Slightly Merky Water

[Lawrence1584]

I have had my tank for just under a year now and the water has generally been crystal clear. Just recently it's become slightly merky. I clean the filter regularly, water changes, haven't really added many more fish. The filter media still seems fine too. Any help would be greatly appreciated, many thanks

 

[Harlequins]

Whats your readings for ammonia & nitrite?

Size of tank and stocking?

 

[This Old Spouse]

How do you clean the filter? Murky water can be a bacterial bloom or several other things. One thing you might try is not feeding the fish for a couple of days. It will do them no harm.

 

[Lawrence1584]

I empty some water out of the tank, then clean the filter and filter media in that. 4ft tank 240 litres, 2x small gold Severum 2x small uaru cichlids, 2x fire mouth. 4x rainbows, 3x small clown loach, 1x small black ghost knife, was just thinking that one thing I hardly ever do is gravel clean......... Could that be an issue?

 

[Fishy friend2]

it might be because of ammonia, the fish you have are unsuitable for that tank like the black ghost knife and the clown loaches.

 

[Lawrence1584]

How can I bring the ammonia down? I realised the clown loaches etc will grow other time. Atm they are all relatively small so for now didn't think it would be an issue until I upgrade my tank at a later time. Water has been slightly merky for a couple of weeks, but as stated before haven't cleaned my ravel for probably going on 6 months.

 

[KISSfn]

Clean your gravel thoroughly and do a large water change to bring your ammonia down.

 

[This Old Spouse]

And then do a 50% water change and thorough gravel vac every week.