New tank cloudy water?

R

raggierags

AC Members
Jul 27, 2009
11
0
0
37
i just set up a new tank 30 gallon cube the water just got white cloudy? is this normal or is there something i dont know about?

lighting:
184 watts of cfl's all at 65k bright white

there is drift wood and also some plants in the tank
 
It is completely normal. No need to worry. The cloudiness will dissipate on its own. If it helps, here's my own experience with cloudiness in my new tank. There are products you can buy which will clear water in established tanks, but these products do not work on new tanks, so just have patience.
 
is the cloud from substrate..?

If so rinsing or just waiting for the particles to settle would work. If it might be something else a little carbon in the filter for a few days helps to improve water clarity, just don't leave it in for long periods of time.
 
raggierags said:
should i do a water change? and the blog u wrote was very helpful thank you
Click to expand...
You're very welcome. Glad to be of help.
If you're doing a fishless cycle then there's no need to do a water change.
If you've got fish in the tank and you're worried that the cloudiness is harmful to them, don't worry, it isn't. The only reason to do a water change would be to dilute excessive ammonia or nitrite to keep your fish healthy.
 
Yes, plants consume nitrates. But if there are not enough plants to consume the nitrate as fast as it is produced, then you'll need to do a water change to remove the excess nitrate from the tank. Opinions vary as to how much nitrate is too much, and when to do a water change, but a common rule of thumb is to keep nitrates below 40ppm.
If the tank is new, then you shouldn't have any detectable nitrate levels in the tank.
 
At 6watts per gallon you'll be able to watch the algae grow unless you're supplementing with pressurised carbon dioxide... and ferts- and have plants to consume them!


Is that really 180+ watts or are you stating watt equivalencies?



Anyhow, no matter how well you washed the substrate- depending on what substrate you chose- the cloudiness could be from it... smaller the particles in your substrate the tougher it is to wash.

If it is particles from the substrate- tying a quality paper towel around the filter intake will do wonders... replace it as it gets clogged and within a day or two it will clear up.

It could also very likely be a bacterial bloom- if so, it'll go away with time and it's all part of starting a cycle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom