New tank smells and is cloudy

[stuhall1973]

Could someone enlighten me on a problem i have.

I have been keeping coldwater fish for around five years on quite a succesful basis, but am now branching out into hot water as my coldwater fish have all but now died off after many years.

I have completely cleaned out my 30 gallon tank in cold water only, along with all the filter and artificial plants and rocks etc.

I have put everything back into the the clean tank, fitted an under gravel filter as well, and i am also using my Fluvel 4 filter pump, i have fitted a heater and set to 26 degrees and all looks well.

Now, i have read the beginners forum extensively and have decided to do the fishless recycle and i understand how to do this. The only problems i now have after 24 hours is the water is slightly cloudy (not clearing) and there is an odour coming from the tank.

Is this smell because all my plants and gravel have been used for years with cold water, or is there some other reason. Someone said the cloudiness may be down to my undergravel filter, they suggested not to use one as they cause cloudy water ?

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Look around, there have been several topics on the same problem.

 

[glolite]

Cloudy water is quite normal when you set up a warm tank (see members picturesThe Wolf made his new tank cloudy on purpose!!! ).
Are you adding ammonia as that causes a smell but slowly reduces as the tank cycles.

 

[WILDER]

Black carbon in your filter is meant to reduce the smell, but I've stopped using it now as with having 3 tanks it was becoming to expensive, but I have gotten used to the smell now and it smells like peat.