Hey, guys, I recently changed the gravel in my aquarium, and I didn't rinse out the new gravel quite well enough, so it has been somewhat cloudy in there. All the other params are perfect, so no worries there.

But ... my question is... is it okay for me to do daily water changes until it clears up, or will this hurt the cycle? (I do about 30% at a time)

Thanks!

Aqua

Good question. There was probably some good bacteria in the gravel too. I wouldn't change the filter for a while to get benefit from that bacteria. I'm new so I don't really know something like this. I would think the filter you are running would get all the particles out very shortly. Do you have a sponge filter? I never had one myself.

I wont be doing it everyday this can make it go into another cycle since when you took out the old gravel you took the good bugs with it. I might do it once every 2 days of 10-20% only. Also check the ammonia, and nitrites while this is going on. The could go nuts with out you knowing it.

Also what kind of filter is on the tank?

I agree with koko.
Doing water changes every day isn't the best thing.
And the trouble of doing it every day im sure you
have things to do.

So every 2 to 3 days should be good i hope that
water clears up soon.

just do your normal weekly 1/3 water changes, also let the dust settle. it worked for me, in a month there was no more dust

Well, if the bacteria was effected, it wasn't too bad, because ammonia and nitrite are still at 0, and nitrate between 5-10 -- and I have been monitoring this through the entirety of this ordeal.

I changed this gravel out over 2 weeks ago, so that was why I was concerned that it is still cloudy. I think maybe I didn't rinse the gravel out well enough.

Well, I guess I will do the every other day water changes. I had recently upped my water changes to twice a week to cut down on the cloudiness. And it always looks a little clearer after the changes, but I didn't want to change too much without asking first.

Koko - in answer to your question, it is a 29 gallon with a Penguin 330 on it.

Aqua

Doesn't matter how much you rinse new gravel it *always* turns the tank cloudy for a few days afterwards. Just do water changes every other or even every 3 days. You might find that adding carbon to the filter also helps - it cleared my tank completely within 3 days.

Thanks, Em. That's a good idea -- I'll do that tonight.

Aqua

I agree with koko 20% weekly is good and it will not screw with your cycle

Yah...the carbon is a great suggestion!

I too, would ease up on the water changes...let the good bugs get a chance to work things out!

I must say though, that I've never had a significant problem with new gravel and cloudiness...I rinse the heck out of the gravel though...I rinse until I think it's good, then I rinse some more!!