Turbid water in the aquarium: what to do?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

What problem do many fish lovers have to face? Of course, this is cloudy water in the aquarium. Not only a recently equipped, new artificial reservoir is capable of losing transparency. Aquarium "with experience" is also not immune from this scourge. Turbidity can be accompanied by a specific smell, which causes inconvenience not only to fish, but also to humans. It is necessary to find out the causes of water pollution and take appropriate measures.

Turbid water in the aquarium: biological factors

So, first you need to determine the reasons. Turbid water in an aquarium is a problem that can occur under the influence of biological factors.

• Overpopulation of the reservoir. The fish house may lose transparency if it has too many inhabitants. Poor filtering exacerbates the situation.
• Big fish intank. Active movement of large breeds can also cause cloudy water.
• Food leftovers. Inexperienced fish lovers can give their wards so much food that they are not able to consume at one time. Overfeeding leads to the fact that microparticles of feed settle on plants, soil, decor elements. Bacteria multiply in the water, which is the reason for its cloudiness.
• Rotting plants. Cloudy water in an aquarium is a problem that can occur if the vegetation is not properly cared for. Her death causes contamination of the reservoir.

It is important to remember that an aquarium is not just an element of interior decoration. This is the place where microorganisms are born, live and die. The result is the active growth of pathogenic microflora.

Mechanical factors

Why is there cloudy water in an aquarium if its owners do not make the mistakes discussed above? This can also occur under the influence of mechanical factors.

• Incorrect startup. When buying a tank, beginners are in a hurry to start it, forgetting about the need for careful processing of each element. Poorly washed soil alone is enough to make the water cloudy.
• Wrong scenery. The fish house must not be filled with decorations painted with poor quality paint.
• Poor aquarium maintenance. The tank is poorly cleaned of fish waste, dead organic matter and food residues. These particles accumulatemultiply.

The color of cloudy water

How to determine the source of the problem? Why does the water in the aquarium become cloudy? Its color will help to understand this. What is the dregs?

• Greenish. This shade indicates rotting algae.
• Brown. The source of the problem is poorly crafted decorative elements made of wood.
• White. This color indicates the reproduction of unicellular microorganisms.
• Ground color. Low-quality stones are used to decorate the tank.

After replacement

Which situation deserves a closer look? The problem often occurs after a water change. Turbid water in the aquarium is a sign that this procedure has done more harm than good. What mistake could fish lovers make? If most or all of the water has been replaced, this has led to the failure of the biological balance. Update should be up to one third of the total volume of liquid. This is done approximately once a week.

If the problem has already arisen, it is necessary to contribute to the restoration of biological balance. To do this, add liquid from the old reservoir.

After restart

What other situation should be considered? What causes cloudy water in the aquarium after restarting? The source of the problem may be a clogged filter that is not able to remove microscopic debris. The device needs regular washing and cleaning. It cannot also be ruled out thatpoor cleaning system.

First run

It happens that the water becomes cloudy when you first start the tank. This is due to the fact that the biological balance has not yet been established in the aquarium. In this case, you need to wait a few days. During this period, increased reproduction of unicellular organisms will occur. Fish cannot be put into the tank at this time.

Microorganisms themselves will partially die off after they absorb all the edible organic matter. Their number will remain at a level that is necessary for the processing of organic matter supplied with feed. Biological balance will be established.

Ways to fight

The above is about what cloudy water in an aquarium can be associated with. What to do in this case? There are various ways to solve the problem, which are discussed below. In some cases, you have to use several methods at the same time.

• Special preparations. Means designed for chemical water treatment will help to quickly put the tank in order. They must be used in accordance with the instructions, which you must definitely read. Funds can be used no more than two or three times a year.
• Carbon filters. With their help, it is easy to get rid of microparticles of various origins that clog the aquarium.
• Oxygen saturation (aeration). This method will help those who are faced with constant turbidity of the water in the tank. If you saturate the reservoir with oxygen, it will be cleaned and again become habitable. If the procedure is carried out incorrectly, air bubbles form on the walls of the vessels and the surface of the plants. Air compressors, soil filters, cleaning filters with an air pumping function, specialized pumps are considered to be proven and safe devices for aeration.
• Reducing the light intensity. If the water in the aquarium has a greenish color associated with the growth of microscopic algae, then this measure is relevant. However, if at the same time the tank exudes an unpleasant odor, a film forms on the plants, then it is first necessary to thoroughly clean the internal surfaces of the aquarium and the soil.
• Replacement or cleaning of soil. This method will certainly help if insufficient cleaning or poor quality of the composition has led to clouding.

What else can you do

What other solutions to the problem exist. The resettlement of the inhabitants of the aquarium can help. This measure should be considered if overcrowding is the cause of haze. If you remove the "extra" fish from the tank, the problem will disappear.

Reducing feed may also help. The measure is relevant if the turbidity was caused by food residues in the aquarium. Also, the fish can clean the tank on their own by eating something that has not been eaten before. To do this, it is enough not to give food to the inhabitants of the aquarium for several days.

How to prevent

There is hardly anyan aquarium owner who wants to constantly deal with the problem of turbidity. It is easier to prevent its occurrence, and following the rules listed below will help in this.

• A common cause of cloudy water in an aquarium is replacing all the liquid at the same time. It is necessary to update up to one third of the total volume.
• Before starting the tank, it is important to thoroughly rinse the soil, internal surfaces and decorative elements.
• New decorations should also be thoroughly cleaned before being put into the aquarium.
• It is necessary to control the condition of the soil, clean it up in a timely manner.
• An artificial reservoir must be equipped with high-quality filters that will help maintain its contents in good condition.
• Rotted, dead plants should be removed from the aquarium immediately.
• Don't overfeed the inhabitants of the tank. It is also recommended to alternate dry food with other types of food, such as larvae.

It is enough to follow these simple rules in order to never again have to think about how to solve the problem of cloudy water in the aquarium. It cannot be ignored, since the appearance of turbidity negatively affects the condition of the inhabitants of the reservoir, and can lead to their premature death.