Water Cloudy after 50% WC

Hello everyone,
What could possibly cause cloudy water after my 50% WC when All other water parameters, Nitrites, Nitrates, and Ammonia are at 0 ppm, PH is 7.0...? It was clear immediately after WC but clouded up overnight. I replaced 2 out of the 3 existing AC filters with new clean AC filter media. I use 2 pump/filter assemblies, 1 is a 70 gph, the other 55 gph. It's a 55 gal tank, 2 months in service. 18 plants, 24 fish of 1-1.5 inch and 2 silver dollar sized angelfish. Any intel anyone could share with me would be Greatly appreciated!

Warmest Regards,
Brad Ryan

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

Did you change the media in both filters that are in the tank now? Filter media doesnt need to be changed ever, with the exception of filter floss. You just need to squish sponges and swish bio media every once in awhile. Thats the thing that immediately jumps out to me.

It sounds like a bacterial bloom. It wont hurt anything and will go away when everything settles down. The lack of Nitrate is concerning though. How much water do you change and how much do you clean?

 

I clean the glass inside weekly with a clean sponge that only gets used in my tank. I have Not yet vacuumed the gravel being the tank is only 8 weeks since initial setup, but I did deepen the gravel by adding more on top. I use Activated Carbon filter cartridges that are upstream of the sponge type filter media in both pumps. I read on web that Activated Carbon filters need to be replaced monthly, that's why I replaced 2 of them. I never replace the black porous sponge type filter that sits immediately after (downstream) of the Activated Carbon filter. I only squeeze it out using a little tank water in a bowl.
I replaced 2 of the 3 Activated Carbon filters spoken of above. I kept the 3rd one to assist BB transfer to the 2 new AC filters. I use 2 filter/pumps, both are waterfall hang on back of tank type. One is 70 gph, the other is 55 gph, effectively filtering 120 gph of water and tank is 55 gal.
It sounds to me like you are correct about a Bacterial Bloom causing the "white" cloudiness?? However, I too am concerned about the 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, and 0 ammonia. Your thoughts please...?

 

So sorry got tied up with visitors.

Im wondering if when you added more gravel and switched the filters it disturbed the bacteria colony. Is there a reason to need the carbon? IMO you dont need it unless you are removing meds. I would replace the carbon filter for some kind of bio media. Then you will not ever need filters cartridges..

I wouldnt worry about much unless the ammonia or nitrite start to spike on you. The cloudiness will go away.

Here is a thread to show you what I mean about the filter media.
Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Aquarium Filter Forum | 385506

 

8 weeks old tank, showed up a day after a water change, sounds like a diatom bloom to me, it's about time for one really also.
They aren't harmful, they make a mess, it will build your nitryfying bacteria colony when they die off, and they create oxygen while they are there. There's an imbalance which usually causes the bloom. It's nature's way of sorting out the imbalance. I have one going on right now from doing too big of a water change at one time throwing off the balance on an overstocked tank.
Anyways, I'm about half way through it, maybe 2 more weeks before it dies off, settles and the water goes clear.

Coating of dead diatoms on the slate:



Also coating the ornaments, my leaned slates in the back are clean because they aren't settling on them and sliding to the substrate.


Overall view of the tank it was much more cloudy a week and two weeks ago. Takes about a month to 6 weeks for it to die off and settle into the substrate.


Can take even longer if you try to fight it and clean like crazy and water change, it's got to run its course, exhaust whatever nutrient that has caused the bloom, come back into balance and then it dies off. Just clean the most annoying of it and stick to regular water changes, nothing drastic being done.

Keep and eye on your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and ride it out.

 

8 weeks old tank, showed up a day after a water change, sounds like a diatom bloom to me, it's about time for one really also.
They aren't harmful, they make a mess, it will build your nitryfying bacteria colony when they die off, and they create oxygen while they are there. There's an imbalance which usually causes the bloom. It's nature's way of sorting out the imbalance. I have one going on right now from doing too big of a water change at one time throwing off the balance on an overstocked tank.
Anyways, I'm about half way through it, maybe 2 more weeks before it dies off, settles and the water goes clear.

Coating of dead diatoms on the slate:
View attachment 863906

Also coating the ornaments, my leaned slates in the back are clean because they aren't settling on them and sliding to the substrate.
View attachment 863907
Overall view of the tank it was much more cloudy a week and two weeks ago. Takes about a month to 6 weeks for it to die off and settle into the substrate.
View attachment 863908
Can take even longer if you try to fight it and clean like crazy and water change, it's got to run its course, exhaust whatever nutrient that has caused the bloom, come back into balance and then it dies off. Just clean the most annoying of it and stick to regular water changes, nothing drastic being done.

Keep and eye on your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and ride it out.

I guess it depends on what color the cloudy water is... Could be either. Or green.

I just automatically assume for some unknown reasoning that cloudy water is smoky white water.

 

I guess it depends on what color the cloudy water is... Could be either. Or green.

I just automatically assume for some unknown reasoning that cloudy water is smoky white water.

This is true, we don't know what color we are dealing with could be a kool-aid bloom for all we know.