Cloudy Water

[Jonj1611]

Hi,
 
I have a question, I did a 25% water change today, used dechlorinated water but virtually as soon as the water change was done the water in the tank was a bit cloudy.
 
I say a bit as it really isn't a lot but its definitely not crystal clear like it was, I checked the readings and ammonia is at 0.2 but nitrites have gone from 0 to 0.1, is this normal or ?

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Sounds like a bacterial bloom.
How long has the tank been set up for?

 

[Jonj1611]

Sorry never saw your reply, about 14 days I guess.
 
I bought the tank second hand and the tank including filters were used right up to the moment I got it, it had been in use for about 2 years prior to me getting it.

 

[the_lock_man]

Shouldn't be a bacterial bloom then, if it's effectively 2 years old.
 
Do you live in an area with chalky water? I see more chalky bits in my tapwater during the summer for some reason, and I wondered if that was what was making your water less clear than usual. Not that I've ever noticed it in my tanks, particularly.

 

[Jonj1611]

No not any chalk in the water where I am, I mean its not bad its just not crystal clear like it was, I have done a 50% water change, added safestart and added polyster pads to the filters. I also gave the gravel a really good clean. However I have noticed that even though I have cleaned the filters recently I seem to be getting a lot of debris in the tank, like what you get when you are cleaning the gravel with a pump.
 
The problem first started yesterday when I on the advice of the aquarium shop used ammolock, after that the water went cloudy but could just be coincidence.

 

[Jonj1611]

Water seems a bit clearer now

 

[the_lock_man]

Did you wash the polyester pads before they went in? If not, that'll probably be it.

 

[Jonj1611]

Errr no I didn't

 

[the_lock_man]

Yeah that's probably it, just a little bit of dust. I once killed all-bar an entire 34l tank that way, there was so much dust on the filter sponge I'd put in. The only fish that survived was the Siamese Fighter.

 

[Jonj1611]

I will definitely remember that for the future! 
 
The water is crystal clear this morning, will do water tests in a bit but hopefully get there, what a learning curve this has been!