Is this a bacteria bloom?
- Thread starter wazgud
- Start date
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Coyne
Aquarium Advice Addict
White cloudiness is usually a bacterial bloom... but its not the same type of bacteria that you're trying to cultivate for your cycle. Its not harmful to your fish, but it can prevent the growth of the correct bacteria colony by taking up all of the surface area and consuming the food sources.
The good news is that it will usually work its self out and your cycle can start up again. You can help the process along by cleaning out any left over food and other organic waste that is decaying and producing ammonia. Removing the bacteria that's floating around in your water column via water changes doesn't hurt either.
Here is a link if you would like to learn more about bacterial blooms.
Bacterial Blooms Explained - New to the Hobby Questions and Answers - Tropical Fish Forums
The good news is that it will usually work its self out and your cycle can start up again. You can help the process along by cleaning out any left over food and other organic waste that is decaying and producing ammonia. Removing the bacteria that's floating around in your water column via water changes doesn't hurt either.
Here is a link if you would like to learn more about bacterial blooms.
Bacterial Blooms Explained - New to the Hobby Questions and Answers - Tropical Fish Forums
jaketetra28
Aquarium Advice Activist
Is Your substrate sand? If it is (it looks grainy to me), it looks like it's just cloudy from the sand particles being disturbed when adding the water when you set it up. It'll settle in 1-2 days IME , same thing happened to me when I set up my 10g. 
here's a pic when I just added sand, after it was a qt tank.
Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - jaketetra28's Album: Re-setup my 10g - Picture
this is what it looked like the day after, when I added an extra plant and prepared driftwood.
Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - jaketetra28's Album: Re-setup my 10g for the swordtails - Picture
here's a pic when I just added sand, after it was a qt tank.
Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - jaketetra28's Album: Re-setup my 10g - Picture
this is what it looked like the day after, when I added an extra plant and prepared driftwood.
Aquarium Advice - Aquarium Forum Community - jaketetra28's Album: Re-setup my 10g for the swordtails - Picture
Hmm, I don't think it's sand because when I set it up (yesterday) it wasn't as cloudy. I actually really think it's just bacteria since the last thing I did before I noticed it get pretty darn cloudy was add some tetra safestart(two cap fulls). Let me hear your opinion guys.
jaketetra28
Aquarium Advice Activist
If it has gotten more cloudy than your right it's not sand , it wouldn't make sense for it to get cloudier
