Cloudy water despite several water changes

[Trinitrophenol]

I need some help please! Recently my tank keeps getting cloudy even after 100% water change , cleaned/ boiled the accessories, 100% reset (new setup) doesn't works too..

1st setup was with Hamburg Matten Filter, lasted for a year or two before the water started to get cloudy and I decided to change the filter and setup, the problems started from then on.. No matter what I did, the cloudiness came back (After a week or so) . Adding/Not adding starter bacteria doesn't seem to make a difference.. What's going on with my tank??

Here's the pics
First setup with HMF


After a year++


Didn't took the 2nd tank change..It became cloudy after a week..
this is the third (I changed to sponge filter and boiled all accessories )


After a week.. its cloudy AGAIN


Changed entire setup , washed the tank , got new substrate , new filter, didn't add the starter bacteria this time


Guess what?

[KenCotigirl]

First. Nice tanks. I like the decor. Especially the Sponge Bob tank. I can only speak for the Mustafa method. (No filters infrequent feeding) New Tanks get cloudy but clear up as the tank ages. A few weeks a few months. Occasionally a clear tank clouds up but that lasts only a week or two. Over feeding is usually the cause but I am sure temperature and lighting, sudden changes, add to it. One last thing to add your surfaces look very clean. So is the substrate. Over cleaning the filter could make a little issue a bigger problem. Let us see what Mustafa has to say.

Ken

[Mustafa]

Ken basically said it. You're probably feeding too much and bacteria thrive...plus, a tank needs to sit there and find its balance. If you keep messing with it you keep disturbing that process.

First a few questions: How often do you feed? How long does it take the shrimp to eat it? Are the shrimp interested int the food at all? Bottom line is that the best way to get rid of cloudiness is to stop feeding. It may take days, weeks or even months (the shrimp will be fine), but your tank will be crystal clear at the end of it.

[Trinitrophenol]

I feed about once a week with a 2mm scoop of spirulina powder, the shrimps are all over the place eating the algae , I guess I will stop feeding for now till I see improvements? I got another suggestion to use canister filter instead of sponge filter , would that help?

[KenCotigirl]

The recommendation of this site is no filter and infrequent feeding. Every other week or monthly. This does not mean you cannot but as Mustafa has said in other posts he has tried more conventional methods and his low tech method works best. These shrimp are found in pools with no real water movement. Their constant swimming caused by bubbles and other water movement is not their natural behavior. Does this stress the shrimp, does it reduce their life span? I do not know. One problem with other methods is it creates more variables to go wrong. At The first sign of trouble when using Mustafa's method is to stop feeding. It doesn't get easier than that.

[Trinitrophenol]

Ok noted , thanks KenCotigirl and Mustafa!

[Mustafa]

Good luck!

[Trinitrophenol]

Some updates, my gf decided to give me a surprise and bought me a canister filter (Shibura XB303) + purigen . Tried it out , turned the water flow to the lowest so I don't disturb the water, removed the air stone, and here's the results!

[KenCotigirl]

Looking good! Hey, where's Patrick's rock?