just set up 120g tank for cichilds, have cloudy tank, is this due to substrate or still settling, been 2 days?

Answer 1

Sounds more like a bacterial bloom.

If you have just started your aquarium, or recently changed the gravel, and are experiencing a grayish brownish discoloration of the aquarium water, don't panic. The gravel was probably still "dirty". The free-floating dirt particles should settle as well as get trapped in the external filtration fairly quickly.

A yellowish discoloration or brownish tint is typically attributed to organic matter. Activated carbon should absorb this and eliminate this yellow tint. There is much discussion on how to use activated carbon to its fullest efficiency.

White cloudiness is a result of a bacteria bloom.
Sometimes the cleaning of all filters at once, or the changing of the gravel can trigger a bacteria bloom, due to the removal of bacterial colonies that had settled on the filter media or substrate.

The bacteria are either re-establishing themselves, or are feasting on high nutrients.

In nutrient rich water they can multiply at such a high rate that the water becomes cloudy white.


Bacteria need oxygen. A few grams of bacteria consume about the same amount as an adult human, again posing a threat of de-oxygenation in the aquarium. Immediate action is required if the problem is severe, or persists.

Once again the focus should be on nutrient control. Eliminating excess nutrients will starve the unneeded bacteria colonies resulting in a clearing of the water. A UV-Filter may be somewhat effective, as it kills bacteria. Nevertheless, the problem of high nutrients will not be fixed this way. Therefore the nutrients have to be lowered through water changes.

It is also advisable to check on ammonia during the period of a bacteria bloom, as ammonia may rise to dangerous levels.

If your tank is green, this is an algae bloom which is different.

Answer 2

Once again, please tell us how many fish you have in your tank and how long have you had your tank im guessing any of the following.
1-you had a previous fish tank that you had fish in and you just moved all your fish in this new tank without cycling it(when the amonia in the tank is gone and you have beneficial nitrifing bacteria)
2-you are a new fish tank owner and are not experienced, you went to the fish store and listend to your petco or petsmart guy who told you SURE GO AHEAD BUY A BIG TANK AND A MILLION FISH ITLL BE OK I PROMISE. You stuffed your tank with big Cichlids like flower horn, red devil, oscar, electric blue, and other things. Whatever and now your tank does not have the filtration to coap with the amonia (by filteration i mean bacteria and your filter)
3-you went in your backyard and found rocks and other things around the house and put it in the tank, which might have chemicals and other things that dissolved in the tank and poisend your fish.
4-you are majorly overfeeding your fish and they are producing more amonia then your tank can currently handle.

Dont worry this is perfectly manageable and this is what i reccomend doing

Solution 1-move your fish to a mature tank if possible (give it to another freind or your fish store to hold for a week)
Solution 2-get rid of some of your fish permentantly.
Solution 3-buy a larger tank large enough for your fish.
Solution 4-buy the beneficial bacteria which is sold at every fish store but most of the time isnt fresh and doesnt help.

Answer 3

If you made sure you washed your gravel, have all the filters running and set it up properly, then it will still take at least a week for the chemicals to settle down. Do not add fish, especially cichlids, until you have don PH, ammonia and Nitrate (nitrite?) tests. Then add the fish slowly, only 1 or 2 at a time and wait a week or so between adding more fish.

Answer 4

if its a brand new tank, it could be your gravel. Even though you wash your gravel before you put it in your tank, some gravel is harder to rinse. Clean your tank again, this time it should clear up.

Answer 5

yes i have 100 gallon tank and it took 3 ish days before it cleared up, BEST OF LUCK.