Changed Filter Cartridge then Tank looks Cloudy

[Hungriee]

I usually do weekly 20% water changes to my 20g Long Planted Tank. Since I haven't really cleaned up my filters in awhile I decided to clean up the filters by rinsing the cartridges in a 5g bucket of water taken from the tank. The Penguin Filter cartrigdes were so dirty the bucket turned brown. :eek3: Good thing I swished it around a few more times. Then I did the same to the other Penguin 100 Filter cartridge. After a while I've decided to actually change one of the cartridges since I've never changed one and the cartridge still had a thick layer of brown slime that I couldn't remove. So I added prime to the new water and added it to the tank and got the filters running again with one of the filters with a new cartridge. It is now about 3 hours since I've done the WC and my tank looks a bit cloudy. I did a Water Test to see if im going through a mini cycle - looks negative to me since the API Liquid Test yielded 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 10 nitrates, and a pH of 6.5. All the fish looked normal to me, rummies continue to swim with a bright red nose. The cories are active and so are my rams.

However, during the water change my vacuum accidentally sucked in my curious GBR. For 1 min I dindt notice then quickly poured him out to my bucket and netted him back to the tank. He hid in his hideout right away but then when feeding time came along - he ate and continued his warfare against his arch rival, Bolivian Ram. Back to the topic, I'm not really sure why my water is little cloudy, could it b/c my two penguin filters aren't strong enough? I was thinking I dont have enough bacteria, but my biowheels ( one is spinning normal speed, the other is quite slow - both are pretty brownish tan ) - So i dont think bacteria is an issue.

Please help.

 

[BrkD]

its best to never remove filter media unless its not capable of doing its job anymore. most of the bacteria colonies are located in the cartridges and its been replaced. test the water frequently to make sure you wont go through a mini cycle. the cloudiness may be free floating bacteria so dont do water changes if the water parameters are fine.

 

[AfroCichlid]

Do the cartridges contain carbon? If so it's likely that it wasn't rinsed enough prior to adding it to the tank, or it's simply a bad batch of carbon. I have had this happen to me, and I don't bother with the carbon anymore in my HOB filters, opting for the cheaper and just as effective filter pads.

 

[msjinkzd]

If so it's likely that it wasn't rinsed enough prior to adding it to the tank,

This is what I was thinking as well. The premade filter cartridges need to be rinsed pretty thoroughly to remove the carbon dust before putting them in the filter.

 

[Hungriee]

Yup the filter cartridges do contain Carbon and is wrapped with blue poly fiber. I probably didn't rinse it enough. I did only rinse it under tap for about 5 mins then stuck it in. Is there anything I can do for now should I take it out to rinse it or just leave it and hope it clears up?

 

[Reddog80p]

Should be fine in the morning. My tanks always cloudy after stirring my sand during a water change. In the morning its always nice and clear.