Waters Gone Very Cloudy Like Milk

[Bristlenose]

Ok so over night my tank water has turned very milky. Its been set up for many months and I cannot understand why it has gone like this. its 200 litre and has a large external filter that is more than adequate, yesturday I even put in an internal one as well to try and help clear it. I tried filter aid but it did nothing and it is meant to clump fine particles together, was this as I had carbon in the filter would it have taken the chemical that makes it clump out of the water before it worked. I have polyester media as well.

All water parameters are ok, zero ammonai Nitrite etc. Fish seem ok.I have used proper test kits.

Help!

Its been like it for 48 hours now!

 

[KittyKat]

This is a bacterial bloom, did you do anything recently which could have affected the filter? Used a medication or another liquid supplement? New dechlorinator? Fed any vegetables maybe? Replaced anything in the filter? Cleaned the filter extra well?

The solution is a large water change or a few over some days and then it will eventually go by itself.

The second filter won't make any difference and neither should the filter aid. Carbon probably does remove filter aid, but if you haven't replaced the carbon in the last few days, it's unlikely to be doing anything anyway.. you're better off having more media in the filter instead on an every day basis.

 

[Bristlenose]

Is it harmful to the fish.

All I can think of is I added medicine a few days back for fin rot. But that was a week ago!

So I should keep changing the water over the next week?

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Is it harmful to the fish.

All I can think of is I added medicine a few days back for fin rot. But that was a week ago!

So I should keep changing the water over the next week?

I don't suppose you add Bicarb Of Soda by any chance for PH issues do you? I did in my smaller tank, the water went milky overnight, Ammonia went through the roof and i lost a Cardinal Tetra... 2/3 water changes a day got it down within a couple of days though.

 

[KittyKat]

Is it harmful to the fish.

Usually not in itself, but watch your ammonia and nitrite carefully.

All I can think of is I added medicine a few days back for fin rot. But that was a week ago!

Could have been the cause, which medication exactly? Did you do a large water change after you finished with it?

So I should keep changing the water over the next week?

Yes.

 

[Bristlenose]

Cannot remember the make or brand of medicine. But dosed appropiately.

Its really annoying me as I can only see about 3 inches into the tank, looks awful.

I did a 50% water change but the quality did not improve!

 

[KittyKat]

You might need to do even a 90% change..

 

[karin]

Keep testing the water and do water changes accordingly. Usually these bacterial blooms cause mini-cycles but often they resolve themselves in 7 days.

 

[Bristlenose]

I hope so it was all looking so good as well. I will have to post some picks when it all clears.

Is there anything i can try to stop this happening again as I am ver y unsure as to the cause.

 

[KittyKat]

Is there anything i can try to stop this happening again as I am ver y unsure as to the cause.

No, but it will be less likely to happen as your tank matures..

 

[myrtle]

I accidentally dosed under 1ml too much finrot meds to my 240l tank once and this small amount was enough to knock the filter bacteria out. Not very long ago I had to dose again and after last time I measured each ml out in a 1ml pipette. A day or two after dosing I also experienced a mild bacterial bloom which only lasted a couple of days. It may not have been the meds that caused yours but it's not out of the question.

 

[Bristlenose]

I accidentally dosed under 1ml too much finrot meds to my 240l tank once and this small amount was enough to knock the filter bacteria out. Not very long ago I had to dose again and after last time I measured each ml out in a 1ml pipette. A day or two after dosing I also experienced a mild bacterial bloom which only lasted a couple of days. It may not have been the meds that caused yours but it's not out of the question.

Wierdly I went home last night and it all cleared by itself more or less. I will monitor the water. I think as you say the medicine killed the bacteria.