Algae or bacteria bloom

[Joshuakahan]

This is the first time I’ve had this issue with cloudy water
The tank is an established 75 with a 7” mala wolf, the wolf has been in here for about 5 months but the tank has been running for a couple years.
nitrates are 10, zero ammonia and nitrite
Filters are two bio wheel 350s packed with sponges and ceramic rings
I do 50% WC weekly
I feed silversides, shrimp and night crawlers 3xs a week as much as he can eat in 1 minute roughly
The light is on around 12hrs a day and gets some natural light
The cloudiness started around a month ago and has gotten worse
Any ideas are appreciated

 

[Rocksor]

So what happens when you wipe the side panels, does the side panel get clearer? If you turn off the filters is there an oil slick or does the water foam up when doing a water change. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's more likely related to the diet and protein coming from the food as it gets eaten. Tiny bits go a long way to feeding algae and heterotrophic bacteria. It's probably a combination of both diatoms and bacteria due to feeding.

 

[Joshuakahan]

So what happens when you wipe the side panels, does the side panel get clearer? If you turn off the filters is there an oil slick or does the water foam up when doing a water change. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's more likely related to the diet and protein coming from the food as it gets eaten. Tiny bits go a long way to feeding algae and heterotrophic bacteria. It's probably a combination of both diatoms and bacteria due to feeding.

When I wipe the panels, the glass gets clearer but the water stays cloudy. There’s no oil slick or foam when I do WCs. He does make a mess when eating though. Also right after a WC the water is clear for about a day

 

[Rocksor]

It's related to nutrients in the water. The first thing to try is to turn off the overhead lighting and only keep it on for your viewing pleasure for about 2 hours in the evening when it's dark. If you don't really look at it at night, then just keep the overhead lights off.

 

[ADawson23]

How close is the aquarium to a window or light source? How often you you gravel vac?

 

[Joshuakahan]

It's related to nutrients in the water. The first thing to try is to turn off the overhead lighting and only keep it on for your viewing pleasure for about 2 hours in the evening when it's dark. If you don't really look at it at night, then just keep the overhead lights off.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Joshuakahan]

How close is the aquarium to a window or light source? How often you you gravel vac?

The tanks in the garage but light comes in through gaps in the garage door from about 20 feet away. I don’t vac since I have a ton of MTS

 

[ADawson23]

It could be Excessive buildup in the gravel next water change try vacuuming a 1/4 to maybe half of the gravel then the other half next water change. Maybe even break it up into 3 sections over the next 3 or 4 water changes.

 

[Rocksor]

So your post just got me thinking to check my main aquarium since I had the same issue years ago. I fed the fish every other day and in the past year have resorted to feeding once a week. It’s pretty clear across 8 feet looking end to end. I haven’t changed my maintenance routine , and only reduced feeding to once a week. it’s clear now even with diatom algae and green spot algae growing on the sides.

Reduce feeding and upping the maintenance should clear the water. Upping the maintenance for you means vacuuming the substrate

 

[Joshuakahan]

It could be Excessive buildup in the gravel next water change try vacuuming a 1/4 to maybe half of the gravel then the other half next water change. Maybe even break it up into 3 sections over the next 3 or 4 water changes.

I’ll give it a shot but I stirred the gravel a little just now and there wasn’t much of a cloud coming from it