? about beneficial bacteria

[brigri]

I have a 75 gallon with 2 penguin 350. Now when I change the filters once a month should leave one old one in? My water all of a sudden got cloudy so I did a water change (50 %) and changed the filters. I have those round ceramic things that catch the bb. So should I put one the old ones back in? Not sure how it works: they tell you rinse your entire filter one a month. In doing so aren't you getting rid of your bb? Also any ideas on how to clear the cloudy water? more frequent water changes?
stock: 5" jurapari 6" black ghost knife 3" senegal bichir 4" pink kisser 12" caecillian worm 3" blue crayfish 3" dempsey 2" gold nugget pleco
I know its overstocked but I never had a problem with cloudy water. 125 gallon cycling

 

[Lupin]

Cloudy water happens when you clean the filter. Just clean the filter media with old tank water but do not overdo it. Leave little dirt in there where the bacteria reside. Even if you clean the whole filter media, there are still some bacteria harboring in the substrate.

 

[Noto]

Only rinse one filter at a time. All you want to do is remove the buildup that prevents water from flowing through the media; a gentle swish in a bucket of old tank water will do it.

The cloudy water is probably a bacterial bloom; lots of water changes will clear it up, and your filters should keep it from happening again once they are healthy.

 

[scorp]

Only rinse one filter at a time. All you want to do is remove the buildup that prevents water from flowing through the media; a gentle swish in a bucket of old tank water will do it.

The cloudy water is probably a bacterial bloom; lots of water changes will clear it up, and your filters should keep it from happening again once they are healthy.

I agree, Filter cleaning is heavily overrated. As long as you have the same output and nothing clogging the Filter (or in some cases chemical stuff inside you have to change), there is no need to clean the Filter whatsoever.

One of my Filters I haven't cleaned for a year now! I have to say, there were only 2 Teatraodon suvattii in the tank, but still, no need to do extra work.

Cheers

 

[FISHY FINGAZ]

i disagree about the whole water changes clearing the cloudy water. everytime i do water changes its cloudy at first but after a day or even hours after its chrystal clear again i think it has something to do with your bacteria contacting the water?

 

[12 Volt Man]

sounds more like a bacterial bloom from overfeeding/overstocking.

you said the water went cloudy and THEN you did a change?

so the cloudy water was there prior to the change? if so, watch the feeding levels.

thats likely the problem if so.