Water or Algae?

Question

Why does my water look cloudy and when I started gravel vaccuming.

My water was brown what is going on.

Had my tank for about 2-3 weeks so far.

When will it stop?

Answer 1

It sounds like you disloged alot of waste that was trapped underneath the gravel. I do my cleaning on weekends, every weekend, and even after giving it a good clean out, in seven days, thats still alot of waste that's going to build up. Algea, if it's brown algea will accumulate on your decorations and plants and many different spots on the tank, mostly where the lighting hits. If it was from waste or excess food, any water currents or movements in the water would be able to move it off. If it sticks, then most likely it's brown algea. You can help reduce algea fuels by cutting down your lighting to about 8 hours a day, and doing your maintenence at least weekly if not more until you keep the nitrates in the tank well under 40 ppm. Nitrates are a fuel source for algea if algea is your problem. I think that you hadn't done any water changes or cleaning since you got your tank, so it's really messy right now since you did your water change and cleaning.

JV

Answer 2

The water is cloudy because you stirred up all the crap in the gravel. Did you rinse the gravel before adding it to your tank? The brown is probably a bacterial bloom, just let it go and don't add new fish. Once everything gets cleared up, do whatever you want. Don't stop gravel vacuuming though, make sure you keep the vacuum in the same spot for a couple seconds until no more debris is going to it. (Vacuum weekly).

Nosoop4u

Answer 3

If the water itself was brown, not just something that was stirred up, it's probably from a buldup of organic material in the tank. This could be from wastes accumulating in the substrate, dying plant leaves, or tannins leached from driftwood. You're the only one who would be able to tell for certain if it was one of these.

If the water only became brown when you started vacuuming, you might have the same problem of organic material accumulating below the gravel (and you stir it up as your clean), or if you use plants as fertilize with pellets that are placed by the plant roots, you might be seeing a rust color from iron in the tablets that's leaching. This could also happen if you use well water and have a high iron content in the water.

When it will stop will depend on the cause - if it's waste or dead plant material, it will be less noticeable if you vacuum more frequently, remove dying leaves, and are careful not to overfeed your fish. If it's the plant pellets, only use about 1/4 of a pellet/tablet so it's used up more quickly. If it's driftwood, it can continue to leach for several months.

It might help if you give more details about what's in your tank.

Answer 4

The water is probibly going cloudy because you are interupting the gravel and all the g/junk /poop thats in the gravel, And the water going brown doesnt sound like algae, Alage grows on the glas,gravel, deco and most things in your tank,

Answer 5

The water is probibly going cloudy because you are interupting the gravel and all the g/junk /poop thats in the gravel, And the water going brown doesnt sound like algae, Alage grows on the glas,gravel, deco and most things in your tank,. hopes that helps!!!:)

Answer 6

You're stirring up all the debris and waste in the gravel. don't worry about it. Do a water change and it should be fine.

Answer 7

Could be a dead fish? Maybe you need a new sponge in your filter? Maybe it needs to be cleaned Lift up all decore..... to see if there is anything dead!! My mollies need more frequent water changes...Mollies are messier then guppies.

Algae wouldnt do that....decomposed matter will.....test your water and see if the nitrates, ph and ammonia are fine