Cloudy water in established tank??

[Crispy]

Hey all, had my 130 gallon tank up and running for 20 months now without even the slightest problem. I've always been a tad overstocked, but take great care of my tank. I've always done 30% water changes twice a week (every other day if feeding messy foods) and my water has always been crystal clear. Yesterday I wake up to find my tank is very cloudy... 12 hours earlier it was clear (did a light 10 gallon vacuuming and wc before bed that night). Fish show no signs of stress and are eating as usual. Water params are normal. Only changes I have recently made is:

- 5 weeks ago got rid of 7 fish and added 2 (lowering my bioload)
- one week ago I added some floating water lettuce and hyacinth... I did this last summer with no problems
- 5 days ago I added an AC70 powerhead w/quickchange filter (filter is just a polishing pad)
- 1 day ago fed messy earthworms
- 2 days ago fed zuchhini and watermelon to the plecos

figuring it was a decaying worm or veggie, I removed all decor and did a 80% water change.... water was better, but not crystal clear like usual. This morning is a bit better (14 hours after 80%wc), but still a bit cloudy.

My only theories atm are micro-bubbles from the powerhead all of a sudden?
Could it be a die-off of bacteria since I've reduced my bioload??
Maybe the plants have started some kind of bacterial bloom??

Tank has 2x AC110s which are cleaned at seperate intervals (about a month apart) so I know I'm not in a mini-cycle or anything... both filters are well seeded (all sponges). I also run an airstone if that makes any difference. Kind of pulling my hair out here and would appreciate any insight. Fish are in my sig... I'll try to get a pic of the tank up...

 

[JakeH]

That happens to my tanks on occasion, too. I dont know what causes it, but it seems to clear itself up after a few days. WC's help, unless you think thats where the cloudiness came from...

 

[Mr Pleco]

I had this happen to my tanks from time to time with no real reason why?
Tests came back OK, phospates, PH, AMM? then a day or two later the tank would clear.

Never had this issue again once I installed a UV on every tank.

 

[bigspizz]

Bacteria relocation the the power heads polishing pad, would be an option to consider. Maybe something settled in the substrate, and was released in the cleaning, would be another.

 

[Crispy]

substrate is quite shallow and vacuumed twice a week... I don't think it's that. Tank is almost clear, but still not perfect. I might turn off the powerhead if the water isn't crystal clear within another 12 hours. Fish are still fine.. hmm...

 

[TangoWRX]

What colour is it? If green it is algae bloom. I expect it is just a whitish colour, which is most likey a bacteria bloom. It is a common thing and normally goes in a few days and the only issue I have read about is low oxygen in the water as the bacteria use it up. Keep the water airated and keep an eye on the ammonia levels, reduced feeding will also help. I got it once when I over cleaned my filter and the tank did a mini cycle over a few days.

As Mr Pleco said if you get this often then a UV will stop it.

 

[Crispy]

Thanks for all the help everyone... it was a whitish color and is almost gone now. First time I've had this cloudy water in the whole 20 months the tank has been setup. Fish are all fine....

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

The same thing happened to me the other day without changing anything on my set-up. Nitrite and ammonia were undetectable. I have massive capacity for biofiltration. No clue what it was. A water change cleared it up.

HarleyK