Cloudy water and a dead cory cat

[Lorazoo]

The past couple of das my water has become very cloudy with small debris from my tank. i did a 50% water change and cleaned the filter (which after I was told to do it i was told by someone else to leave it alone if the flow isnt interrupted), but no change.

Yesterday I had a Cory cat with a fungal/bacterial growth on his fin. i removed in and am treating in a Q tank.

Today I found a dead Cory cat :( . I have been closely watching all of the rest, but hadn't seen anything wrong until i saw him dead in the tank.

It's a 120 gallon with about 20 fish right now-cory's, sae's, a few gourami, a cherry barb and some cherry shrimp. It's been running for 5 weeks with plants and about a week with fish added. No Ammonia, Nitrite, low Nitrates (I fertilize) and pH at 6.9-7.0, kH at 6.

I am not sure what to do about the water, other than daily 25% water changes. Any ideas? Help needed.

[John N.]

Cloudy water sounds like the start of either a bactera bloom or green water. Cleaning the filter might have killed all your bacteria, and hence the white bacteria bloom. Continue doing 25% daily water changes. If you can get some old bacteria media and stick it in your filter to jump start the system.

-John N.