discus tank water clarity hacks

[mrFluffy]

My discus tank water keeps getting cloudy after a few days, even with weekly 50% changes. Using a canister filter with sponge and bio media, tank is 75 gallons, temp at 84F, pH 6.8. Feed them frozen bloodworms twice a day. Any tips to keep it clear longer?

[LunaSky]

Cloudiness is likely bacterial blooms from overfeeding. Cut back to once daily, and try switching to a mix of pellets and frozen. Also, check your filter flow rate, might need to bump it up if it's under 300 GPH for a 75g.

[Finny]

Cloudiness is likely bacterial blooms from overfeeding. Cut back to once daily, and try switching to a mix of pellets and frozen. Also, check your filter flow rate, might need to bump it up if it's under 300 GPH for a 75g.

Yep, agree with this. I had the same issue till I dialed back feeding. Also, add some purigen to your filter, works wonders for clarity.

[JUSTICE]

Bacterial blooms are common with high bioload. What's your nitrate level? If it's above 20ppm, you're overfeeding or under-filtering. Test your tap water too, sometimes it's got silicates or phosphates fueling the cloudiness. A UV sterilizer can help if it's persistent.

[Buddy]

I've had luck with adding more plants. Floating ones like frogbit suck up excess nutrients fast. Also, try rinsing your filter media in tank water during changes, not tap. Chlorine kills the good bacteria.

[leemike]

I've had luck with adding more plants. Floating ones like frogbit suck up excess nutrients fast. Also, try rinsing your filter media in tank water during changes, not tap. Chlorine kills the good bacteria.

Plants are a great call. If you're not into live plants, even a pack of pothos cuttings with roots in the water can cut nitrates by half. Just keep the leaves out.

[Taleno]

Yo, try a finer filter pad in your canister. The sponge might not catch the tiny stuff. Also, how old's your substrate? If it's over a year, it might be trapping gunk. Vacuum it deep next water change.

[mrFluffy]

Thanks for all the advice, gonna try cutting feedings and adding purigen first. Appreciate the help!

[Rider]

If you're using tap water, check if your conditioner's expired. Old ones don't bind ammonia right, which can mess with clarity. Also, weird vibe but… you got any driftwood? Sometimes tannins make water look cloudy even if it's not.

[Gone]

Cloudy water's usually a sign of imbalance. Test your ammonia and nitrite too, not just nitrate. If either's above zero, your cycle might've crashed. Also, avoid overcleaning the filter, you'll strip the good bacteria.