Aquarium cloudy for weeks (20 gal)

Hello all!
Not a new tank owner; had a healthy aquarium for 8 years, then moved and tank sat in storage. Cleaned it well before setting it up for new fish. Had it running a bit before adding the new fish, went well the first two months it was up and running all fish were happy and healthy. Now, I've changed the tank, and ever since I've changed it its been so cloudy/milky. I've done multiple water changes, I've added Ammo lock, detoxifying chemicals for ammonia, aquasafe, quick start and I just don't know what else to do? I know the tank is cycling, but it's never cycled this long. No I didn't add all the chemicals all at the same time, I only did the ammo lock and aquasafe when adding water. I've limited my feeding as not to raise the ammonia levels too much higher since they are already at over 8.0ppm. I'm really at a loss cause I just don't know what else to do? Should I put the fish in a holding tank while I figure it out? It's a brand new filter so I don't think that's the problem. Would new rocks help since they were the same from my old aquarium and maybe there's still some organic material on them? Any help is appreciated, thank you!

 

Welcome to the forum.

Is your ammonia really at 8 ppm with fish in the tank? If yes, I assume you're doing massive water changes to get it down?

As far as the cloudiness, can you put some of the water in a white container and see what color it is? If it's a light green you probably just have "green water" algae.

 

Yes, I have been doing water changes for about two weeks or so. Nothing seems to work. Ammonia hasn’t changed. Tested it last night and it’s over 8ppm.

 

What is your ph?

 

Did you check the color like jettspapa suggested. Lasting thank long sound more like an algae bloom. Bacteria would have normally cleared in that length of time unless you are continuing to feed it by overfeeding your fish.

 

What is your ph?

Ph is 6.8

 

I have not checked the color yet, I’m at work so I will when I get home. If it’s an Algeal bloom what would help that?

 

If it isn't a bacteria or an algae bloom as was mentioned, maybe a clarifier like Seachem's Clarity would work, can't promise but I mean that's what I used when my caribsea sand wasn't clearing up 5 days later (fishless cycle tank). Gonna wash the living daylights out of that sand the next time I buy some.

 

I have not checked the color yet, I’m at work so I will when I get home. If it’s an Algeal bloom what would help that?

I've only dealt with green water once, but I limited light to 6 hours per day and added more live plants to take up the nutrients that would have otherwise have gone to the algae. Other more experienced people may well have better advice.

 

Welcome
Try to add some pictures, that might help us. Is your tank cycled? What kind of test kit do you use to test your water? Can you tell us all the parameters? This often happens with new tanks, they need time to establish. What is your current stock? How long do you keep your light on? Do you change your filter cartridges? I know I'm not really helping, but answering these questions and adding pics will help us.

 

So I checked the water and it’s not green. I have the master test kit from API. I have four small fish and one plecco. Light is not on that often since I just got a light that works. I change my filter pads whenever I change the tank. Ph 6.6 ammonia 8.0 nitrite 2-5 nitrate 10

 

Well for one you are throwing away your cycle every time you are doing a water change. Most of your BB is in that filter pad.
How big of water changes have you been doing and when?

 

As StarGirl15 indicated, you shouldn't replace the filter pads until they're falling apart since much of your beneficial bacteria is in the pads. I know the directions that came with your filter say to change them more often, but the same company that makes the filters also makes the cartridges for it, and they want you to keep buying them.

 

Lately when I’ve been doing the 15% or less water changes I haven’t thrown it away. But when I changed the whole tank I threw the old one away cause it was disgusting, and I didn’t wanna make my water worse.

 

In addition to things stated above, a ph 6.6 is not easy to grow bacteria in. I know two people now who have had a cycle stall because of this same ph, you might consider trying to raise it closer to 7.0 during cycle. Crushed coral is good for that.

A good squeeze of the filter media in the tank water that’s being removed and dumped will help keep the media clean.

 

Lately when I’ve been doing the 15% or less water changes I haven’t thrown it away. But when I changed the whole tank I threw the old one away cause it was distrusting, and I didn’t wanna make my water worse.

What do you mean by whole tank? You just need to rinse the pad out with tank water to clean it. You are making your water worse by throwing it away.

 

Ive never done that with any filters for the years I’ve had a tank and it’s never gotten this bad afterwards.

 

I do 50% water changes once a week. I have a 55 gallon. I would say as bad as your cloudy water is you have some kind of bacterial bloom going on.
I read on another thread is a bloom is too much bacteria in the water. Do some big water changes. Not 100% but like 75% or 50% and dont change your cartridge for awhile.
You can also try a water clarifyer. I wouldnt use the Ammo lock or any bacteria products for awhile.

 

So I’m not gonna put the fish back in until this is better so I really don’t need to add any products right?

 

So I’m not gonna put the fish back in until this is better so I really don’t need to add any products right?

Nope. Just do big water changes and use the dechlor only.

 

You have been given good advice. Like people said, removing and discarding the filter pads will make you restart your cycle, and in most cases, will kill your fish. Swish them around in a cupful of tank water and that will do the trick. Do aggressive 50-75% water changes every week, if not twice of three times a week.

 

StarGirl15 is making a lot of sense. I went through something similar and I laid off on adding stuff like fluval cycle to my water changes and instead added some Seachem Clarity (only twice), needed to get that bacterial bloom under control. Good luck and I hope your tank finds that good balance it always had before all this.

 

Thank you all! I’m gonna do the aggressive changes, and see how the water is! I’ve got my fish in a holding tank for now with a filter and they already seem happier.