Discus fry tank water clarity

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Ace
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Dec 24, 2023 4:56 am

Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by Ace »

My Discus fry tank water is looking cloudy after a recent feeding. I've got a 20 gallon tank with sponge filtration, temp at 84F, and do 30% water changes every other day. Anyone else deal with this? It's been 3 days since I noticed it.
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Dawn
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 28, 2024 9:23 pm

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by Dawn »

Yep, cloudy water can be a vibe with fry tanks. What're you feeding them? I had the same issue when I overdid beef heart. Try cutting back a bit and see if it clears up in a day or two.
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Jumper
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:53 am

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by Jumper »

Cloudiness usually means bacterial bloom. Check your ammonia and nitrite levels. If they're zero, it's probably just excess food. I'd do a small water change and maybe rinse the sponge filter in tank water.
vital
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:40 pm

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by vital »

Dawn wrote: Tue Aug 12, 2025 6:20 am Yep, cloudy water can be a vibe with fry tanks. What're you feeding them? I had the same issue when I overdid beef heart. Try cutting back a bit and see if it clears up in a day or two.
Dawn's spot on. Overfeeding is the usual suspect. I'd also check your filter flow rate. If it's too low, debris can settle and cloud things up.
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angelic
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2024 5:46 pm

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by angelic »

Cloudy water in fry tanks is often due to overfeeding or insufficient filtration. What's your current feeding schedule? For my fry, I feed small amounts 4 times a day and use a pre-filter sponge to catch excess food. Also, ensure your water changes are consistent with aged, temperature-matched water.
Ace
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Dec 24, 2023 4:56 am

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by Ace »

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll cut back on feeding and do an extra water change today. I'm using a mix of baby brine shrimp and crushed flakes, maybe I went too heavy on the flakes.
midas
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:22 am

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by midas »

Flakes can definitely mess with water clarity. Try switching to frozen baby brine shrimp or microworms. They're easier to clean up and less likely to cloud the water. Also, how old's your sponge filter? Might need a gentle rinse.
garden
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 3:09 pm

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by garden »

I had this exact issue last month. Turned out my sponge filter was clogged and not circulating enough. Gave it a quick rinse in tank water and boom, clear by the next day. Also, try feeding less but more often.
WiseLynx
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2022 9:08 am

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by WiseLynx »

Cloudy water's sketchy but usually not a big deal. Just keep an eye on the fry. If they're acting normal, it's probably just a phase. Chill and let the filter do its thing.
Jazzie
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2022 11:13 pm

Re: Discus fry tank water clarity

Post by Jazzie »

I'd double-check your water conditioner too. Some brands can cause temporary cloudiness if overdosed. What're you using? I switched to Seachem Prime and never looked back.
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