Cloudy Water+ Weird Tetra Behavior.

So a few days ago we treated our 10 gallon tank for general illnesses because we added a new fish. The water usually gets a little cloudy after that so we gave it a day or two and then did a 50-60% water change yesterday. We also changed one of the things in our filter and squeezed the sponges in tank water. When we change the water we add neutral regulator because our tap pH is a little high. It didnt dissolve all the way so our water was still cloudy. Finally today we did another water change, about 40% and only added a little bit of neutral regulator (that was fully dissolved) and after giving the tank time to settle, the water is still cloudy. The tank has been running for nearly a year, we have a Tidal 35 filter, our occupants are 1 betta, 2 Corydoras, 5 neon tetras, 1 nerite snail and 1 very temporary baby pleco.
The only other weird thing is a few months ago our water got cloudy after replacing the decor we had a tetra die and today after our water being cloudy for a few days one of our tetras is acting strange and swimming weird like it might die.
We are very frustrated and can't figure our what it could possible be. We tested the water multiple times and everything is 0 with 7.2 pH which is our usual. Any clue what's going on?
Could this be do to "super chlorinating" the water in the summer?
Update: the tetra did die last night.

 

if there were any changes in your tap water you can contact your city/county. They usually notify if there is a chlorine increase.

Maybe you are experiencing a bacterial bloom?

Did you forget to rinse your substrate before you put it in your tank?

 

if there were any changes in your tap water you can contact your city/county. They usually notify if there is a chlorine increase.

Maybe you are experiencing a bacterial bloom?

Did you forget to rinse your substrate before you put it in your tank?

I will try but my city gets fined by the government every year for not being up to code with the tap water so I bet they wouldnt notify, however we can smell it. Not sure how to tell if I'm experiencing a bacterial bloom. The substrate has been in there since last novemeber and we did rinse it before we put it in so I don't think that's the problem.

 

I will try but my city gets fined by the government every year for not being up to code with the tap water so I bet they wouldnt notify, however we can smell it. Not sure how to tell if I'm experiencing a bacterial bloom. The substrate has been in there since last novemeber and we did rinse it before we put it in so I don't think that's the problem.

If you smell chlorine that’s probably what it is. You should double your water conditioner dosage, do a water change immediately and see if that helps. You can also let the water sit in a bucket for awhile so it can age. Sometimes running your faucet for a minute or 2 before doing a wc helps

 

If you smell chlorine that’s probably what it is. You should double your water conditioner dosage, do a water change immediately and see if that helps. You can also let the water sit in a bucket for awhile so it can age. Sometimes running your faucet for a minute or 2 before doing a wc helps

We already doubled our conditioner just in case. We're going to try a water change with spring water instead of tap water to see if that helps. I'll have to try those other tricks too. Thank you!

 

We've changed most of the water with spring water and the tank just got cloudy again. It looks like a greenish yellow cloudiness rather than a white cloudy. Does anyone know what this could be ? If its a bacteria bloom then should we do more frequent water changes or less? We do once a week. Also will this "Acurel F Water Clarifier" on amazon help or hurt?

 

We put some filter polishing pads in our filter to catch any little particles the other day. We also tried seachem clarify twice and nothing is helping. The water is getting more cloudy, still with a greenish color. We have 4 tetras left and another one is acting a little strange now. I'm at a loss. Theres definitely something wrong with our tap water which is why we changed the water with spring water last week.

 

Cloudy Water: << Click here

The water in your tank might be cloudy due to dirt, sand, fish waste, particles, plant matter, and uneaten food floating around. Moreover, the particles might be way too small for your filter to catch. The stuff making your aquarium water cloudy can’t even be detected or stopped by the filter.

Try the information here first (Make sure you have fine filter floss in your filter):



Build a DIY Water Polisher here. I built this and it works great in large tanks:

Here is the .

For smaller tanks, try this (30 gallons or less):

Diy Micro Gravel Vacuum/water Polisher


If all the above does not work… this will:



Start with 1 drop per gallon first, not the 2-4 drops recommended to start. Your water will get cloudy for about an hour or so and then start to clear. Make sure you have in your filter. If you need another/higher dose 24-48 hours later, fine. All Acruel F does is clump the free floating particles together so your filter can now pick this up. Guaranteed this works wonders.

Keep your tank crystal clear?

Green water? Get a (13 watt) and set it to the lowest flow rate so the water stays in contact with the light the longest. Will clear in about 7 days then remove it.

 

Cloudy Water: << Click here

The water in your tank might be cloudy due to dirt, sand, fish waste, particles, plant matter, and uneaten food floating around. Moreover, the particles might be way too small for your filter to catch. The stuff making your aquarium water cloudy can’t even be detected or stopped by the filter.

Try the information here first (Make sure you have fine filter floss in your filter):



Build a DIY Water Polisher here. I built this and it works great in large tanks:

Here is the .

For smaller tanks, try this (30 gallons or less):

Diy Micro Gravel Vacuum/water Polisher


If all the above does not work… this will:



Start with 1 drop per gallon first, not the 2-4 drops recommended to start. Your water will get cloudy for about an hour or so and then start to clear. Make sure you have in your filter. If you need another/higher dose 24-48 hours later, fine. All Acruel F does is clump the free floating particles together so your filter can now pick this up. Guaranteed this works wonders.

Keep your tank crystal clear?

Green water? Get a (13 watt) and set it to the lowest flow rate so the water stays in contact with the light the longest. Will clear in about 7 days then remove it.

Okay so will the DIY polisher be better than the bags we bought? If so ill try that. Also is the acurel stuff better than clarify by seachem? Thank you for all the information!

 

Okay so will the DIY polisher be better than the bags we bought? If so ill try that. Also is the acurel stuff better than clarify by seachem? Thank you for all the information!

Sounds like you have a bacterial bloom. Have to wait it out for like a week or two. Acurel F may not help with this. You mentioned green water so you may have to look into a SMALL UV sterilizer, maybe. The DIY micro gavel vac I made works wonders in my 10 gallon tank using fine floss/polyfill. Try to follow everything above first.

 

So it has been over two weeks since our tank became cloudy. We have done water changes, we have polishing pads in the filter, we've been putting seachem clarify in almost every day, we added a sponge filter to try and catch more of the particles and waste, we have been limiting the amount of time the light is on, we've consulted with our LFS, and still the water is green and cloudy. I don't want to spend $30 on a UV sterilizer if its not going to work because clarify was supposed to work and polishing pads were supposed to work. Seriously at a loss. Can anyone help? Also should we be doing more frequent water changes than our weekly schedule or will that make it worse?

 

and still the water is green and cloudy. I don't want to spend $30 on a UV sterilizer if its not going to work because clarify was supposed to work and polishing pads were supposed to work. Seriously at a loss. Can anyone help?

Since it's green water a UV sterilizer will clear it up in less than a week. Since you don't want to spend the money, it should clear up in about 4 weeks then if you're lucky. Just wait it out.

 

Since it's green water a UV sterilizer will clear it up in less than a week. Since you don't want to spend the money, it should clear up in about 4 weeks then if you're lucky. Just wait it out.

If it actually works I will spend the money. I just wasn't sure. After it clears is that something we should regularly use or just "as needed"?

 

If it actually works I will spend the money. I just wasn't sure. After it clears is that something we should regularly use or just "as needed"?

Well I have had my Sunsun 13 watt UV for about 7-8 years now. Used it once. Collecting dust but I did fire it up about 4 months ago and it still works. You have a 10 gallon tank so you will need a small one. A picture would be nice.

 

Well I have had my Sunsun 13 watt UV for about 7-8 years now. Used it once. Collecting dust but I did fire it up about 4 months ago and it still works. You have a 10 gallon tank so you will need a small one. A picture would be nice.

Its a little more yellow-green than the picture is showing but yeah. Its pretty bad. Also I know the sponge filter looks ugly just sitting in the front but that's temporary placement.

 

Yeah... that is green water. For a 10 gallon this would work fine.

 

Yeah... that is green water. For a 10 gallon this would work fine.

Okay thank you very much.

 

Okay thank you very much.

I don't know what filter you have but there is a clip on version. I have no idea if this one will work, depends on your filter, better or not. It is cheaper.

 

I don't know what filter you have but there is a clip on version. I have no idea if this one will work, depends on your filter, better or not. It is cheaper.

we have a Tidal 35 filter, ill see if its compatible and compare reviews and such. Thanks again

 

we have a Tidal 35 filter, ill see if its compatible and compare reviews and such. Thanks again

Just by the looks of it... and I have a Tidal 75 and a 55, I would say the clip on will work.

 

Just by the looks of it... and I have a Tidal 75 and a 55, I would say the clip on will work.

Just bought it, hopefully next update will be that our water is clear

 

Update: ITS CLEAR! After 4 days with the UV light and no change, we did a 50% water change which obviously helped clear it up a good bit but it was still definitely cloudy. After 4 more days we now have a pretty **** clear tank! (Ignore the floating plant, we'll fix it)