Do Acrylic Tanks Make Water Look More Cloudy?

I have a 36 gallon acrylic tank and am wondering if that makes my water appear a little more on the cloudy side? We’ve done water changes, clean the inside, etc as part of the regular maintenance but no matter what we do it still has a little white cloudiness to the water. Could this be due to the tank type?

 

I highly doubt that is the problem. Maybe you aren't changing the water enough?

 

I highly doubt that is the problem. Maybe you aren't changing the water enough?

Doing a gravel vac and water change once a week. I guess I can ramp that up more.

 

1) What filter are you using?

2) Is the tank fully cycled?

 

How much water do you change?

 

1) What filter are you using?

2) Is the tank fully cycled?

Sun sun canister filter and yes the tank is cycled. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and around 20-30 nitrate.

How much water do you change?

Probably around 30%

 

I have a 36 gallon acrylic tank and am wondering if that makes my water appear a little more on the cloudy side? We’ve done water changes, clean the inside, etc as part of the regular maintenance but no matter what we do it still has a little white cloudiness to the water. Could this be due to the tank type?

No, but they can get scratched worse than glass. Slightly cloudy water can be different things like bacteria, color leeching out of decorations or gravel, or just from food that doesn't get eaten and rots in the tank.

Be careful when cleaning the inside of the "glass". I would use only a soft sponge because plexiglass scratches easily.

 

Acrylic is optically more clear than glass. White cloudy water is usually a bacterial bloom and harmless but can be unsightly.

You can try adding 3% hydrogen peroxide. 1-2ml per gallon should take care of it within an hour. Up to 5ml/gal is safe for most fish but I wouldn't go that high. If it persists, wait 24hr before dosing again. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down to oxygen and water within 12-24hr.

 

Be careful when cleaning the inside of the "glass". I would use only a soft sponge because plexiglass scratches easily.

You just look at it and it scratches lol

If you've used a scourer or something similar to clean it, that would put fine scratches that might appear to make the water cloudy?

 

If you've used a scourer or something similar to clean it, that would put fine scratches that might appear to make the water cloudy?

Yes I ruined the back left corner of my one tank trying to get tape residue off the outside. I used a kitchen scrubbing sponge and the sponge part was good but the green scrubbing side put so many scratches in the plexiglass that I could barely see my thermometer through it. It wasn't acceptable for my Betta's home so I went down to PetSmart and bought another identical tank kit. I then switched everything over and all was fine. The cycle was completely maintained.

With the scratched tank, I used some rubbing and polishing compound on it and got it looking 90% better. You can hardly notice the scratches and the tank now contains my 12 Neocaridina shrimp and some plants.

 

Yes I ruined the back left corner of my one tank trying to get tape residue off the outside. I used a kitchen scrubbing sponge and the sponge part was good but the green scrubbing side put so many scratches in the plexiglass that I could barely see my thermometer through it. It wasn't acceptable for my Betta's home so I went down to PetSmart and bought another identical tank kit. I then switched everything over and all was fine. The cycle was completely maintained.

With the scratched tank, I used some rubbing and polishing compound on it and got it looking 90% better. You can hardly notice the scratches and the tank now contains my 12 Neocaridina shrimp and some plants.

I think most people who have ever owned an acrylic tank have made the same mistake at some point lol. You have to be so careful with moving rocks etc around too. That's cool you could get it usable again though