How do i clear up "cloudy" water?

[FrontosaurusRex]

These are the specs:

6" 125g tank
Pool Filtered Sand subtrate
Large River Pebbles for decor

Rena Xp3
(course sponge on bottom)
(course sponge in middle)
(aquaclear bio tunnels on top rack)

Eheim 2217
(lava rock on bottom)
(bio tunnels/very small bio balls)

3 Whisper 70's
(2 of them have standard whisper filtration, 1 has large bio balls)

I have roughly 25-30 fish that are all around the 3" mark

I try to do daily 25% water changes.
I do one or two 50% water changes a week.

I take pictures pretty regularly and EVERY time i get "your water looks "cloudy". What can i do to fix this problem?

[fishlady]

wet/dry system on there dude.......

[PhishPhreek]

I have a Diatom filter I can sell/trade/loan if you want polished water.

[eklikewhoa]

Are you asking to get a response of help or just to bash those that offer their critism?

[Nickintex]

Do a water change, then add some Kent Pro Clear or Apro Crystal Clear daily as needed.

[geoff_tropheus]

I would chill out on the waterchanges and let things stabilize for atleast a week to 10 days. Then see where you are.

Are any of your filtrations setup for fine filtering? If your looking for crystal clear the only way that will happen really is a diatom filter.

Are you feeding a pellet food or a flake food? Sometimes pellet foods are a little more cleaner food to eat, but also sometimes give off more fines. Sometimes it is better to pre-soak some pellets for that purpose.

[cichlid1409]

I've never seen my water clearer than since i started doing about 75% water chages evry 5 days or so.

[Zulaab]

I do large water changes because it has the best clearing effect on the tank. Ie with massive water changes comes removal of nearly 100% of all the floating "stuff" in the tank and this way you are getting clean good water in there.. Hopefully one day when your other half agree you get yourself a wet/dry and then you will really love your filtration for what is can do for you :)

[kwc1974]

I do not see any fine particulate filtration, If you are that worried about it run a HOT magnium with a micron filter on it before you take pictures.

[danielp]

Hang a whisper 40 or maybe somethign a little bigger off the back and let it run. It will help clear things up. Whisper's are great filters for the price.

I have to do this from time to time on my 75.

[geoff_tropheus]

The point I was trying to make is that maybe it is cycling somewhat, and I would wait till my filters were better seeded before doing daily 25% and twice a week 50% waterchanges.

Then waterchange all you want.

[cichlid1409]

I wasn't disagreeing with you geoff I was simply stating my experience.you make a good point, doing all those small water changes so fequently could cause his bio-filter to not be well seeded yet causing that cloudy bloom look.

[FrontosaurusRex]

i was told about the bacteria thing a few times.

Here's another question:

I usually take the HOB's off at least once a month and do a hardcore cleaning on them. Is that bad too?

[wesleydnunder]

A couple of the responses are confusing to me. Someone please explain to me how doing frequent partial water changes in a stocked aquarium will slow or somehow impede the growth of nitrifying bacteria.

You don't have to have a diatom filter to have crystal clear water. Back when i was breeding angels the water was so clear in the breeding tanks, the pics of the fish looked like the fish were suspended in the air. The tanks had sponge filters and frequent partial water changes.

FRex, I don't think cleaning your filters monthly will cause you problems but unless you are stripping away all biofilter when you clean.

Mark

[FrontosaurusRex]

i dont know what to do!!

My angel tank and my south american tank usually stay pretty clear. ( i know, EK, they could be clearer) but my Front tank (the only tank i really give &%^$ about) is always a little cloudy.

I'm gonna chill on the water change until Tues. Then i'll do a 30% water change. I'll let that chill until Friday and then do a 50% water change and we'll see if anything gets better.

Does that sound like a good plan?