| So your freshwater aquarium is cloudy. Not to worry, | | | | bacteria, what you are seeing is billions upon billions of |
| it happens to all of us at one time or another. There | | | | nitrifying bacteria (it's okay, these are good guys) |
| are any number of reasons why this happens, making | | | | free floating in your water. It means that there is |
| it harder to pinpoint the underlying issue. | | | | such an abundant food source that their population |
| Factors that may be pertinent to resolving the issue | | | | exploded. |
| are the age of the aquarium, your stocking level, and | | | | If you have recently added more than a few fish, |
| the color of the cloudy water. Also important is to | | | | changed food or the water source, accidently |
| know if you changed anything, such as added new | | | | dumped the entire bottle of food flakes in the tank, |
| fish, changed your food or added a new decoration | | | | have not been diligent about your regular water |
| you found on your hike last weekend. | | | | changes or have rotting plant matter - these are all |
| Here are some possible scenarios - and solutions - for | | | | potential causes. Bottom line - you may be headed |
| you to review: | | | | for a dangerous spike in ammonia followed by nitrite. |
| Residue from Gravel - New Tank - White or Gray | | | | Get out your test kits, test daily and perform 10% |
| Water. If you just put in fresh gravel, it may not | | | | water changes daily if needed to protect your fish |
| have been thoroughly rinsed. Drain the tank, remove | | | | from these toxic compounds. Soon the excess |
| the gravel and rinse under running water until it runs | | | | nutrients will be gone and your biological filtration |
| clear. | | | | system will stabilize. |
| Suspended Air Bubbles - New Tank - Silvery or White | | | | Algae Bloom - New or Mature Tank - Green Water. |
| Water. Usually occurs in the first few minutes to | | | | This one is a no brainer! Like bacterial bloom, algae |
| several hours after setting up a new tank. Bright and | | | | bloom is billions of single cell free floating algae and |
| reflective in appearance, no action is required; it will | | | | once again, the food source is the culprit. Usual |
| clear up in a few hours. | | | | causes may be direct sunlight, too much or wrong |
| Tannin Coloration - Mature Tank - Yellow or Brown | | | | artificial light, surplus of phosphates and/or nitrates. It |
| Water. Not to worry, your fish are not in any danger; | | | | may take a while to resolve the issues but do not |
| in fact they have the potential to be healthier with | | | | panic, your fish are not in danger. |
| tannins in their water. You most likely added a | | | | Reduce lighting, eliminate any direct sunlight, perform |
| beautiful new tree root for decoration in the last | | | | 10% water changes daily to remove nutrients and |
| week or so. Tannins will leach out of natural woods, | | | | evaluate your fish load. If overstocking is a problem |
| some more so than others. This is perfectly safe for | | | | either reduce the number of fish or boost your |
| your aquarium animals and is often used by advanced | | | | filtration. |
| aquarists to soften the water and lower pH. | | | | Basic Guidelines For Avoiding Cloudy Water. |
| Water Quality - New or Mature Tank - White or Gray | | | | - Do not overfeed! Fish do not need as much food |
| Water. The water you are using to fill your tank with | | | | as you think. Several flakes daily for small fish is more |
| may be heavy in phosphates or heavy metals. This | | | | than adequate. Fish will overeat if you let them. |
| could present a real issue for the long term, you will | | | | - Use Adequate Filtration! Your filters need to be |
| want to establish the quality of tap water you are | | | | turning the water volume at least 3 times per hour - |
| using and resolve the issue at the source. Test for | | | | five to eight times per hour is much better. |
| water hardness, pH and phosphates. If any of the | | | | - Remove Rotting Plants! If you maintain living plants, |
| three are high, you will need to consider an alternate | | | | remove dying leaves before they start rotting. |
| water source. | | | | - No Large Water Changes! I'm sorry, but changing |
| RO (reverse osmosis) water is an option, albeit an | | | | 50% of the water once a month is not the same as |
| expensive one for a large tank; hauling water from a | | | | 10% each week. Fish prefer their aged water and |
| friend's house will most likely get old after awhile. | | | | large water changes can damage the natural bacteria |
| Installing a water softener could be another solution. | | | | colonies needed to protect their coating and break |
| There are chemical conditioners that you can add to | | | | down waste. |
| your water but we do not recommend the long term | | | | - Use only approved fish safe items - if you do use |
| use of chemicals in the aquarium if it can be avoided. | | | | treasures collected from nature, test extensively |
| Bacterial Bloom - New or Mature Tank - Milky Water. | | | | first! |
| When you're freshwater aquarium is cloudy from | | | | |