Gendarme

OK, it has happened again. i did about a 25-30% water change today and my crystal clear water is now slightly cloudy. This used to happen early on but my tank is now almost 1 year old. The water has been very clear since September and I even survived Hurricane IKE without any fish loss. No generator either. I just did water changes every other day until the power came back on.

Is it normal for some cloudiness after water changes?

MPrudent

Are you doing anything else besides changing the water? IE... vacuuming the gravel, changing filter media, anything like that? What water are you using? Treated tap water, hose water, well water? It's not "normal" to have cloudy water when doing water changes but it does happen. It can usually be traced back to some step in the process. Wait a few days to see if it clears up. Try NOT to use any of those cloudy water treatment products and in most cases the water will eventually clear up on its own.

-pinky-

Do you juts pour the water in from a bucket, or siphon it? If you just pour it in, the movement could disturb the gravel, and some dust from the gravel may rise up into the water. Thats all i can think of, but its unlikely, if your tank is 1 year old, and its never happened before

Gendarme

It had happened before, but not recently. I use treated tap water (Stress Coat), and I just pour it in with a pitcher. I try to pour near the edge in order to create less disturbance because it is a 12 gallon tank (Tall but not large). I took the water out with a gravel vac but I try not to change filter media at the same time as a water change to avoid overcleaning. I also only vac about 1/2 of the surface area of the gravel with each change. Thanks for the feedback so far.

Thankfully, it was only a little cloudy and seemed somewhat better this morning. Maybe the gravel disturbance idea? I thought I had read once that this would happen sometimes but wasn't sure where or if I imaginned it. Thanks

Shawnie

its probably waste as others have said...every water change I do a good suction on the gravel as the water is coming out...its very normal for some debris to make it cloudy and then like you said, it clears up by morning...

fishlover78

when you stir up a tank there is always some cloudiness even vaugely, don't be concerned your mechanical filter will clean it right up!

catbtony

your water should clear within 24 hours-I do weekly 25-50% water changes this includes gravel cleaning and my water will be clear within 1 hours except on my 10 gal they take 2 hours or so to clear but they are bare bottom betta tanks with sponge filters.
I use a product called "Purigen" by Seachem this will polish your water, you can use it forever and you can re-charge it-all the direction are on the box-I use mine in an Aqu-clear filter but any filter will work it just needs your water to run over it, you can keep it in all the time or just for when you clean to help clear the tank...good luck

Gendarme

Thanks for the input. As most seemed to expect, the water is crystal clear again. I had gotten so used to clear water that I probably was just being too picky.

Thanks again.

soldieroffortune1974

You could put a bowl in the aquarium and pour the water into the bowl slowly,it will keep the gravel from being stirred up.

Fish_wise_man

Did you stir up the tank??

Usually that can cause cloudiness in the water.

Nothing else to it. Usually I pour my water down slowly, and hopefully your water isn't contaminated.

I use RO water (reverse osmosis) so it's a lot better for fishes who don't require rock hard water like African Cichlids.

Also, you shouldn't buy any cloudy water control stuff... because it's sort of a waste of money. They don't do much.

You should just let the filter clean out everything. Try and wait for a few days.

I hope your tank is doing well.

Good luck!

Gendarme

Thanks. No, I don't add any chemicals I don't absolutely have to. It is back to crystal clear now.