Why did the water in my 55 gallon aquarium turn cloudy after a few days?

Question

I used a chemical a pets mart to get the water clear again. Now it is really, really clear...However, am I only masking the problem? Will it do this again soon?

Answer 1

Your thoughts on this are correct. The chemicals to clear a tank do only mask the real problem. If the tank has only been set up a few days, it's a normal part of cycling the tank and you shouldn't worry about the cloudiness, but instead consider the cause. The cloudiness would be due to bacterial build up in response to high ammonia. The ammonia will need to be lowered through water changes. I would suggest you get a test kit if you don't have one and change some water as needed to keep the ammonia in check until the bacteria develop enough to handle the problem. Once the cycle is complete the water will remain clear. Heres a link that explains what is going on in your tank and what you will need to do to handle it.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

Hope that helps and feel free to email me if you have any questions.

MM

Answer 2

Typically 55 gallon tanks take a few weeks to fully cycle. You can monitor your cycle by buying a water test kit or bringing it to the fish store for testing. Typically I recommend something called "Cycle". All it contains is natural bacteria that will convert the bad waste into "good" waste. Still, it may be a week or two before your tank is crystal clear. You can always add a UV sterilizer but I think it's overkill unless your tank stays extremely cloudy or green for a long period of time. My guess is that once it's cycled it will clear up nicely. Of course I don't recommend adding fish until the tank tests show it's cycled but some fish stores will send you home with a couple very cheap fish to help the cycling process. I DO NOT however recommend what a previous poster said about water changes. On a 55 gallon tank with adequate filtration you should not need to do a water change more than once a month at most and it should never be more than 20% or you will disturb the biological filter. Also bear in mind, I am assuming you have no fish. If you have fish in the tank already and are feeding them it could be overfeeding too. Drop feeding back to at most once a day (scoop out anything they dont eat in one minute) and bring your water to be tested.
Hope this helps! There is a great article on tank cycling here: http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/understanding-the-nitrogen-cycle.php

Answer 3

It will do it until the tank has cycled. Just change your water 25% twice a week and it will clear up within the month. I have a 55 gal tank and when I first started I have the same problem. Read other questions on this forum, they have the same problem. Tom

Answer 4

hi! even as starting up a tank that giant, you extremely might want to enable it set with the clear out operating for more advantageous or less 2 days. It provides the chemical compounds achieveable to do their element. Did you wash and boil your gravel?.. similar with the flowers? each and every thing that you install there must be washed and boiled first. it might want to be putting something on your water. eco-friendly algae isnt continually a nasty element. a placusamus is the perfect element for that. be careful now to not overstock your tank. Goldfish- and the different 'carp' fish are grimy grimy fish.. and they are going to extremely cut back to rubble your amonia degrees. i for my section have a smaller tank that i take advantage of for feeders and that i upload the fish as i want them. i desire I have helped! sturdy success!

Answer 5

Its a algae bloom! this means that the tank is cycling or you just did a water change, the chlorine in the water makes the water go cloudy. treat with water conditioner. =] works every time.

Answer 6

some spesies of fish clowds the water very soon.use a filter.and dnt use chemicals 2 clean the water.It very dangerous 4 the fish .
good luck dude

Answer 7

What type of fish are in your tank? How many? Do you have a filter? Have you used any medications lately? Do you have any plants in them? Real or fake? If real what kinds and how many?