Who Gives A Fish Forums

My Discus fry tank water is looking cloudy after a recent feeding. I've got a 20 gallon tank with sponge filtration, temp at 84F, and do 30% water changes every other day. Anyone else deal with this? It's been 3 days since I noticed it.

Yep, cloudy water can be a vibe with fry tanks. What're you feeding them? I had the same issue when I overdid beef heart. Try cutting back a bit and see if it clears up in a day or two.

Cloudiness usually means bacterial bloom. Check your ammonia and nitrite levels. If they're zero, it's probably just excess food. I'd do a small water change and maybe rinse the sponge filter in tank water.

Dawn wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 6:20 am Yep, cloudy water can be a vibe with fry tanks. What're you feeding them? I had the same issue when I overdid beef heart. Try cutting back a bit and see if it clears up in a day or two.

Dawn's spot on. Overfeeding is the usual suspect. I'd also check your filter flow rate. If it's too low, debris can settle and cloud things up.

Cloudy water in fry tanks is often due to overfeeding or insufficient filtration. What's your current feeding schedule? For my fry, I feed small amounts 4 times a day and use a pre-filter sponge to catch excess food. Also, ensure your water changes are consistent with aged, temperature-matched water.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll cut back on feeding and do an extra water change today. I'm using a mix of baby brine shrimp and crushed flakes, maybe I went too heavy on the flakes.

Flakes can definitely mess with water clarity. Try switching to frozen baby brine shrimp or microworms. They're easier to clean up and less likely to cloud the water. Also, how old's your sponge filter? Might need a gentle rinse.

I had this exact issue last month. Turned out my sponge filter was clogged and not circulating enough. Gave it a quick rinse in tank water and boom, clear by the next day. Also, try feeding less but more often.

Cloudy water's sketchy but usually not a big deal. Just keep an eye on the fry. If they're acting normal, it's probably just a phase. Chill and let the filter do its thing.

I'd double-check your water conditioner too. Some brands can cause temporary cloudiness if overdosed. What're you using? I switched to Seachem Prime and never looked back.