Hi there! I have a 150 gallon tank with 2 filters..a Whisper 60 and Marineland Penguin 350 biofilter. About 2 weeks ago I did a 20% water change (which I was told to do twice a month) and washed my filters and the water never cleared up. I felt so bad for my 2 juvenile (about 4-5 inches long) tiger oscars, 2 parrots and 2 small placos because I could barely see them. So yesterday I did around a 40% change and put new filters in (not new biowheels). The temp is 77, GH/KH are normal, ph=7.0-7.5, zero nitrates and barely 20ppm nitrates. I use Topfin medium floating/sinking cichlid food. The water is still cloudy. The fish look fine. I have had the tank established for about 5 months and this is the first time it won't clear up. I use a gravel cleaner cylinder when I clean it. I am new to this...any ideas???

hi you have two nitrate readings, which one is your nitrites, do you use water conditioner

zero nitrites and ~15-20ppm nitrates. Thanks for responding.

Yes, I use Aquasafe water conditioner

it might just be a small bacteria bloom, i would just leave it for a couple of days, it should clear up, maybe one of our other members might have some ideas for you, but your readings are fine, so i wouldnt worry to much

I hope you are right! Thank you for your advice.

what is your ammonia reading??? i notice and nitrate and nitrite reading but not ammonia.....

I don't have an ammonia reading on the strips I have. Any recommendation on a good kit to buy?

Wouldn't my fish be acting sick if the ammonia levels were bad? I had a 14inch albino oscar for 3 years after my father passed...I inherited him. He was old and died about a year ago. I had him for 3 years but never checked the ammonia levels. Maybe that's why he died! What do the fish act like when that happens?

firstly test strips are quite unreliable when it comes to water testing. i would recommend a test kit with a liquid reagent. personally i use api master test kit. it will have all the test that are needed for home aquaria use and is relatively inexpensive. also it has simple to use direction and imho is quite reliable.
generally they can be picked up at most lfs or large chains store like petsmart or petco for about $30 or so....

i use api, its a liquid test and they are very good

Thank you!