Cloudy Water - What Might That Be?

[sunrider]

I cleaned my filter for the first time two days ago (what a mammoth effort! ) Luckily I had read (here) that I should clean it with aquarium water, since the LFS said tap water! Seemed to go ok, and the water flow is definitely running better. Yesterday though, I noticed that my water seems a little cloudy. What might that be? Levels are Ammonia 0, Nitrites .025, Nitrates 1

 

[Gatorbait]

Bacteria bloom from a mini-cycle. .025 Nitrites is huge, they should be 0.

I would do a 10-15% wc every day until you have 0ppm Ammonia (which in this case you won't/shouldn't ever see any ammonia) and Nitrites.

 

[sunrider]

Thanks Gatorbait, I will start doing that today. Is this a normal event after a filter clean?

 

[*Fishkies*]

Is this a normal event after a filter clean?

Not always. However I know mine gets cloudy because of sometimes the water backflows out of my power filter when I unplug it. Mine clears up in a day or so usually.

 

[rdd1952]

What type filter is it and how long had it been since you last cleaned it? As stated, it is probably a bacteria bloom and isn't anything to worry about. You should have 0 nitrite but .025 isn't enough to matter (or did you mean .25). If it is .025, I wouldn't worry with the water changes as they're not going to make enough difference to matter. For .25 you may want to do them. It shouldn't take but a day or so for the bacteria to catch up and get rid of the nitrite anyway.

 

[sunrider]

What type filter is it and how long had it been since you last cleaned it?

It's an AquaOne CF700. This was the first clean, it has been about 11 weeks that the tank's been running.

You should have 0 nitrite but .025 isn't enough to matter (or did you mean .25).

I meant .025

So the cloudiness should clear in a day or so?

Thanks for all the answers Tank-gods!!!

 

[rdd1952]

I've never seen a test kit that would measure as low as .025. The lowest reading on my API kit besides 0 is .25. Basically .025 is nothing.

 

[rsands]

that low a nitrite is not dangerous. It sounds like you gave it such a good cleaning it has removed some of the good bacteria that eas away at the ammonia and nitrite. it should catch up pretty quickly though and then the water will return to normal

 

[vinylman]

Luckily I had read (here) that I should clean it with aquarium water, since the LFS said tap water!

I think I've now reached the point where I've heard everything.