Cloudy Water

[FishSticks]

I have a 55 gallon aquarium and the water is turning a milky color I can usually fix any water problems by doing a couple water changes but this time everytime i change the water it gets cloudier and cloudier. What's going on? My tank has been running for almost 6 months and I've never had this problem before, what is it? and how can i fix it?

 

[bettaboi]

what kind of fish do you have and how many

 

[@ombomb]

Has the average temp of your tank risen recently? Could be a bacteria problem.

 

[gadazobe]

Cloudy water, especially after a water change is mostly a sign of bacteria bloom. Maybe you're a little too zealous with your cleaning.

 

[FishFreaks]

sounds like a mini cycle, basically a bacterial bloom

 

[FishSticks]

About the water temperature, I'm not quite sure but I do know that last week it was 80-90 degrees outside and this week it's been between 70-75 degrees, I dont think it had that much of an effect on my aquarium's temperature to cause this. I do a 25% water change every 5 days, that's not too much is it? I currently have:

• 3 Fire Red Dwarf Gouramis
• 3 Pearl Gouramis
• 4 Clown Loaches (2-3")
• 4 True SAE
• 1 Whiptail Catfish
• 1 Oto

So what can I do about this mini cycle, will it affect my fish or my tons of plants?

 

[rdd1952]

More than likely it is the bacteria bloom as everyone has suggested. I do want to give you one more scenerio that I went through though just in case. I experienced cloudy/greenish water on both of my tanks in the last 3 or 4 months. I have determined that the common thing in both of those was that I added rocks that had been glued together with aquarium safe silicone. I experienced a bad algae problem (from the silicates out of the silicone) and then as that started to ease I got the cloudy/green water. I don't know if you have experienced anything like that or not. If it is green water (single cell algae), a UV Sterilizer will get rid of it.

 

[love cichlids]

I had the same problem with my goldfish tank and I changed 25% of the water daily, it took awhile but it did eventually get clear again. That was when they were small and in the 20 gallon. Now I am having the green water problem in the 55 gallon tank, grrrrrrrr. No money for uv sterilizer but hopefully soon.

 

[Wiggler 1]

I had this problem 3 weeks ago from some plants I bought at store, water turned so cloudy overnite that i couldnt see 4inches into tank. I did a 25% water change then and the next two days a 15% water change using reverse osmosis water...problem gone.
if you have not tried this it might help

 

[OrkyBetta]

Just let it sit for a little bit. Like a few days, as long as it isn't harming the fish, gie it time then continue water changes. That is what I would do at least.

 

[sarah-j]

add a carbon floss to your filter, this will really help to clear the water up. i put in a new substrate after cleaning it but it still went cloudy, our carbon floss or the white floss really helps.

 

[tuna]

Who do you live with?
Have you notice any jealous looks from house mates?
If it's cloudy could it be they are unrinating in it?

Sounds like some kind of sabotage

 

[FishSticks]

You think someone in my family urinated in my aquarium? You obviously are a newbie. Thanks guys for all your help I think the new fluval 304 I'm getting next week will fix the problem with a little carbon and some filter floss in it.

 

[tuna]

Er how do you know that there not??? They could be, it's possible!
Gather them all round and tell them what you suspect and what for any tell tail reactions.
Should start becoming less cloudy after that.
Let us know how you get on!

 

[jackobean]

hi

i had this when i 1st bought my 2nd hand tank i did a few water changes but it still didnt go so i rinsed out the gravel a number of times this problen soon went

hope this helps but get a second opinion coz im not sure

see ya