I am certainly not immune to dilemmas like yours. Two weeks ago I noted what a mess the living room 55 was and concluded that catch up water changes would never get the job and that there was the big job of gravel vacuuming about five times, wiping down the tank sides a couple of times and pulling every plant and ornament out and individually cleaning them off. A couple items had to be done twice.

I have the advantage of being able to put water in which had been in the thinly populated "set-up water tank." That filled up the 55 about 50% over two days. Having an in-tank canister filter on the bottom is convenient. Every day a few more gallons are quietly and gradually siphoned in. A second filter was also installed. The old one's filter media was rinsed until it was no longer scummy and no loose stuff rinsed out. It was still gray, hopefully indicating that some beneficial bacteria was still there.

Your situation sounds like a lament which we have, at some time, all offered up in some form: "The harder I try, the behinder I get!"

I think you touched on what you have to do. You mentioned that you did a large partial water change and the cloudiness cleared up for a few days. How many days was that period? How much water did you change? When the cloudiness began again, indicating that organic "stuff" was accumulating, did you consider doing another water change that day or the next?

You've piked my curiosity. Look forward to your data. :)