cloudy water

[GrotesqueHybrid]

hi im posting for my aunt. she has a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium. i dont really know much about the aquarium. in her filter she has a sponge and a phosphate reducer (the stone thingies). her water is cloudy white. i think it may be dead alga. but i dont know. any suggestions on what i could do?

 

[Allivymar]

If a tank is cloudy and its white, its due to a bacterial bloom. These are often seen when something happens to the nitrifying bacterial colony. Its generally not seen in a mature tank, but is often seen in new tanks. How old is her tank? What are her water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrates)?

Tell her to put some water into a white cup; if theres a hint of green its an algae bloom which is more likely in a mature tank. Its usually due to an overabundance of nutrients.

 

[PK Tester]

Is the tank fully cycled? if not it could easily be a bacteria bloom from a cycle starting. How long has the tank been set up? Has she added any new gravel recently?

 

[Allivymar]

LOL Simulpost PK!

 

[PK Tester]

Wow that was great lol!!!

 

[tabitha]

allivymar got there first tho!! hahaha i woulda said bacterial bloom as well... never happened in my tank that i know of but i've just seen other people with that problem..

 

[Rhys_Pieces]

I had a similiar problem but it cleared after a couple hours and it has not returned since then and yes it was a few days after setting up my tank.

 

[Scott1980]

I had the same problem in my 20 gallon when I set it up. I gave it a few days to clear up only to discover a dead cory one morning. My ammonia levels were through the roof.