My water is cloudy

Question
QUESTION: Hi Nathan,

My water in my new 10-gallon tank setup is cloudy. The tank has been running for about 2 weeks, and contains 4 Guppies. The fish are completely fine, and are very lively.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Bobby,

Cloudy water is very common in new tank setups. It is caused by bacterial bloom in the aquarium. Bacteria help by removing toxins produced by fish waste, notably ammonia. It is completely harmless to your fish, so don't worry about it! It will clear in one week or so. To speed up the process, performing 10% water changes daily will help.

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How long does the cycling process take?
Thanks in advance for your time and help, Nathan!

ANSWER: Hi Bobby,

The cycling process takes anywhere from 3 weeks to two months. On average, the process takes one month, but it takes about 2 months for your aquarium to become biologically stable.

Until the process is over, performing 10% water changes every 1-2 days will help greatly, because it will prevent any toxins from building up.

Good Luck with your aquarium!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One last thing,
Could Apple Snails go well with my guppies? I've seen them at my local pet store, and they look stunning!

Answer
Hi Bobby,

You're right - Apple snails are quite attractive! You'll be happy to hear that they will be perfect with your guppies! Apple snails help in the tank by reducing algae. They can go with any fish, except for Loaches and some varieties of Botia, because those fish eat snails.

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!