| When we initially set up our saltwater aquariums, we | | | | a look at how often you are feeding your fish, and |
| think of beautiful vibrantly colored fish swimming | | | | whether they are consuming all the food. Adding |
| around in pristine water. Unfortunately, from time to | | | | bottom feeders to your tank and less food to the |
| time anyone involved in the hobby offish keeping will | | | | tank during feedings should correct the problem. You |
| have to deal with cloudy aquarium water. In this | | | | will also want to take a look at the overall condition |
| article, we will take a look at the most common | | | | of your tank. If you are growing, live plants, be sure |
| cloudy aquarium water causes and the corrective | | | | to prune them and remove any debris in the tank. A |
| action you need to take for each. The color of the | | | | few partial water changes would also be helpful here. |
| cloudy aquarium water causes us to look at a | | | | A word of caution! Do not over do it, when cleaning |
| different area of the tank for solutions. Lets go | | | | the gravel. Remember, the goal here is to create a |
| through some of the colors you may see in your | | | | healthy colony of bacteria in the gravel. Extreme |
| aquarium and the under laying problems they point to. | | | | cleaning can be counterproductive to the goal. |
| New substrate | | | | Algae Bloom |
| Cloudy aquarium water causes the new fish keeper | | | | Green cloudy aquarium water causes experienced fish |
| to panic, but it really should not. Lets start by taking | | | | keeper to immediately think - algae. What you need |
| a look at your initial tank setup. Your first experience | | | | to do is determine the reason for the algae |
| with cloudy aquarium water may very well happen | | | | overgrowth. The problem can most likely be traced |
| before you ever complete your tank setup or add | | | | back to one of four causes. Excess nitrates, too |
| any fish. Almost any substrate or gravel, you | | | | much light, excess nutrients or excess phosphates. |
| purchase will contain dust. Many new aquarium | | | | Lets take a look at these. As your fish go through |
| keepers will either not rinse or not adequately rinse | | | | their daily routine, they eliminate waste products that |
| the substrate before adding it to the tank. The | | | | increase the ammonia levels in your tank. This |
| solution to this problem, very straight forward. | | | | ammonia is converted to nitrates by helpful bacteria |
| Remove the water from the aquarium and rinse the | | | | in the tank. If you are experiencing a spike in nitrate |
| substrate until the water runs clear. Placing a plate | | | | levels, consider whether your tank is overstocked |
| over the substrate when filling the tank will limit the | | | | and whether your filtration system is adequate for |
| amount of dust released. If cleaning the substrate | | | | your tank size. If your tank is located in an area that |
| does not correct your problem: it may be that the | | | | gets direct sunlight, or you run your aquarium light |
| pH in your tank is out of balance. Testing the water | | | | more than 8 to 10 hours a day, the result can be an |
| will most likely show a high PH level. This problem will | | | | algae bloom. This problem is very easy to resolve by |
| most likely be resolved by treating the water with | | | | reducing the amount of light. Your aquarium is |
| conditioners. | | | | exposed to. Excess nutrients in your tank can usually |
| Bacteria Bloom | | | | be traced back to overfeeding. Tackle this problem |
| Next, we will take a look at what grey cloudy | | | | with a partial water change and reducing the amount |
| aquarium water causes us to consider. This problem is | | | | of food you put into your aquarium daily. Excess |
| most likely a bacteria bloom. Cloudy aquarium water | | | | phosphates can also cause cloudy aquarium water. |
| causes us to consider the age of the tank to find a | | | | The problem here could be the water you are using |
| solution. Cloudy water is not an uncommon problem in | | | | in your tank. Test your tap water to see if it is high |
| newer or established tanks, but the causes are | | | | in phosphates. If you find this to be the case, you will |
| different. In a newer aquarium, many times this | | | | need to use reverse osmosis water or treat your |
| problem stems from an insufficient population of | | | | tap water with a phosphate remover prior to using it |
| bacteria. It takes a little while, sometimes up to four | | | | in your tank. High levels of phosphate can also be the |
| months for the helpful bacteria in the gravel to reach | | | | result of overfeeding. A simple rule to remember |
| sufficient levels to maintain clear water. As the tank | | | | here is not to feed your fish more than they will |
| ages, this problem should correct itself. If your tank | | | | consume in five minutes. |
| has been established for a while, and you notice gray | | | | Cloudy aquarium water causes stress for many fish |
| cloudy aquarium water, the problem is most likely | | | | keepers, but armed with information this should no |
| excess nutrients in the water. Cloudy aquarium water | | | | longer be your reaction. Partial water changes every |
| causes fish keeper to consider how much they are | | | | 2 to 3 weeks, remembering not to over feed your |
| feeding their fish. Excess uneaten food and plant | | | | fish and keeping the gravel clean will go a long way in |
| debris are usually at the root of gray water in | | | | eliminating this problem. |
| aquariums. To correct this problem you need to take | | | | Happy fish keeping! |