Why is my new fish tank already cloudy?

Question

I just started a tropical fish tank (10 gal.) yesterday. I put 2 Platys in there and now the water is cloudy. I went to an aquarium store and the salesman there gave me the right filter, heater, ect. and I also put some gravel and a fish ornament in there and I rinsed all of these before I put them in. Plus I added a tablet to help balance the PH of the water. Yesterday the water was clear and looked fine and today it is getting cloudy. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

The cloudiness is basically because the tank is so new. That's good bacteria already building up in the water. Eventually the bacteria will grow in the gravel and in the filter and now in the water and the cloudiness will go away. Here's a link to a site that will help you understand what is going on in your tank and what to expect in the next few weeks. I wonder if the salesman told you about the cycle in the tank? If not you REALLY need to read this link for the safety of your fish!

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

Hope that helps and welcome to the hobby!

MM

ADDITION: Here's a link to the copyright protected toungeincheek illegally copied from:
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cloudywater.php

MM

Answer 2

Oh so many things, looks like many have been covered already. You may need a bottom feeder to help keep it clean. You need to know exactly what fish you currently have and the area of the tank. A good person that sales you fish will know how many and what kinds of bottom feeders you need.

However there is a light problem as well. If you have a light on all the time then it can cause the ick in the water to grow to fast, so you may need a good timer that will shut off the light for x hrs per day. Again talk to the person you bought your fish from, provided they know what they are doing and not just spoofing you.

I have also heard with a new tank you set it up and run it for a week then add one small cheap fish into it. That will inroduce things into the water, then you wait another 2 to 3 weeks to let it become stable again. Then you can introduce more.

Each time you add new ones you must wait for it to be stable again. You are inroduceing not only fish but what ever was in the tanks around them. So if one is sick you introduce that to all your fish at once. They may be able to fight it off or not depending on what it is. But if you start adding all kinds of chemicals and they are sick it can be to much for them.

Be careful to not over feed them as well.

Hope that little more helps.
Hugs Kim Lynn

Answer 3

A new tank must go through a process called the The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle before it is completely safe for fish. At the beginning of this process the water may cloud up. That is perfectly normal and is usually a sign that the process has begun. Of course, there could be a number of other reasons why your water clouded, but I wouldn't panic just yet. It should clear up on it's own very soon. For more info on the Nitrogen Cycle and setting up a fish tank go here: http://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm You'll be glad you did, believe me. This site is a LIFESAVER for new fish keepers.

Answer 4

Well, this is because your tank is new. YOur tank has to be cycled so it will clear up. Cycling is the process where bacteria changes ammonia and nitrite to a less harmful Nitrate. Ammonia and Nitrite are very harmful to the fish's gills. If you have fish in there, the ammonia and nitrite will spike but this would be okay. After maybe a month or two, the water should be all okay, Don't change any water while cycling.

Answer 5

in common terms feed your fish what it is going to consume interior of two minutes, something after that do away with from the tank. additionally get your self a try equipment and verify the levels of Ammonia, Nitrie, and Nitrate. New setups could desire to circulate with the aid of what's observed as the Nitrogen Cycle. in case you do not have a clue what meaning, seek it on the internet. A small tankthat does not have a filter out in it, is such as you employing your bath bath to urinate and so on. and not unplugging it afterwards. The water will become contaminated, in basic terms because of the fact the fish is doing now. i in my opinion propose procuring what's observed as risk-free start up from Tetra. It has the Nitrifying micro organism already in it, which will help with the polluted water, yet as I reported until eventually now, and not employing a filter out, you may desire to consistently do water changes to maintain your fish alive.

Answer 6

Hi,
oh dear how much time you feeding your fish?
it will be at leest two times a day.You having very lees fishes so put only two tea spoon full to them.water is becaming cloudy because of food.Fish ate as it want and rest of the food melt in the water and formed as cloud.

Answer 7

When you start a freshwater aquarium (and ESPECIALLY with saltwater aquariums) you need to let the habitat basically meet homeostasis before introducing fish. When you keep a fish tank, you are caring for the fish as well as everything else inside, i.e. plants.
You really do have to think of it as a little ecosystem.

Answer 8

Check again with the salesman if he gave you the right filter. Really, can't see other reason. You did it all well.

Answer 9

There are several factors that influence water clarity in an aquarium. Some of these are related to the age of the tank, others are related to the care and maintenance provided, and still others are related to outside influences. Many people have problems with water clarity in their aquariums at one time or another. Though there are chemicals available on the market to help clarify your aquarium water, these are really only going to hide a symptom that should be addressed by providing proper care to the tank to keep the water clear.

When you first set up your tank, your tank has to cycle so the biological elements of the filter are ready to handle the waste produced by the fish. Cloudy or milky water is common during this process, but it usually does not show up until fairly late in the cycle. If your tank has only had fish in it for a couple of weeks, or if it is new and has had a lot of fish in it for a few days, then this is the most likely cause of the cloudiness you are experiencing. Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of this cloudiness is to have patience. As the cycle runs its course, this cloudiness will clear up—usually your tank will go from cloudy to nearly crystal clear overnight—as soon as it is ready. During this time, remember to continue your regular water changes (about 10-15% twice a week while the tank cycles), and to be very careful about feeding your fish. Adding chemicals to try to clarify the water in a tank that is still cycling will often hamper the cycling process, and is unlikely to have much effect on the cloudiness.

If the tank is very new, and you don't yet have any fish (so the tank has not yet started to cycle), then a white or gray cloudiness is likely due to some piece of decoration or equipment not being thoroughly rinsed with cool running tap water prior to introducing it to the tank. If you have any equipment that was not thoroughly rinsed before you put it in the tank, then you have probably found your culprit. If this is the case, then the mechanical elements of your filter should remove the suspended debris that is causing the cloudiness. If the filter does not remove it, then it will be removed by your regular water changes. If all the equipment you used was thoroughly rinsed, then there may be something dissolving in the water.

It is possible that some item that is being used as a decoration in the aquarium is dissolving in the water or is otherwise not aquarium safe. This can produce any color of cloudiness, though gray or milky-white is most common. This object should be removed, and a large water change should be done. Check the tank for any decorations that were not sold as aquarium decorations from a reputable pet store. Be sure to thoroughly check any rocks that have been put in the water to see if any of them have changed shape like they are melting, or if any section of one has become soft or loose. If you find any soft spots or any change in shape, you should remove this item from the water. Also check for decorations that may have paint flaking off or other discoloration or damage. Additionally, unless the tank is saltwater, brackish water, or a Rift Lake environment for African Cichlids, you should remove any real coral skeletons or sea shells that are in the tank, as these can contribute to elevated pH and hardness. After removing a problem decoration from a tank, the cloudiness should go away with a few water changes and your regular filtration. Wooden decorations produce a perfectly safe form of cloudiness by releasing tannin into the water. These tannin will give the water a yellowish cast, somewhat like very weak tea. However, these are helpful in softening the water, lowering the pH, boosting many fishes' immune systems, and often improving the coloration of your fish.

If your tank has only been set up for hours (or sometimes even minutes) and you are seeing a grayish cloudiness, it is possible that this cloudiness is due to tiny bubbles of air suspended in the water. This cloudiness should dissipate over another few hours as these air bubbles dissolve into the water or rise to the surface. This type of cloudiness can also happen after large water changes.

Chemicals that have been added to the tank could react with other chemicals in the tank (or even something in your water) and create a variety of forms of cloudiness. This cloudiness can be prevented by minimizing the use of chemical additives in the tank. Also, testing with small amounts of chemicals in water containers may give you an idea of what could be reacting. In many cases, this cloudiness will be corrected quickly by the chemical elements of your filter, and, of course, by your regular water changes.

Insufficient water changes can be a cause of cloudiness, as assorted debris collects in the water or the remnants of fish waste and uneaten fish food begin to float through the water. Insufficient water changes can also lead to algae or bacteria blooms that will make the water appear cloudy. You should perform a weekly 10-15% water change in your aquarium, though you will need to increase the frequency of these water changes if the tank is still cycling. Oddly enough, excessive water changes can also cause cloudiness, as removing too much water from the tank will disturb the bacteria bed that is providing your biological filtration, and your tank may become cloudy for a few days as the biological filter reestablishes itself. Regular, frequent, small water changes will help to keep your aquarium clean, clean, and healthy.

Over feeding, can also cause cloudiness in tanks that have been set up longer. Remember to feed sparingly. Your fish's stomachs are usually smaller than their eyes, and they should be able to completely consume all the food they need in under two minutes.

Overpopulation can also be a a cause of cloudiness in an aquarium. Too many fish in a tank leads to stress, shortened lives, additional maintenance, algae growth, and cloudy water. Keeping your tank's population at or below 1" of fish per gallon of water for small community fresh water fish will keep this cloudiness under control.

If your tank is insufficiently filtered, or if your filter is not maintained properly, then the filter will not be able to efficiently process all the water in the tank, which, like insufficient water changes, can lead to cloudiness directly, or to algae or bacteria blooms that appear cloudy.

Answer 10

Give it a couple of days. It will filter out or settle. This is normal.