is cloudy water normal for new tanks?

belmont0182

AC Members
Nov 18, 2003
259
0
0
Visit site
the subject says it all...i want to know if it is just a phase that all new tanks go through. i am experiencing this with my 5 gallon...
 
Depends on your water. How long has it been up and running? It should clear with time. What are the parameters and is it cycling? Have you added anything to the water?
 
i had the tank cycled, then i added 5 red minor tetras, i have been treating it with stress zyme, before the fish the water was perfect, clear as can be...i checked the filter cartridge and it wasnt even that dirty
 
Keep up on your water changes and it should clear up pretty quick...i had the same problem with my 10 gallon and within a week it was crystal clear.
 
Cloudy water (white cloudy water, not green) is just an imbalance in the normal (non-ammonia-eating) microorganisms in the aquaria. As the populations come into balance, it will go away on its own. Attempts to treat it usually do nothing or make it worse.

If ammonia and nitrite levels are zero, there is no need to do water changes beyond that needed to keep nitrates under control. Often, a water change will clear up the cloudiness for a while, only to have it return in a day.

Good luck,
Jim
 
yeah the tank was really old, i had it when i was a kid....a few weeks ago i was home from school, i filled it with water and really scrubbed it down. i then rinsed it multiple times and added gravel and a few plants and let the filter run....i then emptied the tank completely and took it to my dorm. i let is sit for a while with water and after about 4 days my friend put a gourami that he didnt want in it. it wasnt completely cycled and i warned him about it, but it had killed a few of his fish so he didnt care. this last monday i bought my red minor tetras and put them in the clear water, which then became cloudy. i dont want to overexagerate the water, its hazy, by no means crystal clear like my ten gallon or my two gallon.

it sounds like i should just be patient, maybe the cycle isnt done as i thought. hopefully in a few days it will reach its full potential
 
i did overfeed them once, kinda on porpose so that my shrimp would have some food. whenever i do feed them they eat all the food before it hits the bottom anyway
 
AquariaCentral.com