Water Is Cloudy

Crossfire · Sep 3, 2011

I'm still cycling my 20 gallon tank and for some reason its been really cloudy. I did water changes like usual, but the water isnt clear at all. Also it has like little fine particles floating on the top. Can't really tell what they, they might be fine bubbles from the filter expelling water or it might be unsettled sand. Could it be a bacteria bloom? It's been cloudy for days now, any explanation or solution? Thank you :good:

GreenA · Sep 3, 2011

hi!

I had the same problem during the first week of cycling....sounds like bacterial bloom to me. My water was cloudy for about 4 days. I did regular water changes, too, and after a while it just cleared up. I think it is a common thing. Is your tank near direct sunlight? that can make it worse.
hope this helps.

Crossfire · Sep 3, 2011

Ooof...it is sort of in direct sunlight, but not completely. I mean, its in the vicinity of a huge window, but its not directly in front of the window. Will it go away after a while?

BigbruiserAl · Sep 3, 2011

Took mine over 7 days to go but it will go

GreenA · Sep 3, 2011

it usually will go...however, I'd move the tank if at all possible as sunlight can be a reason for your algae bloom. if you can't move it I would suggest to create some sort of shade. but I would't worry atm it'll just take a couple of days. just keep up your water changes. do you currently have fish in at all? or plants?

Crossfire · Sep 3, 2011

Its not exactly direct sunlight, because my house never gets direct sunlight anyway and its pretty far from the window. I only have a few plants in there, red ludwigia, water wisteria, and an alage ball. They've just been added after my nitrites spiked. I'm planning on adding tiger lotus and dwarf baby tears next week.

GreenA · Sep 4, 2011

Nice options for plants. They are beautiful. If your tank is not in direct light then that is fine. Hope it clears up soon

Rickzayne · Sep 4, 2011

you shouldn't put plants in with a fishless cycle as they give false readings.

But its a bacterial bloom can last 3days+

Crossfire · Sep 4, 2011

Rickzayne said:
you shouldn't put plants in with a fishless cycle as they give false readings.

Yeah I know, I wasn't the one who put them in. Even though I explained many times to my father that plants in a tank during fishless cycling isnt good he went ahead and bought some and put them in because he was "tired at looking at an empty tank". -_-