My fish tank water is cloudy. What can I do to make it more clear?

Question

I'm a fish tank newbie. I bought a 29 gallon tank. I bought a Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel 150 filter system. I filled the tank with water and used the directed amount of conditioner. I put two Tetra's, four guppy's, and one bottom feeder in the tank (the water started getting cloudy three days after I added the fish to the tank). I have had the tank for 3 weeks and have already done one 30/70 water change. Fish are doing great! However, the water is cloudy despite my filter. I also have an air pump creating bubbles from the chimney of an ornament that looks like a house and I bought a cover with a light. With all of this, how can I clear up the water? It's not unbearable, but just annoying.

Answer 1

You're new tank is about 1/2 way through it's cycle. The cloudiness is most likely bacteria blooming in your tank. At 3 weeks, the bacteria blooming is that which converts nitrite into nitrates. Here's a link that will explain what's going on:http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html

The cloudiness is actually a good sign. It means your beneficial bacteria is colonizing. Keep up with your water changes. The cloudiness will go away as your tank completes its cycle. If you haven't already done so, purchase ammonia, nitrite and nitrate testing kits. The liquid types are most accurate. By this time, your ammonia should be close to 0ppm. Your nitrites are "spiking" now, and in about 2 - 3 more weeks your nitrites and ammonia should be 0ppm. When your nitrAtes are at least 20ppm, your tank has cycled. It's very important to test your water chemistry and continue with your partial water changes to dilute the toxicity produced by the cycling process.

Also, to ensure you don't develop algae, make sure your tank isn't getting too much light. Hopefully, your tank isn't near a window where it'll get direct light. Your tank light shouldn't be on more than 4-6 hours per day.

Hope this helps & good luck

Answer 2

Do not try to use bacteria in a bottle. It will just delay the establishment of the real bacteria you need and your ammonia spike is more likely to come when you have more fish because you thought it was done. New tanks are often a little coudy, so wait it out for a bit. It's good that you don't have too many fish in there. It's always best to start with just a few, though you might have some that shouldn't be used to cycle a new tank. Also, you should have a larger filter, one that is rated for at least 45 gallons, 60 would be better. You need to test the water daily for ammonia and nitrites as they may appear in any new tank, even one with a small population. Your cycle is not complete until your ammonia and nitrite readings are both 0. Your "bottom feeder" may be contributing to the problem, depending on what it really is as some of them are quite messy fish. It is also likely to die during the cycle if you get a strong ammonia spike, as are the tetras, depending on what type they are. Doing regular water changes is a good idea and should be all your need for now unless you have a friend who has an established tank. If you can get some old filter media, plants, substrate, etc. from an established tank it will seed your tank with bacteria and you will have less of a cycle and possibly none at all. Here is a good site for information on cycling: http://www.firsttankguide.net:80/cycle.php

Answer 3

Well are you sure that your water is cloudy? Sometimes aquariums lights can make your water look cloudy and algae on the sides and front of the tank can only exasperate the problem. Try cleaning the tank with an algae pad. Also take a glass and scoop up a bit of water and hold it up to a light or the sun. If you see particles clouding up the water you probably need another filter or you need a filter media change.

Answer 4

You should have cycled your tank for 5-6 weeks before you added all those fish. For now, you can do a 30% water change and continue to do 20% water changes every week. Don't overfeed them as this will cloud your water. You can go to petsmart and purchas beneficial bacteria in a bottle.

Answer 5

You may need a new filter. There are alot of replacement filters for water, drinking, irrigation, constant hot, pools....and even fish tanks located in the source below.

www.freshwatersystems.com

Answer 6

Did you put some aquarium gravel?

You have a fish tank with a very small population, nitrates cannot cause this problem. I had a 10-gallons overpopulated fish tank but I didn't experience any problems like yours.

Answer 7

I would remove and replace about 10 gallons of water now, and do it again in 3-4-5 days.

Answer 8

Are you overfeeding them? That was my problem. I did a 25% water change every other day and it cleared in about a week.

Answer 9

add bioenzyme this will speed up the break in cycle and within a week or 2 your tank should be clearer..

they also sell Accu-Clear which is supposed to clear cloudy water..