Cloudy water with no reason for it

More that likely tearing that one down when the 15g gets mature enough for some shrimp.

 

Up for an experiment?

Buy a few packs of live daphnia, but them in a (fish tank safe) kitchen sieve close to the intake of the filter, so that fish can't reach them. If it's infusoria, they should eat them and your water should clear up.

After they're done -> fish food for happy fish.

 

Look, gonna be honest with you, I had tanks do this to me, lasted like 2 months until it got really established and then it went clear and stayed like that afterwards.

I currently have a tank that's almost latte from diatoms and been like that since september 2022. it's better for a week after a water change, and they mass reproduce and it's back to "latte" just about in a 7 days time. But the water quality is good, and nitrates stay below 10. just sucks it's not pretty and looks neglected. it's not the "display" tank I want in the living room...but it's the one I got. I can't imagine silica is doing it, it's got to be the nitrate production of the overstocking after months of study I find that diatoms need the ratio of carbon/nitrogen/silicon/phosphorus in the diatom cells averages 106/15/16/1.... So most likely I've got a lot of carbon, and the nitrates are pretty equal to the silicates, whether I have 6 fish or 24 fish, while phosphorus is a minimal contributor. anyways this is not the issue but I may try reducing carbon somehow although looking at the internet, it's all how to add carbon or use carbon, no information on reducing it or removing it..... I just do a 90% water change when I know company comes over and it's pretty clear for the next day. no problem for fish, a scourge for plants but I don't keep them and an eyesore for sure.

Anyways my point, these things happen, not sure why, it's vexing, but just ride it out and water change when necessary and otherwise just test and let it all run it's course. Yours has to end at some point, it has for me in the past on normal stocked tanks once it's well established.

 

Look, gonna be honest with you, I had tanks do this to me, lasted like 2 months until it got really established and then it went clear and stayed like that afterwards.

I currently have a tank that's almost latte from diatoms and been like that since september 2022. it's better for a week after a water change, and they mass reproduce and it's back to "latte" just about in a 7 days time. But the water quality is good, and nitrates stay below 10. just sucks it's not pretty and looks neglected. it's not the "display" tank I want in the living room...but it's the one I got. I can't imagine silica is doing it, it's got to be the nitrate production of the overstocking after months of study I find that diatoms need the ratio of carbon/nitrogen/silicon/phosphorus in the diatom cells averages 106/15/16/1.... So most likely I've got a lot of carbon, and the nitrates are pretty equal to the silicates, whether I have 6 fish or 24 fish, while phosphorus is a minimal contributor. anyways this is not the issue but I may try reducing carbon somehow although looking at the internet, it's all how to add carbon or use carbon, no information on reducing it or removing it..... I just do a 90% water change when I know company comes over and it's pretty clear for the next day. no problem for fish, a scourge for plants but I don't keep them and an eyesore for sure.

Anyways my point, these things happen, not sure why, it's vexing, but just ride it out and water change when necessary and otherwise just test and let it all run it's course. Yours has to end at some point, it has for me in the past on normal stocked tanks once it's well established.

Yeah it is vexing. I have tore down and put 2 5g tanks up many times and this has never happened before.

Up for an experiment?

Buy a few packs of live daphnia, but them in a (fish tank safe) kitchen sieve close to the intake of the filter, so that fish can't reach them. If it's infusoria, they should eat them and your water should clear up.

After they're done -> fish food for happy fish.

No one sells live daphnia around me.

I'm going to check parameters tonight since I didn't do a water change yet. See what happens. Like I said this tank is temporary now that I have the 15g going.

 

I’m going through this issue now with my 55 gallon. I was wondering where you are located? I’m in Southern California and it seems like last April I had this problem. Like the city water is going through some seasonal change. But it’s frustrating me to death! Mine has been going for 3 weeks. My tank has been in place for a year. Sand substrate. I added 6 platys. Couple days later I did a 25% water change, replaced 1 of the 2 carbons, replaced both water polisher sponges and rinsed the other 6 sponges and bio rings media in fish water. I stirred up the sand some because it was a bit green. Next day cloudy. Assumed it was from sand. But days later it’s definitely bacterial bloom. I cut way back on food, increased filter aeration, added air stone. I kept lights off for a week but it didn’t change anything. So my lights are on for 6 hours a day. My nitrites (strip) and ammonia (api test) read 0. Nitrates about 25. Ph and everything else is normal with no changes in months. Most what I’ve read says do not do anything and it will go away. But I had to do a water change and vacuum after third week. I added Prime twice with a day in between and also API Quick Start. I am prob maxed out on fish and think I will rehome some of them. They are all acting normal except otos and 1 died today. They just hover in the center of the tank. Normally you never see them. I test the water daily. Super frustrated now that I’ve lost a fish. Very difficult to leave it alone and wait for it to go away. I’m thinking adding another dose of Prime and Quick Start.

 

I’m going through this issue now with my 55 gallon. I was wondering where you are located? I’m in Southern California and it seems like last April I had this problem. Like the city water is going through some seasonal change. But it’s frustrating me to death! Mine has been going for 3 weeks. My tank has been in place for a year. Sand substrate. I added 6 platys. Couple days later I did a 25% water change, replaced 1 of the 2 carbons, replaced both water polisher sponges and rinsed the other 6 sponges and bio rings media in fish water. I stirred up the sand some because it was a bit green. Next day cloudy. Assumed it was from sand. But days later it’s definitely bacterial bloom. I cut way back on food, increased filter aeration, added air stone. I kept lights off for a week but it didn’t change anything. So my lights are on for 6 hours a day. My nitrites (strip) and ammonia (api test) read 0. Nitrates about 25. Ph and everything else is normal with no changes in months. Most what I’ve read says do not do anything and it will go away. But I had to do a water change and vacuum after third week. I added Prime twice with a day in between and also API Quick Start. I am prob maxed out on fish and think I will rehome some of them. They are all acting normal except otos and 1 died today. They just hover in the center of the tank. Normally you never see them. I test the water daily. Super frustrated now that I’ve lost a fish. Very difficult to leave it alone and wait for it to go away. I’m thinking adding another dose of Prime and Quick Start.

Prime should only be added when you refill after a WC. It won't really do much otherwise if your ammonia readings are zero.

My readings are all zero, mine gets cloudy when I change water. The issue I'm having is it is only in one out of 4 tanks. So strange.

Adding the quick start may help but IDK.

 

Patience is not a virtue that I own, so my aquariums have permanently fitted GKM's. The 53 has a 24w and the 29 has a 9w.

The slightest haze...regardless of source or colour...and the GKM goes on for 24 hours and then all is back to normal

They are designed for getting rid of green water but they work impressively on all blooms and very fast too. The earlier caught, the quicker it gets dealt with.

My GKM's are rarely used apart from haze clearing and before/after new hooligans are added.

Expensive, yes...but over the years I have found they paid for themselves several times over. No aquarium hazes, no illness or disease issues with the hooligans....coincidence...debateable. But insofar as I am concerned, they work.