Cloudy water refuses to go away

Update: just tested for nitrates (as apparently the nitrite test kit is impossible to get locally) came up zilch. Have to wait untill friday to get the phosphate kit as I'm ordering the nitrite kit from amazon along with an aquatop if-450 filter.

Also noticed that the tetra whisper 10i even after having cut 3 impeller blades off, is a good amount of flow, but it doesn't really push it through the filter, instead I have to raise the cartridge up to force the water through it instead of over it. not happy with this filter at all.