# Fish tank a little cloudy

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-a-little-cloudy/388095>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 15, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-a-little-cloudy/388095 "2007-01-15T18:14:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![defaultusername](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@defaultusername](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/defaultusername)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-a-little-cloudy/388095/1 "2007-01-15T18:14:41Z")

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Yesterday I bought a 10 gallon tropical fish tank with heater. I added them today, and I can’t help but notice that the water is a little cloudy. Not gross looking, just less than absolutely clear like it was earlier. Filter is working fine. Should I give it time to clear itself out, or is this to be expected?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-a-little-cloudy/388095/2 "2007-01-15T18:22:51Z")

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[QUOTE=defaultusername]  
Should I give it time to clear itself out, or is this to be expected?  
[/QUOTE]

Yes, give it a couple days, and if it doesn’t improve enough for your taste, you can pick up some [aquarium clarifier](http://www.petsolutions.com/Aquarium+Clarifiers-C-10392-C-.aspx) drops at the pet store. That will cause any particulate matter suspended in the water to precipitate out.

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**Author:** ![quelquechose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/6f9a4e/32.png) [@quelquechose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quelquechose)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-a-little-cloudy/388095/3 "2007-01-15T19:43:55Z")

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Yes, that is normal. When setting up a new tank the water may become cloudy for a few days as the tank cycles, but if cloudiness persists, it could be a sign that the tank is overstocked and/or you are overfeeding the fish.