How come my 45 gallon long fish tank keeps getting so cloudy?

Question

I have had it set up over 3 months, the levels are all at their proper level, the filter is new everything looks good but the water.

ANd make sure never to over feed them. After I feed them there is never any food on the bottom due to my very helpful dojo loaches.

Answer 1

You don't mention anywhere the color of the cloudiness. If brown/yellow, it could be from leaching driftwood or dying plant leaves. If green, it could be a minor algae bloom. If white, this could be dust or bacteria.

At three months, you should be past the cycling stage, but not necessarily - your tank maintenance could prolong the actual time needed.

Water changes should be limited to 25% on a weekly basis unless water tests indicate otherwise (levels should be ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, nitrate <40, although even lower is preferable). If you vacuum the gravel, siphon the top and front of the tank well, but rotate other areas so all bacteria aren't removed at once. Also, if your filter contains more than one media pad, don't change all media at the same time.

See the website below for more information on causes and remedies for cloudy water: http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm

Answer 2

Sounds like a bacterial bloom.

There are a number of problems leading to your tank being cloudy and smelly.

All too often too many new fish owners make the same common mistakes. Did you wash your tank out properly prior to installing? Did you wash your gravel thru a strainer (and I don't mean just rinse it off)? These are the two leading cause for cloudy water.

Your tank is not cycled properly. See web page.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biologicalcycle/a/nitrogencycle.htm


Your biggest issue now isn't the cloudy water; it's the ammonia spike that will soon occur (if it hasn't already), followed by elevated nitrites. Both could result in the loss of some or all of your fish. I'd strongly recommend that you become familiar with the Nitrogen cycle, so you are aware of what will be happening in the upcoming weeks.
You should begin testing your water right away for ammonia and take appropriate steps to keep it below lethal levels. Hang in there; once you get your tank through the initial cycle the cloudy water problem will clear up
Do you or are you using a gravel siphon to clean the bottom when doing water changes? (Sorry forgot it is only 7 days old) Did you rinse out your filter and pads prior to installing them?

If you did not rinse the gravel well enough you can do one of two things, stir up the gravel in the tank really well. This will cause all the "dirt" particles to float in your tank. Keep the filter running and do a 20% water change. As long as your water "quality" is fine, do this every other day until the water is clear. Each time, be sure to rinse your filter out as well.
Adding an air your bubble want does nothing for the fish or the water. Dissolved O2 comes from the water moving across air.

Also, it is always best to find out what is going on in the tank and not to add chemicals.

Answer 3

There are a few things that may be wrong with your tank. Without any more info than what you stated I can not be 100% sure as to what is causing the water to be cloudy.

I would sugest to go to walmart or a local fish store and get some stuff called TetraAqua Water clarifier. It will help with the cloudiness of your water.

In the meantime try to find out what is the root cause of the problem so you can fix it and not have to use chemicals all the time.

It is allright to use chemicals in an emergency situation.

There are also tablets that you just drop down in the tank and they disolve that you can also buy. Both the products that i mentioned are cheap and reliable.

Answer 4

this is various issues. because of the fact this is a reasonably new tank, my first theory could be that it is the hot gravel. it could take in to six months for the cloudiness to sparkling with a sparkling tank, using new gravel. After 4-6 syphonings, it is going to sparkling.. yet, if no longer,is your tank close to a window? it might desire to be algae enhance, using image voltaic. If the sunlight frequently shines on your tank, this would take place. the suitable answer then, is to bypass the tank, that's a discomfort, yet could be your basically answer. additionally, blending tropical fish and goldfish, would additionally be the priority. Goldfish on my own are VERY messy. if fact be told, they produce 5 situations as plenty waste as tropical fish. blending the two varieties does reason a rigidity point nonetheless. Fish additionally produce extra waste while in annoying situations, and your ammonia and nitrate ranges could be severe. you ought to purchase drops to put in your water to decrease that. final, yet no longer least, while you're overfeeding, it might desire to reason your water to be cloudy. enormously while you're making use of frozen meals or stay nutrition. yet inspite of the dry nutrition, in case you notice plenty sink to the backside, decrease your feeding. Your fish could basically take a minute to consume, and maximum experts will feed smaller quantities, extra frequently, as much as ten situations an afternoon!! So please attempt to avert that. in case you notice flakes, or any nutrition, landing on the backside, likely you're overfeeding. wish i substitute into efficient!!

Answer 5

Do you have live plants in your tank? Dead plants will cause a tank to cloud. Is sunlight directly shining on your tank? This can change your waters chemicals and cause algae. How many filters do you have? For my 46 gallon bow Front I have 2 filters.

Answer 6

Sounds like you may be either over feeding or the type of food may be clouding the water.

Answer 7

I would just buy the chemical to make water clear. If your water is good don't worry about it.