it doesn't solve it, it merely masks the problem for a little while so the fishkeeper can pretend everything is ok.

To solve the problem we really need more details. What type of fish are in the tank, how many, how big? Was the tank cycled first, and if not, how long has it been since you added the fish? Have you tested the water for ammonia and nitrites?

You shouldn't need an undergravel filter - they've become fairly unpopular for a number of reasons and plenty of fish keepers have clear tanks without them.

If the tank has just recently been set up, the bacterial bloom is normal. All the tank needs is time and you just need to maintain the tank normally (weekly water changes, regular vaccuming of gravel) and let it clear up on its own. To help speed up the cycle you might consider using a bit of filter media from your 30 gallon in the filter of the 10, that way you are introducing bacteria directly.

Otherwise, make sure you feed in small bits so that none lands on the gravel. With large gravel the bits of food will sink right in where fish or you will never find it and it will rot and cloud the tank, that's why I always go with the fine stuff. Also make sure you never completely clean out the filter - you need to maintain the bacteria at all times. Make sure the tank isn't overstocked with fish too.

Answer 2

Cloudy water is caused by a bacterial bloom! They are good bacteria that are trying to consume food particles or bad bacteria such as ammonia. That is what gives the appearance of milk being dripped in the tank. Do not break your tank down all of the way,only do a 30% water change and cut back on your feeding. Also do not burn your tank light for more than 12 hours a day.If you have Oscars in a 10 gal tank that's not good. They need a large tank 55 gal. or more. Follow my tips and I guarantee it will clear up. Your filter should work just fine, the other thing is do not wash out your filter cartridge! It will grow good Nitrafying bacteria on the grid and floss. Only replace it about every 8 weeks. If it gets real nasty you are still over feeding! Good luck!

Answer 3

I have two turtles and a algae eater in my 50 gallon tank. It stayed dirty no matter what I did or how many times I changed the filters. I took out all the rock in the tank and now the dirt has no where to go so it stays much cleaner with the filters having to work much less. But if you do have rock or gravel in your tank try the filters that sit in the bottom of the tank under the gravel. They work pretty well.

Answer 4

I agree with Ghapy and Grandma - most likely this is a bacterial bloom. Is the tank recently set up? With good filtration, proper maintenance, and time, the cloudiness will go away. Using chemicals won't solve the problem.

The only other causes for cloudiness would be an algal bloom (which would be green) or decaying/leaching organic matter (such as dead leaves on aquatic plants or driftwood) which would be more brown-yellow in color.

Answer 5

i had the same problem 2 weeks ago. i have a 10 gallon so i cleaned it in my bath tub, didnt use crystal clear, that made my tank bright red,. cleaned the rocks and ornaments and let the filter clean and make sure to clean the whole filter 2-4 weeks

Answer 6

try a product called crystal clear a few drop help the filter take out the fine particles clearing up the tank......... good luck

Answer 7

even if your fishes are not eating much, the aquarium will still be dirty because of the dirts that they are emitting in the water.