Can't get rid of Cloudy Water

[Pistol]

For about 2 months, I have had cloudy water. I have been doing water changes and 2-3 days later - cloudy again. This morning I checked Ammonia (0 PPM), PH (7), Nitrites (0 PPM), and Nitrates (0 PPM). I only have 4 fish in a 10 gal tank.

Also about 6 weeks ago I tried one of those clear water tablets - no good.

Anyone have an idea as to how I can keep my water clear? Or why this is happening?

Thanks so much, Pistol

[jm1212]

cloudy water can be a sign of quite a few things...

are you adding anything to alter the pH in any way?

are you sure your ammoina and nitrite readings are zero, espeically considering nitrates are also 0?

[Rbishop]

What kind of a test kit?

[Pistol]

jm1212,
I am not adding anything to alter PH.
Not sure if all the readings are correct, but that is what the test results showed this morning.
I'll check again later today or tomorrow.

rbishop,
PH test is Tetra
Nitrite, nitrate, & Ammonia - Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
All test kits are about 1 year old.

I add Aquasafe from Tetra each time I do a water change.

[Rbishop]

I would get a new API test kit...

[trashion]

Yeah, my liquid test kits began doing false readings after a while. I second the recommendation to get new ones.

[Dangerdoll]

I third the suggestion. Your readings sound off because your nitrates are showing no reading, that's usually the first sign something is amiss with a fully cycled tank.

As for clearing it, it'sx important not to add any clear all chems or anything that says it will clear the tank because it can have more adverse reactions with your water chemistry than anything else. Don't change the filter cartridges either. It sounds as your bacteria in the tank is trying to settle out somewhere and just needs the time to do so. The best you can do is have patience and wait for them to settle in and one day, seemingly out of no where, your tank will be crystal again. Just keep up with the water changes.

[Beowulff83]

Are you using something to remove chlorine/chloramin from your water? If not you could be killing off your bacteria then when the chlor leaves the system naturaly you could get a bacterial bloom which would cause cloudyness.

[DBL TAP]

Give your tank a chance to cycle. It sounds like Free floating bacteria.

What percentage of water are you changing? Too much will kill you bed.

Good luck

[grannylvsfish]

Give your tank a chance to cycle. It sounds like Free floating bacteria.

What percentage of water are you changing? Too much will kill you bed.

Good luck

really? I do 30% to 50 % and I was told water changes are always good and you can never do enough water changes.
( I do water 3 days a week.

[jm1212]

Give your tank a chance to cycle. It sounds like Free floating bacteria.

What percentage of water are you changing? Too much will kill you bed.

Good luck
you can do 100% water changes and every will be fine, as long as the gravel, decor and filter media remain wet.

[AfroCichlid]

What color is the cloudiness? Green, or just white cloudiness? It's possible to get an algae bloom if your tank is too brightly lit or near a window. That would be green cloudiness. Easily treated with an algae control product and by moving the tank out of the sunlight. If it is white cloudiness my guess would be bacteria due to cycling. At the very least you should bring a sample of your water to your LFS store and find out if your test kit is right. 0 Nitrate in a 10 gallon tank without plants sounds fishy to me.

[JEANNE01]

I have used Algone in my tank and it keeps the water crytal clear

[Pistol]

Thanks everyone for the tips. About 1-2 weeks after my original post (and me not doing anything) the water cleared up! Yeaaa

Now I have a different problem. My current filter is just the white fiber sack with charcoal inside. My old filter had the white fiber w/ charcoal and a blue sponge - with instructions to never rinse or change the blue sponge. for some reason I changed to the current system and that is when all my cloudy water problems started. I believe that the white filter has become part of the biological filter (correct?) and if I change it, I will have problems - correct?

My problem is that the filter is so clogged with stuff that it will not let all of the water that is brought into the filter through. Am I explaining that OK - some of the water is coming into the filter and overflowing back into the tank. I'm afraid to change the filter, but I don't know what to do!

Thanks

[Gouramigirl71]

Rinse the old cartrige in old tank water to clear it out, then just put it back in the filter. I have a filter like that too, so I cut a piece of sponge and put it in the filter with the cartrige, so that when I have to change it, I still have most of my bacteria colony in there.

[nderouch]

Rinse the filter in water from your aquarium.

[Joergen.Schoppe]

to repeat, rinse the filter in aquarium water, leaves the bacteria, but removes excess dirt, excess dirt that is transformed into algae food, to explain it in a simple way.
additionally feed less for half a month or so