[Andyandsue]

The water in my 12 gallon has taken on a "cloudy" appearance. I say that with quotes because when I researched cloudy water is seems as if they are talking really milky white, and mine is nowhere near that but I have no idea what else to call it.

The water looks fine from a short distance, (just few feet away) but when I get up close I see little tiny bits of white, like algae but not green. I am thinking this is the beginning of bacterial bloom but I'm not sure since it's not getting any worse, and it's been like this for almost a week.

Water parameters are perfect amm=0 nitrite=0 nitrate<5. I changed 20% water immediately when this first happened but that did not make a difference. As of yesterday, I changed 10% of water 2 days in a row and put new filter media in (charcoal eclipse cartridge with some additional phosphate removing media on top). The water maybe looks a little better?

What do you guys think is going on?

 

[herefishy]

Could be a bacteria die-off/bloom, a way that you tanks achieve a balance between denitrifing bacreria and available food for sustaining those bacteria. How long has the tank been set up? It is not a bad thing. Water changes are good. Are the fish in seemingly good health?

 

[Andyandsue]

All fish are doing fine. Healthy, eating, swimming around. No clamped fins. Even Mr. Pleco is starting to come out of his cave a little.

The tank has been set up for about 3 months. I used about 60% cycled gravel, a piece of cycled filter media, and bio-spira. The parameters showed it was cycled in a little over a week (which was great).

I didn't change the water today, but am planning on one tomorrow again.

 

[herefishy]

You may also want to try a flocculent to help clear the water. A flooculent attatches itself to waterborne prticles making them heavy and forcing them to sink to the bottom thus clearing the water. I would be careful using this, however, unless I was absolutely sure all water parameters were good to go. Your tank should hae a gravel sweep after using this product to remove all fallen detritous and ensure a healthy biobed.