JohnnyR711

So I gave up on the idea of trying the DSM in my 40 gallon breeder with MTS covered with Estes black gravel after nearly all of my purchased plants turned brown or white. I removed all the plants I could, let the gravel / substrate dry out a few days while thinking I might try again then decided to fill the tank instead and proceed the usual way. The tank has a large piece of mopani wood that was previously soaked for months and some slate pieces and 2 slate caves.
I filled the tank very very carefully so that there was very little disturbance and wound up with only small pieces I cleaned out with a small net and a slight film on top. I used a combination of conditioned tap water (Tetra Aqua Safe Plus) and water from my other running planted aquariums. I also added a large Aqueon Power filter with bio-rings from one of my planted tanks to seed this new set up, a brand new Aqueon carbon packet and floss.
The water has been cloudy for a couple of days and I have just let it run with only the large filter running, no lights and no heater as there are no plants or fish in it.
If I continue to do this should it clear up on its own or should I add the lights and a heater - I am in no hurry to complete this tank so if allowing it to clear on its own is best I am certainly willing to do that. It has been a while since I have seen this new tank syndrome cloudiness so I was just seeking advice - thanks to all responders

Diana K

It should clear up, but why wait?

I would:
1) Drain it
2) Aquascape (rocks, driftwood, hills and valleys)
3) Plant
4) Refill using the same careful method you used before. Allowing the water to run in slowly over a plate or plastic bag will minimize clouding, but not stop it altogether.
5) Begin the fishless cycle.

If you do not want to do 1 through 4, at least get started on the fishless cycle. When you are ready to aquascape the cycle will be that much further along, and you will be closer to being ready for fish.

I just filled a 'new to me' tank to test for leaks. I just dumped the substrate in through the water, a sure way to guarantee cloudy water, and sure enough I could not see through it yesterday. Today it is down to a light haze without filtration. Just one power head keeping some water movement going, and a big handful of duckweed. (no leaks by the way, but the tank is not level. Darn.)

JohnnyR711

Thanks Diana K. I have already added DW and slate hard scape with the only thing missing being plants. I am actually going to shut down a 29 gallon tank I have running now and transfer all of its fish and plants to the now cycling tank once it is ready. I changed back to 2 small Aqueon power filters with pre-filter sponges on the intakes set well above the gravel, both have floss, activated carbon and bio rings. I also now have added a black bio-sponge from my now unused Cascade canister filter and I also added a mesh bag filled with some gravel from 2 running tanks both of which are situated near the filters output flow. Yesterday after doing some more research on cycling tanks I squeezed out the pre-filter sponges on my other 2 tanks and put that 'dirty but bacteria filled water' into the new tank. I also added 3 danios and a platty for ammonia so the produced bacteria wouldn't starve. I believe that with all the waste and the amount of beneficial bacteria that will be made this should be a healthy, cycled tank in no time at all. Thank you again.