(08-18-2014, 05:41 AM)tess pfeif Wrote: Cloudy water can be from several factors. Another poster has given you tons of great tips, I just thought I would add some things or give a different perspective! It could be a bacterial bloom, which happens at the beginning of cycling. I would suggest doing partial water changes frequently. Thorough cleaning and feeding less often also helps control bacterial blooms. Seachem Prime is a great product- it is the best and most concentrated water dechlorinator/conditioner if you are looking for one of those to help the tank!
SeaChem Prime is one of the water conditioners which will get rid of chlorine and chloramine from the tap water in order to make the tap water safe to use for the aquarium fish. A secondary function of SeaChem Prime which is unique, it can detoxify ammonia and temporarily turn it into relatively harmless ammonium.
It will not stop bacteria boom. Nor we want to stop bacteria boom. If a fish keeper never did fishless cycling before he added the fish, he will want the bacteria boom to get the (fish in) cycle done as quick as possible. You do not want to get rid of the good bacteria, you want them and you want more of them as soon as possible in a uncycled fish tank.
Partial water change will help lower the ammonia and nitrite buildup in an uncycled fish tank to relief some stress for the (dying) fish. Yes, most fish will die in an uncycled aquarium. Yes, the aquarium filter will try to cycle itself once the fish is in and the ammonia is building up, but most fish will not make it through the entire cycling process before getting killed by the toxic ammonia and nitrite. It is why we always recommend fishless cycling = cycle the aquarium before getting any fish at all.
