Here's why the biofilter is needed: The fish waste, fish respiration, excess fish food and plant debris in an aquarium turns into ammonia. That dreaded murky water could be caused by bacterial bloom during the cycle of a new tank, or there may be a more sinister cause. Clarifiers work by gathering up and binding small particles within the water (from uneaten food, fish waste products, etc. A lot of novice fish owners have probably freaked out over their aquarium water turning a cloudy grey. Too many fish in a tank leads to stress, shortened lives, additional maintenance, algae growth, and cloudy water. As nitrifying bacteria establish in a new tank, they spread through the water in a … Unfortunately, there is no single answer as to why your aquarium water is cloudy because there is no single cause. It is cause by so called bacteria bloom and should clarify after 2-3 days. And secondly it is very good indeed you have not added any fish yet! There are several important reasons for the cloudy water appearance in fish tanks: Bacterial Bloom In new tanks that has not been fully cycled, the existing biological filter is not enough to remove excess ammonia from the tank water. Start it up, setting the heater to a temperature around 80° F, then simply feed the tank with fish food. If you’ve ever asked yourself, why is my fish tank cloudy, and what causes cloudy water in a fish tank, you need to read this guide! Cloudy water is normal at this stage and this is your least worry. Keeping your tank's population at or below 1" of fish per gallon of water for small community fresh water fish will keep this cloudiness under control. You'll also need to perform partial water changes on a regular basis in order to keep the tank clear. Now what you need to do is to start cycling your tank, until it is cycled it is NOT safe to add fish … ), allowing them to sink to the bottom of the tank or get sucked up through the filter. Well i had my tank very cloudy and i used a spray to clear it up and it worked very well and only for ablut $4 it can’t be beat for my tank. I don”t know why it didn’t work for your tank. Cloudy aquarium water can have a number of culprits including faulty filters letting bacteria through, discharge from the fish, fish food, chemical additives to the water, and byproducts from decorations in the tank. As unpleasant as it may be to own a tank full of water that looks like thin, rancid milk, grey water isn’t too much of a trouble – most of the time. Set up the tank with all the equipment needed: filtration, heater, light, protein skimmer for marine and reef tanks, etc. Cloudy water can be very frustrating, since it prevents you from fully enjoying your beautiful fish tank. Reasons for Cloudy Water in Aquarium. From uncleaned gravel to dissolved nutrient, but mostly it’s because of bacteria bloom. There are a couple of reasons why a fish tank can get cloudy. Grey Cloudy Fish Tank. The issue of cloudy water can be a baffling phenomenon for many aquarium owners. Another form of cycling the aquarium is without fish. Overpopulation can also be a a cause of cloudiness in an aquarium. And sorryto hear about the loss of your fish i bought a bunch of fish before i cycled the tank and i wasted about $20 so i’ve been through the same thing. However, based on the color and circumstances under which cloudy water appears, it usually can be pinpointed to a couple of basic causes. Ammonia, at even small levels, causes permanent gill damage and potential death to fish (in the wild there are millions of gallons to … Maybe about 12 fish on it my tank is cloudy I check my nitrate levels they are 20 and under my ph levels are 6.5 it is a fresh water tank. Why Your Fish Tank is Cloudy and Smelly. Using Fish Food to Cycle the Aquarium. In this article, we explore the many reasons why your aquarium may look hazy and how to clear up the murkiness as quickly as possible.