Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Conditioner...turns water cloudy

webcricket

(So chill.) No wonder it's freezing
Mar 22, 2006
1,481
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Syracuse, NY
Cloudy water after water change?

I have recently switched from using Stress Coat as my water conditioner (the bottle ran out) to using AP's regular Tap Water Conditioner (expiration date is fine). I notice that after I change the water, no matter what the amount, and add water treated with the conditioner, that my water will start to cloud up after 10 to 15 minutes - it doesn't cloud right away so it isn't particles stirred up from the gravel vac. This cloudiness goes away after several hours. This only happens in my 20 gallon which has been up and running several years as opposed to the 10 gallon which is less than 6 months old.

Today's numbers on the 20 gallon using AP's drip test:
Pre-Change -
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
pH 7.6
Water Temp 74

Post Change -
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate <5
pH 7.6
Water Temp 72

The fish do not seem stressed at all, and have shown no ill effects after using this product for several weeks now. The cloud is whitish and appears to be more of a haze (rather than bubbles which could be explained by slightly cooler tap water being added). Any idea as to what might be causing this?

Please don't just tell me to use Prime or some other product (I was planning to make that switch when buying my next bottle of conditioner), I'd really like to figure out what is causing my problem with this particular product first.

Edited to add: I do weekly water changes at the bare minimum - I often change twice a week anywhere between 30-50% of the water. I just tested the ammonia again after an hour past - still 0.

Edited yet again: Is it possible this could be superfine bubbles I just cannot see? Nothing is collecting on the plants or substrate that I can see like bubbles normally do. I'm thinking about it, and around the time I made the switch to the new product I started lowering the tank temperature down to the 74 it is at now. Previously I'd kept the tank at 78, but after reading that most of my fish would prefer it cooler, I went about slowly turning the heater down. My 10 gallon is still at 76 as it's a bit harder to regulate it any lower with the heater I have. Perhaps it does have to do with the water temperature after all. I may try upping the temperature back to 76 over the course of this week and see how my next water change goes.
 
Last edited:
webcricket said:
I have recently switched from using Stress Coat as my water conditioner (the bottle ran out) to using AP's regular Tap Water Conditioner (expiration date is fine). I notice that after I change the water, no matter what the amount, and add water treated with the conditioner, that my water will start to cloud up after 10 to 15 minutes - it doesn't cloud right away so it isn't particles stirred up from the gravel vac. This cloudiness goes away after several hours. This only happens in my 20 gallon which has been up and running several years as opposed to the 10 gallon which is less than 6 months old.

Today's numbers on the 20 gallon using AP's drip test:
Pre-Change -
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
pH 7.6
Water Temp 74

Post Change -
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate <5
pH 7.6
Water Temp 72

The fish do not seem stressed at all, and have shown no ill effects after using this product for several weeks now. The cloud is whitish and appears to be more of a haze (rather than bubbles which could be explained by slightly cooler tap water being added). Any idea as to what might be causing this?

Please don't just tell me to use Prime or some other product (I was planning to make that switch when buying my next bottle of conditioner), I'd really like to figure out what is causing my problem with this particular product first.

I do not think it was the product that caused your water to cloud. It just doesnt make sense. the Main ingredient for most of these is .Sodium thiosulfate. This mainly to remove the Chorine.

If you have any questions, I recommend calling the company and talking to them. You might be able to have them answer your questions or concerns. Remember to call, instead of sending an email. Always speak to a person, for a better response. You might get some free stuff out This.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern Time (Monday through Friday)

Product/Technical Support: (800) 847-0659

Mailing Address:
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PO Box 218
Chalfont, PA 18914-0218
Main Office: (215) 822-8181
Contact us via email or by using our Helpdesk.



I hope this helps.
 
Thank you for that! I didn't even think to look for a number to call the company. It's too late today, but I will try tomorrow.

I just find it odd - I never had this issue with Stress Coat, then bam, switch to a new product with the uneeded "extras" and I run into this cloud situation the first time I use it.
 
Four hours later and the tank is clear. :confused:

I've been doing some reading - would a bacterial bloom clear up that quickly? The only other theory I can come up with is that maybe there is some new nutrient in my tap water that the bacteria go crazy for, but that they use it up quickly.

It still doesn't explain fully the 10 gallon not having an issue - the only variables differing between the tanks are age and temperature.
 
I thought you said ammonia was 0?

Does bacterial bloom also get rid of other pollutants? I thought it was only good for ammonia.
 
Ammonia is definitely 0, I've tested every half hour. I know cloudiness can be caused by ammonia (usually a new/young tank problem), but I read that a bacterial bloom feeding on excess nutrients will also cause a white cloud. From those snippets I read, it looked as though if I actually was experiencing a bacterial bloom, I should have seen my ammonia spike as well - which did not happen.

I just have no experience in these matters. Aside from an ich outbreak 3 years ago when I added some new fish, my tank has pretty much had no major issues...which is why this is bugging me!
 
I use ap brand water conditioner, dont have any problems with it... You're sure it isnt related to the gravel vac-ing? no real suggestions for you though....sorry!
 
I did another water change today after slowly raising the 20 gallon temperature back up to 76. Voila - no more white cloud!

I guess the lowered temperature was just cool enough to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the water and create micro bubbles. It's amazing the difference just a couple of degrees makes.
 
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