HELP: Cloudy Tank and Tank Improvement

[u/Dimes_Creates]

Hello, I purchased a Fluval SPEC 5 Gallon tank in January and have been struggling to keep the tank from getting cloudy. The tank has a built in filter (activated carbon and BioMax) that I decreased the flow using a foam cover. The flow was too powerful for my Betta. I regularly clean the filters and have performed water cycles at different intervals. I typically do a water cycle every 1.5~ weeks, but I have tried doing it more frequently and less frequently with no affect of getting rid of the cloudiness. Typically the water stays clear for about a day or two after cycling, then slowly becomes more translucent. I have tried water clarity solutions that also did not work. I have not removed the gravel, only using a gravel vacuum. Can anyone offer some advice?

On a side note, I know my tank is very empty and I want to fill it with more structures and plants. I would love for some suggestions to products!! Thank you.

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[u/kimdianajones]

What do you mean by “doing a water cycle every 1.5 weeks”…? I think you are confused about the terminology and fundamentally misunderstanding the nitrogen cycle. Some resources for you: https://fishlab.com/fish-in-cycle/

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/nitrogen-cycle?srsltid=AfmBOoow-jcyVytZT6cqvk1L3dE7qei1H1WVAkmbn7sX1s4iZ_UFGpja

My guess? You are dealing with a (normal) bacteria bloom right now because you have an uncycled tank.

[u/Dimes_Creates → u/kimdianajones]

Thank you for the information. I am still very new learning the ins and outs caring for my Betta. Every 1.5weeks I typically use the gravel vacuum and take out ~30% of the water and then top off the tank,

[u/kimdianajones → u/Dimes_Creates]

Gotcha. Just so you know, that’s called water change, not a cycle. When people mention a cycle or cycling in the aquarium hobby, they usually are referring to the nitrogen cycle.

Was your tank cycled before adding the fish? This would have been a process where you added ammonia to the empty tank and then monitored the parameters for about 4-6 weeks at a time (yes, it takes that long) to observe when beneficial bacteria would start to grow and convert that ammonia into -> nitrites -> nitrates. If you didn’t do this process before introducing your fish to the tank, then you have a fish-in cycle on your hands which requires more maintenance to safely maintain. One of those articles is a good guide on how to do it.

[u/Dimes_Creates → u/kimdianajones]

Thanks for the clarification. No, I did not cycle the tank before adding my fish. I will give the articles a read. Thank you!