Expert: Susan Fields - 2/12/2006

Question
My Neighbor has 55 gal aquarium and is frustrated about the cloudy water, she has told me that she does partial water changes etc I believe once a week, I'm not sure how much water she changes.  Will this eventually clear up itself, or is there something that she could do to clear it up.  Also on a large tank as this should the use of a power head be needed?  And finally, how many fish can you have in a tank this size?  Any info would be great!!
Thanks,
Ed

Answer
Hello Ed,
Your fellow neighbor needs to do more water changes. Cloudy water is often a sign there are too many nutrients that bacteria are feeding on the water in such numbers that they cloud it up. Too many nutrients can be from overfeeding or too high a fish population.

A newly setup aquarium can also take on this common cloudiness problem as well. The aquarium is not yet established yet and requires time and a lot of patience.
The best thing she can do for her aquarium on all cases is everyday water changes and a lot of patience. Trust me, water changes will eventually cure it. It will go away, but it may take a while--sometimes a few days, sometimes a few weeks. Please be sure to tell your fellow neighbor to always dechlorinate and try to equalize the temperature the temperature of the replacement water to that of the aquarium. This is very important!

New aquariums have to go through the "cycling" period which means allowing beneficial bacteria to develop and establish a colony large enough to sustain a population of fish. These beneficial critters are what helps keep all aquariums healthy and able to keep fish. These bacteria consume harmful toxic ammonia that is a waste product by the fish. They later convert that into nitrite which is a byproduct of ammonia and is still toxic. Once more bacteria later convert the nitrite into the least harmful of them all NiTRATE. Which is the end cycle of it all and removed best by your frequent water changes.

These beneficial critters need time to establish and new aquariums must be stocked slowly with only a few fish to avoid overloading the system and the fish literally pollute
their tank to the point of doing extreme harm to themselves without the helpful bacteria well established yet. Four or five hardy fish like Black skirt tetras are great for cycling. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels can all be monitered by test kits and it is a must that ammonia levels are tested everyday when the aquarium is cycling. A high ammonia spike is very common in new setups and a water change of 30-50% should always be preformed if test results are in the unsafe reading for the sake of the fish. No fish no matter how hardy--should ever be subjected to high ammonia or nitrite levels.
When ammonia and nitrite levels finally lower and drop to zero and nitrates are on the rise, the aquarium is cycled! More fish can be added but it must be slowly to allow the bacterial colony to deal with the new arrivals.

I have had good luck with the use of simple Hang-on-the-back power filters on most of my aquariums. Depending on what types of fish she plans to keep the average fish and one that is not large or one that puts a large bioload on the aquarium these types work great. By powerhead--do you mean one attached to the empty up tube of Undergravel filters? For the best luck, HOB (hang on back) power filters work great and there are brands being developed nearly every day it seems that are better than yesteryears. Penguin and Emperor are excellent brands! Cascade power filters also are great!
HOB filters are easy to maintain and provide good filtrations chemically, mechanically, and biologically.
Chemically through the use of aquarium carbon on the filter cartridge to remove discolored water and some pollutants. Mechanically by trapping floating debri in the filter floss material. And finally biologically by beneficial bacteria living all over the cartridge filter and sometimes the biowheel(s) which come with the new designs.

How many fish? This is extremely hard. There really is no set rule. It depends on what species of fish, how many water changes she is willing to preform, and how much time she has on her hands for care considerations.
I will be happy to list some tried and proven fish combinations for that size aquarium if she wishes.
Just let me know and I will list some excellent stocking schemes she may want to consider which will avoid overcrowding the tank but providing good color and diversity.

Be assured, with everyday water changes of 40-50% the aquarium will clear up. Aquariums take a lot of patience and this common occurance certainly will need lots.
I know what she is going through! ;-) But in the past my  once cloudy aquariums were always cleared by every day large water changes and careful, careful feedings.

I really hope this helps! If you have anymore questions, feel free to email me...

My very best wishes and Happy fishkeeping!
Karen~   (Tell her Good luck for me!!!)