Extremely Cloudy Water

[kristynkarma]

I recently tested the water in my 10g tank and discovered I had really low carbonate hardness, which could cause pH fluctuation, so I went out and bought API Proper pH. After I did a water change a couple days ago, I added the Proper pH powder and for a few hours after that my water looked fine but then it started getting really cloudy, and I mean really cloudy. I could hardly see the back of my tank. I added some water clarifier and that didn't help at all. The instructions said that a second dose could be administered after 24hrs of the first dose, so I did that last night and it didn't help either.
What should I do? I'm nervous that a water change so soon after the last one could harm my fish, especially the fry since they're only about a week and a half old. Should I just wait for a few more days and see if it clears up and do a water change then if it hasn't? Any thoughts, opinions, and advice are welcome!

 

[techen]

I recently tested the water in my 10g tank and discovered I had really low carbonate hardness, which could cause pH fluctuation, so I went out and bought API Proper pH. After I did a water change a couple days ago, I added the Proper pH powder and for a few hours after that my water looked fine but then it started getting really cloudy, and I mean really cloudy. I could hardly see the back of my tank. I added some water clarifier and that didn't help at all. The instructions said that a second dose could be administered after 24hrs of the first dose, so I did that last night and it didn't help either.
What should I do? I'm nervous that a water change so soon after the last one could harm my fish, especially the fry since they're only about a week and a half old. Should I just wait for a few more days and see if it clears up and do a water change then if it hasn't? Any thoughts, opinions, and advice are welcome!

Did you add the right amount of API PH into the water?

 

[kristynkarma]

Yes, I bought the packets and the instructions said 1 packet per 10 gallons of water.

 

[CezzaXV]

I really, really wouldnt mess with the pH of your water. It causes way more problems than it solves. My tap water is ridiculously soft, as in couldn't be much softer. My fish are fine and always have been. A low carbonate hardness means that your water will more easily succumb pH changes, but pH changes don't just happen on their own; something causes them. In my experience there is very little that can cause a substantial pH change in a normally running aquarium.

I'd do a very small water change every day to try and reset what the API stuff has done to your water. Generally too many water changes is never a problem (it's too few that causes problems), but if the pH of your water has changed drastically then you need to do it slowly or risk shocking your fish.