Cloudy(ish) Water

[vicbarry]

Hi all. Back again. Thanks for the previous advice on whitespot. Worked like a treat(ment)

Anyway, something Ive been watching for the last few weeks is a slightly cloudish water. In my tank (100 litre) I have some live plants, driftwood and a big rock. All have been bought from my LFS. From keeping fish years ago, I always found that live plants have an annoying habit of clouding up the water to a degree. Maybe I was and still am doing something wrong. It only seems to be in certain parts of the tank. Looking at the plants closely it seems for most of them, they have what I could describe as a dust on them. Some of it is white, some of it is brown.

Is it the plants are at fault here, should I remove them and just used artificial. I know how important the live plants are when it comes with helping on the fight with algae but IF they are clouding up the water they must be choking the tank of oxygen, or will eventually. All the fish are fine and healthy. Or should I just use one of those treatments that clear the water. The tank has got 2 water changes (25-30%) twice in the last 3 weeks. The first water change made some difference, but the second one didnt make any at all.

Id appreciate any advice gang!

 

[StarOrbs]

My guess you either have a bacterial bloom because your tank isn't finish cycling or you have a free floating algae bloom. If you have green water its probally the algae bloom. If it's just whitish cloud it's probally a bacterial bloom (good thing). It could also be cloudy from the medication, so try to put some carbon in your filter to remove the meds if you didn't already.

BTW, I don't think live plants cause cloudiness. Stick with the live if you can it's better for the tank anyway.

 

[daudy_dojo]

My guess you either have a bacterial bloom because your tank isn't finish cycling or you have a free floating algae bloom. If you have green water its probally the algae bloom. If it's just whitish cloud it's probally a bacterial bloom (good thing). It could also be cloudy from the medication, so try to put some carbon in your filter to remove the meds if you didn't already.

BTW, I don't think live plants cause cloudiness. Stick with the live if you can it's better for the tank anyway.

agree! do like 10% water changes everynight for a while and it should go away ( i say 10% cause anymore (( you could do maybe 15% to 20% but no more))will kill the bacteria you are starting and it will be clear but it will also just start your cycle over and make it a mini-cycle)

 

[vicbarry]

Thanks folks. Appreciate it!

 

[freddyk]

If it doesn't go away I'd be curious as to what filtration you have on the tank. Sometimes a tank get's cloudy simply because the filtration isn't quite up to the task of holding the finer particals. In this situation a simple small sponge filter run by a decent air pump can make a night day difference.