Cloudy Water in a Fish Tank and What to do About It!

Hello Everyone,
In this video we talk about cloudy water in a fish. We look at the reasons fish tank water becomes cloudy and how to clear up cloudy fish tank water. I did not talk about cyanobacteria blooms in this video because it's a little more complicated.

Here are the links to the other videos discussing water quality and filtration:

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Thanks for watching!

[DWPFishing]

i had a bacterial bloom and i used a UV sterilizer and cleared up the water after 3 days.

[rantsandreviews]

You covered particulate cloudiness (PC) very well. I would add that for the average aquarist the easiest way to avoid PC is to use a filtration system that will allow them to use a 3 layered approach with their mechanical media. In HOB's, cans, and sumps I always set them up so that the incoming water first hits a coarse foam sponge/pad, then a medium sponge/pad and then a fine pad or floss. Staging the media this way will reduce the maintenance cycle on the fine pad or floss. Of course no amount of filtration will compensate for bad habits.
For bacterial blooms (milky water) in an established tank I usually suggest just reviewing and making improvements to maintenance practices as these blooms are usually due to a sudden increase of bio load and the bacteria reproduce to compensate. A dead fish, uneaten food, too many fish added at once etc...
Another very common cloudiness not touched upon in your video is green water. Generally caused by an imbalance between light and nutrients in the water. Maybe a subject for another video?

[ddcd]

Recently set up a shell dweller tank (Thanks to you). I've been dealing with cloudy water for over a month. Every time I'd do a water change, my water would stay cloudy for several days. Mine was a combination of algae on plants, some plant melt/ decaying plants, and particles in the water that were big enough that they would settle on things instead of being pulled into the filter. I ended up making one of those DYI water polishers with a powerhead and water bottle. It was pretty intense and mixed up the tank debris. It was crystal clear within 5-6 hours, and no debris is floating around the tank. I think part of my issue is that my Fluval hang on just isn't cutting it. I have a seachem one on the way after your review.

[leahtanner]

I really appreciate all of your videos, they are not only very informative, but don’t linger on like so many others. Thank you!

[michaelbelanger]

Used many products in this instance; purigen by seachem in filter removes organics, nite out by microbe lift, great for ammonia spikes when combined with Zeolite medium in filter. Also oxidizing with potassium permanganate helps with organics and protozoans, flukes

[swannydeehosinpepper]

When I change my filter floss I cut a 1 inch by 1 inch square piece from the old filter floss and put it in with the new floss to seed it with the good bacteria from the old floss..

[AussieAquatic]

Super video!!!
I'm a 35 year veteran and NEVER had cloudy water UNTIL now!!!!
LOL...……..My super stable Planted show tank in my dining room is milky white as we speak.
My Bristlenose catfish gave me a Christmas spawn out of the blue.
They've dug out the substrate under some wood and released some super nutrient rich materials, under the high intensity lighting, instant Infusoria bloom.
That warrants a new video I guess :)

[evelyngines]

Can you do a video of preping a tank from beginning to end with real plants and what to put on the bottom like sand or other for a betta fish with some other small fishes not much not to big i love the bettas with large fins

[alejandrolisdero]

Complete list of causes and solutions. Like 🙂👍

[henryneymeyer]

I used a uv filter attachment that goes on the lilp of the filter.

[michaeleber]

I guess I've been lucky where I did not have much in the way of bacteria blooms. I'm a stickler for filtration, fish per gallon, and feeding. When I've had one, I let things cycle and in a few days the cloudy water just dies down as bacteria levels out. I was taught that throwing in a ton of fish all at once is the biggest source of milky water.

[MyanmarWildWaters]

Sees cloudy water
Aquarium Thanos, while installing UV - "Reality can be whatever I want"

[hugohudson]

I just set up my tank a few days ago and I haven’t added any fish yet. I cleaned the substrate twice before adding it to the tank but the water is looking a little cloudy. Is this normal when you first put water in a tank?

[raerae]

Carbon always clears up my foggy water that stuff on the glass is so true I laughed I performed a water change on my 10 gal betta tank every day wondering why it was suddenly foggy getting upset I removed all decor was gonna do a deep cleaning and realized the glass was covered in slime stuff

[dwayneparsons]

In a new tank some substrates when not washed well enough will put fine particles in the water column that a mechanical filter might not be able to filter out.

[catfishcave]

The biggest reason I have cloudy water is because my glasses are dirty.

[Bonaparte]

so glad i found Prime tank aquatics
best help!
THANK YOU!
PS: first place ever on YT I subscribed :)

[alixxworkshop]

The best solution for cloudy water with new aquarium or cycled one with bacteria boom is to immediately put Zeolith inside your filter. just cut a bit of your filtration sponge off so that you can make a place inside for zeolith and put It inside. In couple of days the water will be cristal clear and healthy. In 6-8 months you can replace your Zeolith with JBL Micromec or Eheim SubstratPro and you're good to go for years with stable biological balance. And don't forget to clean your filter regulary... ;)

[Jagdpantherl]

if i get cloudy water i suspend feeding for a few days and clean the gravel and filter and do water changes and i clean the glass with a scotch brite pad freshly opened and it usually will clear in a day or two.

[timmyturtles]

I usually drain half the water from the talk and let another good tub of water sit for a couple of good hours and use water conditioner in is as well