Why Aquarium Water Gets Cloudy




Cloudy water in an aquarium not only looks bad for an aquarium, but the factor also may not be the healthiest either! We know that some aquariums can make you sick if the water is unhealthy and cloudy. However, cloudy water isn’t a huge emergency and can be fixed with the correct practices!

When you first see an aquarium become cloudy, test the water parameters as soon as possible! There may be obvious signs as to why your aquarium water is the way that it is. Before conducting a bunch of research, ask your local fish store if they can identify the problem. Most of the time, the professionals can handle the business well and take care of your aquarium. Keep reading the article to identify why your aquarium water gets cloudy!

Why Aquarium Water Gets Cloudy

The aquarium water in your aquarium can become cloudy due to a ton of reasons. Identifying the reason why is the most challenging part of owning an aquarium. If the research is not conducted, you will notice more problems in the future with the fish tank. Keep reading to discover the possible reasons for the cloudy water!

New Aquarium

When an aquarium is first started, there is a lot of things going on in a biological sense. Aquarium water gets cloudy, this is the nitrogen cycle first getting started. When you first get a new system, it is crucial to let the aquarium run for several weeks before putting fish in. If you put fish in before letting the aquarium cycle, more than likely, the fish will die and cause more problems. When you first put live sand or gravel in the aquarium, this will cause the aquarium water to get very cloudy too! All of the loose particles are floating around freely, which gives the water a cloudy appearance.

Overfeeding Your Fish

Many beginner aquarium hobbyists struggle with overfeeding fish in the aquarium. This mistake often results in fish food falling to the bottom of the aquarium, which increases nitrates and other parameters in your aquarium. Fish food that stays at the bottom causes your aquarium water to get cloudy! A good measure to have when feeding your fish is to keep in mind that their stomachs are the size of their eye! The fish in your aquarium doesn’t need a whole lot of food or a bunch of feeding times during the day. Therefore, reduce the amount of food that you feed the fish, the more food results in more waste.

Too Many Fish in Your Aquarium

The more fish you have in your aquarium, the more waste that is created. The waste in your aquarium adds up, which makes the water cloudy! Fish only have a certain amount of oxygen in an aquarium. Therefore, if you add too many, it will cause an outbreak. Ammonia levels will also spike up due to the increased percentage of fish waste in your aquarium. It is crucial to use a general rule of one inch of fish per gallon! Limiting the rate of fish in your aquarium will decrease the chance of cloudy aquarium water. 

Poor Filter in Your Aquarium

The filter in your aquarium removes all the waste and ensures proper flow within your aquarium. A filter that isn’t properly maintained or setup causes problems in the future. If you see cloudy water in your aquarium, it is crucial to check to make sure the filter is working. After checking and maintaining the filter, your aquarium water should no longer be cloudy!

How to Fix Cloudy Water

Now that you have the possible reasons for the cloudy water in your aquarium, it is now time to find a solution. Analyze each situation and pair the option with the problem. If you are not comfortable with using any solution below, call a maintenance team to take care of your fish tank. The specialists will know the exact amount of chemicals to place in your home aquarium. Keep reading to discover the possible solutions to make your aquarium look brand new!

Add Carbon Media to Filter

Carbon media boosts the power of the filter! This piece helps remove unwanted elements in the water and overall purifies the water. When adding carbon, a general rule to use when adding it is 2 cups for every 55 gallons of water in an aquarium. Using carbon media should help answer why your aquarium water gets cloudy!

Complete a Water Test

When first starting an aquarium, make sure to test your water at least twice a week! This may give you answers as to why your aquarium water is cloudy! It is similar to diagnosing problems with your car. You must analyze the issue with the water.

Add Live Plants to Your Aquarium

Live plants create a natural and healthy-looking environment for your home aquarium. However, there are a ton of health benefits when having live plants in your tank! Live plants in an aquarium present a natural filter and eat waste and nitrates in your aquarium. Therefore, this helps the aquarium water cloudiness and overall health for a better system!

Add Beneficial Bacteria

People often get good bacteria confused with bacteria. However, beneficial bacteria can do wonders for an aquarium with cloudy water. If you take some gravel or sand from another aquarium, this will add good bacteria to your home aquarium. Adding beneficial bacteria will fight the poor water conditions, which will get rid of cloudy water in your aquarium!

In Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a ton of reasons why your aquarium water is cloudy. Once you first notice the poor water, you should act immediately. If you fail to as soon as possible, your aquarium could suffer issues compared to cloudy water. Always make sure to test your aquarium water at least twice a week. Doing so will ensure you keep the home aquarium in check. If you do notice your home aquarium getting cloudy there are several solutions to choose from regarding solutions!

When keeping an aquarium, keep track of everything! You must treat your home aquarium as both a pet and a car. With your favorite car, you keep maintenance records of everything! You have to conduct oil changes and get the tires rotated. The same concept applies to a home aquarium! You have to conduct water changes and record everything. Therefore, when you notice something going wrong in your aquarium, you must act! We hope you enjoyed the read. Keep in mind that these are pets! Care for the fish and cherish them, always!




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