Cloudy water out of nowhere?

I've had my tank since last fall/winter and added fish in Nov after it was fully cycled. No issues at all until this past 2 weeks or so. I change about 6 gal in my 20 gal tank once per week. I add Quickstart and a Water treatement, think it's called Prime. Helps dechlorinate as well bc I'm on city water. I have 5 mollies, 4 minI neon tetras, 2 cory cats, 1 otto cat and 1 loache. I adjusted the filter a bit following the guide here : Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Filters and Filtration 385506. I have a bubbler, temp is 76F. I did have to change filter pad about a month ago because it was the one that came with it and was falling apart and ragged. However, I've had a small bag of those bead things that you put in a little bag in there since tank set up and they've stayed even with the necessary filter change. So my filter has fluval sponge and the media bag inside, and an extra fluval on the water intake inside tank for extra filtration. Tested water parameters today: Ph 7.6, Ammonia .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10ppm. I did a water change on Tuesday as per regular schedule, and did 3 gal change today bc of cloudiness. I'm assuming bacterial bloom bc everyone is fine and parameters are good. No signs of distress or illness. Possibly overfeeding? I feed them once every morning but watch and feed more than a pinch bc i'm worried about the little ones getting food over the bigger piggy mollies. Also, every time I do water changes, including 3 gal today, I vacuum gravel (partially, 1/2 per week not entire in one go) and rinse filter pad in aquarium water. My question is, what can I do to clear this up and how long will it last? When I changed it on Tuesday it was BAD . Couldn't see through the tank. Better today but still foggy for being 3 days since weekly change. Just brainstorming and looking for advice from more experienced aquarists.

 

I've had my tank since last fall/winter and added fish in Nov after it was fully cycled. No issues at all until this past 2 weeks or so. I change about 6 gal in my 20 gal tank once per week. I add Quickstart and a Water treatement, think it's called Prime. Helps dechlorinate as well bc I'm on city water. I have 5 mollies, 4 minI neon tetras, 2 cory cats, 1 otto cat and 1 loache. I adjusted the filter a bit following the guide here : Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Filters and Filtration 385506. I have a bubbler, temp is 76F. I did have to change filter pad about a month ago because it was the one that came with it and was falling apart and ragged. However, I've had a small bag of those bead things that you put in a little bag in there since tank set up and they've stayed even with the necessary filter change. So my filter has fluval sponge and the media bag inside, and an extra fluval on the water intake inside tank for extra filtration. Tested water parameters today: Ph 7.6, Ammonia .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10ppm. I did a water change on Tuesday as per regular schedule, and did 3 gal change today bc of cloudiness. I'm assuming bacterial bloom bc everyone is fine and parameters are good. No signs of distress or illness. Possibly overfeeding? I feed them once every morning but watch and feed more than a pinch bc i'm worried about the little ones getting food over the bigger piggy mollies. Also, every time I do water changes, including 3 gal today, I vacuum gravel (partially, 1/2 per week not entire in one go) and rinse filter pad in aquarium water. My question is, what can I do to clear this up and how long will it last? When I changed it on Tuesday it was BAD . Couldn't see through the tank. Better today but still foggy for being 3 days since weekly change. Just brainstorming and looking for advice from more experienced aquarists.

Wow, where to start!

Yes, it sounds like a bacterial bloom, but that will go away with time. You just need to do water changes and keep your parameters in check.

My concern is...

• you're way over stocked
• 6 gallon water changes is not enough. you need to do at least 25% weekly, and with your stocking, I'd recommend 50% minimum, or 75% weekly.
• you need 6 or more each of the tetras, otos and cories. They are schooling/shoaling fish and need more of their kind.
• what loach? there are a lot of different species, and many are just like the others you have. They need to be kept in schools.

Just my $.02.

 

Do u have any live plants? I had a similar issue not long ago and finally figured out it was because my duckweed was struggling and dying off. Once I fixed the problem the cloudy water cleared.

 

No live plants

 

Wow, where to start!

Yes, it sounds like a bacterial bloom, but that will go away with time. You just need to do water changes and keep your parameters in check.

My concern is...

• you're way over stocked
• 6 gallon water changes is not enough. you need to do at least 25% weekly, and with your stocking, I'd recommend 50% minimum, or 75% weekly.
• you need 6 or more each of the tetras, otos and cories. They are schooling/shoaling fish and need more of their kind.
• what loach? there are a lot of different species, and many are just like the others you have. They need to be kept in schools.

Just my $.02.

Ok, so 6 gal isn't enough? 25% of 20 is 5 though..but I could do 10gal, np. The otto had a friend but he died mysteriously some time ago. I just don't have the room for more to have 6 of each. They seem to do quite well. The corys buddy up as do the tetras, and no one bothers them. My loach looks like the Dojo. I absolutely love him! <3 His name is Noodle. I won't buy any more fish but I don't know anyone I could give a molly or two to. I tried to add extra filtration, not bc I thought I was overstocked, just bc I wanted to try and keep their tank as nice as possible.

 

Ok, so 6 gal isn't enough? 25% of 20 is 5 though..but I could do 10 gallon, np. The otto had a friend but he died mysteriously some time ago. I just don't have the room for more to have 6 of each. They seem to do quite well. The corys buddy up as do the tetras, and no one bothers them. My loach looks like the Dojo. I absolutely love him! <3 His name is Noodle. I won't buy any more fish but I don't know anyone I could give a molly or two to. I tried to add extra filtration, not bc I thought I was overstocked, just bc I wanted to try and keep their tank as nice as possible.

U could donate a molly or 2 to ur local pet store. Ive never had a pet store turn me away when taking in fish.

 

Ok, so 6 gal isn't enough? 25% of 20 is 5 though..but I could do 10 gallon, np. The otto had a friend but he died mysteriously some time ago. I just don't have the room for more to have 6 of each. They seem to do quite well. The corys buddy up as do the tetras, and no one bothers them. My loach looks like the Dojo. I absolutely love him! <3 His name is Noodle. I won't buy any more fish but I don't know anyone I could give a molly or two to. I tried to add extra filtration, not bc I thought I was overstocked, just bc I wanted to try and keep their tank as nice as possible.

Sorry, I meant 6g, 25%, wasn't enough with your stocking. Being overstocked can work, but you need to do bigger, or more frequent water changes, and really keep an eye on your water changes. I'm also guessing by your sedcription that you've got a kuhlI loach, but they really need to be kept in groups of 6 or more.

And in retrospect, you may not be over stocked, but if not, your pushing it pretty close.

I agree with JamieLu, donate 2 or 3 of the mollies to our LFS, and then bring your corie and loach count up. It would still be overstocked, but with tip-top maintenance, it would be doable.

 

What's the best way to clear it up? All my water parameters are on point. I did a 9gal water change today. Its clearer but afraid it'll come back.

 

It'll clear up on it's own, you don't need to worry. Give it another week. If it's too ugly, do the largest water change you can, 80 to 90%, but until the excess bacteria die off and are eliminated, it will be cloudy.