Dealing with cloudy water after a water change

[Lioness]

I've had crystal clear water after changes for years, no issues. This tank's less than 6 months old and it's been the same - until the last 2 water changes. Now, the water goes cloudy within hours, only to clear up by the next day. I'm not worried, just puzzled. Nothing's changed with my water change routine or maintenance. Parameters are fine, fish are okay, it's just weird. I've done the same thing for 5 months with this tank, and now suddenly it's cloudy every time. I've got pics of before and after the water change.

[kokomo]

That cloudiness you're seeing could be a microbial bloom. It's pretty common in newer tanks like yours, since the ecosystem is still figuring out its balance of beneficial bacteria. Those bacteria are what break down waste, but even a small water change can throw them off and cause a temporary spike in free-floating bacteria, making the water cloudy.

This usually happens in tanks under 6 months old, which fits your situation. The good news is that this cloudiness is usually harmless and clears up on its own within a day or two, just like you've been seeing. If that's what's going on, there's no need to worry. The tank will naturally re-establish its bacterial equilibrium. And with time, all should go back to normal when you do water changes.

[wandg]

I recall my initial tank cycle, the bloom persisted for nearly two weeks before clearing up.

[TankWarrior]

I learned a trick a while back that can help with hazy water after a change. A water change can stir up small particles, making the water look cloudy. It usually clears up on its own within a few hours once the filter kicks in. However, I found that adding a temporary second filter with all the media can speed up the process. I always keep a spare filter on hand for this purpose, so I'm not too concerned about hazy water anymore. As long as I know the water is clean, I'm good.

[WildFins]

I've experienced this myself - it's indeed a bacterial bloom, completely harmless. The explanation I was given is that these bacteria are different from the beneficial ones in the nitrogen cycle. They feed on organic matter, and when we dechlorinate the water, it creates an environment where they can thrive. However, their population eventually crashes, and the water clears up. It's a common occurrence, especially when starting a new tank. I still notice it sometimes after a large water change, but it always resolves itself.

[Snout]

I'm curious to know if anyone else has experienced this issue and found a solution. When you do a water change, do you clean the filter or the filter media at the same time? I'm wondering if that might be contributing to the cloudiness.

Also, do you add any chemicals or additives during a water change, and if so, at what dosage? I've been doing things the same way for months, but I'm open to trying something new if it might help resolve this issue.