common question - cloudy water

[lillizzierae]

Hi. I've had the freshwater set up for many months and everything has been fine until our filter died and we didn't realize it till it was too late. The water got a little cloudy. We got a new filter and I've been cleaning the tank weekly. Two weeks in, the tank is still cloudy (white cloudy) and almost each level is off. It's not looking any better. I didn't test the water today to tell you guys what levels are off. I just did a water change.. about 25%.

Should I be changing the water daily or weekly? I'm not sure how to fix the problem. Any advice would be helpful.

 

[Mebbid]

The cloudiness is caused by heterotrophic bacteria in the water. They are rapidly dividing bacteria and feed off of ammonia which is why the cloudiness comes back soo quickly after a water change.

It's just going to take some time for your tank to go through the cycle. Keep doing 50% water changes every time your ammonia or nitrites are above 0.25ppm and you will be through it before too much longer.