Cloudy Water?

[kjnorman]

Hey folks.

I have a friend who is having a problem with her axolotl tank - the water suddenly became cloudy a couple days ago. It was an established tank that had had no changes to routine or new additions of decor, plants, anything in over 6 months, filtered, water parameters tested normal, it just became cloudy and after a couple days was so cloudy that she couldn't even see the axolotl.

Possibly it was triggered by over-feeding, but I don't really know.

Unfortunately she panicked and did a complete water change and washed everything, including the filter and filter material, with hot tap water, so she's crashed her cycle.
And now the cloudiness is coming back.

I suggested to her to get some filter media from someone with an established tank, and to do partial water changes of 30-50% for the next few days until she doesn't notice the cloudiness anymore, then start cutting back on the amount/frequency of water changes until she's back to normal, and also to get an air stone if she doesn't have one and replace her carbon filter unit, but other folks in the Facebook group we met through are saying this is wrong.

From what I can find, it seems like a sound suggestion - but what do you guys think? Did I give her bad advice? I used the same protocol on a fish tank years ago with success, but maybe that was just luck. Is there anything else she can try?

Thanks!

 

[Velice]

Sounds like a bacterial bloom which isn't too uncommon in an uncycled tank. </br> She is currently doing a fish-in cycle and should read what that entails. Axoltols are more sensitive to ammonia than fish, so daily water changes are necessary. As large as it takes to keep the ammonia down below .5ppm. A liquid test kit will make monitoring the cycling process easier. Make sure she is keeping the tank clean of uneaten food and also waste as these will foul the water and cause spikes in ammonia. Stop cleaning the filter or it will never grow the needed bacteria. A charcol insert won't do much and isn't needed. The same is usually true for the airstone.

 

[kjnorman]

Okay, thanks Velice, sounds good, I'll let her know.