Settle this for us please!? about ammonia level?

Question

my friend says that high ammonia levels dont make the water cloudy. But i say that it does! who is right? thanks

Answer 1

well i say that it does

Answer 2

Ammonia doesn't cause cloudy water.

Cloudy water is mostly caused by a bacterial bloom, algae/diatom bloomor even as simple as not washing the gravel properly.

Higher ammonia does not cloud the water.

Answer 3

.....ammonia spiking in a tank allows for massive aerobic bacterial growth due to increased food supply

....the white cloudyness is actually the bacteria present eating the colorless ammonia

....changing water filter media may also trigger white clouds of blooming aerobic bacteria

...the bacteria eat ammonia, and colonies expand and shrink in size based on  the amount of available food

.....by removing filter colonies or by adding ammonia, offseting the bacteria to ammonia balance can trigger growth of new bacteria, hence white cloudiness

... there are aerobic bacteria that eat ammonia as well as nitrites

...anaerobic bacteria eat nitrates

...also live plants absorb ammonia and nitrates as food....and help keep clean, clear water

....filtration, water changes, and live plants all work together in keeping water clear

Answer 4

if you use "ammocarb" in your filters, the water will appear cloudy until it clears up. Cloudy water could be an early sign of algae bloom. The water will appear yellowish and will smell bad if ammonia is high. Keep your filters and filtration system clean. If you notice tiny white spots on your fish, time for treatment for "ich"...that will destroy your fish. The pet smart stores have treatment for that. Ich can make the water appear cloudy. If you notice food waste in the bottom, time to clean the rocks...the food left on the bottom can also make water look cloudy.

Answer 5

Well, if you have high ammonia, you will also have high nitrates and or nitrites most likely. And the combination of high any of these will in fact cause cloudy water.

Answer 6

Your friend is right.

Cloudy water is not necessarily a sign of high ammonia, but if something is going flooey in your tank, checking your ammonia is a very good idea.

Also check nitrites and nitrates.

Answer 7

You are right. The cloudiness is the chemicals transforming during the nitrogen cycle. And don't touch your filter until the cycle is complete.

Answer 8

ammonia may cause cloudy water,but waste is the most common reason,check the filter.

Answer 9

The most common cause of cloudy water in a new tank is a bacterial bloom. This is normal, and should clear up in a few days. Have you cycled your tank properly?

Answer 10

Cloudy water is usually a bloom of some sort of micro-organism. Bacteria, diatoms, algae etc, or some combo, feeding on excess nutrients in the water.

It may be related to ammonia in the water, or not.

So you can have cloudy water thats perfectly safe for fish.. And perfectly clear water thats toxic with ammonia.

Cloudy water indicates that Something is wrong, maybe it's ammonia, maybe it's not. Do water tests to work out what you actually need to do.

Ian