Turbid water in the aquarium: what to do?

What problem do many fish lovers have to face? Of course, this is muddy water in the aquarium. Not only is the newly equipped, new artificial pond capable of losing transparency. The “experienced” aquarium 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 an aquarium: biological factors

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

• Overpopulation of a reservoir. A fish house can lose transparency if there are too many inhabitants. Poor filtering exacerbates the situation.
• Big fish in the tank. Active movements of representatives of large breeds can also cause turbidity of the water.
• Leftover feed. Inexperienced fish lovers can give their wards such an amount of food that they are not able to eat at a time. Overfeeding leads to the fact that microparticles of feed settle on plants, soil, decoration elements. Bacteria multiply in water, which is the reason for its turbidity.
• Rotting plants. Turbid water in the aquarium is a problem that can occur if the vegetation is not properly maintained. Its death causes pollution of the tank.

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 an active growth of pathogenic microflora.

Mechanical factors

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

• Incorrect start. When buying a tank, beginners are in a hurry to start it, forgetting about the need for careful processing of each element. A poorly washed soil alone is enough to make the water cloudy.
• Incorrect scenery. Housing for fish should not be filled with decorations painted with low-quality paint.
• Poor aquarium care. The reservoir is poorly cleaned of fish waste, dead organics and feed residues. These particles accumulate, begin to multiply.

The color of turbid water

How to determine the source of the problem? Why did the water in the aquarium become cloudy? To understand this, her color will help. 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 replacing water. 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 was replaced, this led to a failure of biological equilibrium. Upgrade to one third of the total fluid volume. 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 fluid from the old reservoir.

After restart

What other situation is worth considering? What is the reason for the muddy water in the aquarium after a restart? The source of the problem may be a clogged filter that is not able to remove microscopic debris. The appliance needs regular washing and cleaning. Also, it cannot be ruled out that a low-quality cleaning system is used.

On first start

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

Microorganisms themselves will partially die after they absorb all the edible organics. Their number will remain at such a level that is necessary for processing the organic matter that comes with the feed. A biological balance will be established.

Ways to fight

The above describes what may be associated with troubled water in the aquarium. 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. Tools designed for chemical water purification will help to quickly put the tank in order. It is necessary to use them in accordance with the instructions, which you definitely need to familiarize yourself with. Funds can be used no more than two to three times a year.
• Charcoal filters. With their help, it is easy to get rid of microparticles of various origins that clog the aquarium.
• Saturation with oxygen (aeration). This method will help those who are faced with constant turbidity of the water in the tank. If you saturate the pond with oxygen, it will cleanse and become habitable again. If the procedure is not carried out correctly, air bubbles form on the walls of the vessels and the surface of the plants. Proven and safe devices for aeration are air compressors, soil filters, cleaning filters with air pumping function, specialized pumps.
• Decrease in intensity of lighting. 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.
• Replacing or cleaning the soil. This method will certainly help if clouding is caused by insufficient purification or poor quality of the composition.

What else can be done

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

Reduced feed can also help. The measure is relevant if clouding caused food debris in the aquarium. Also, the fish can clean the tank on their own, eating something that has not been eaten before. To do this, it’s enough for several days not to feed the aquarium inhabitants.

How to prevent

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

• A common cause of cloudy water in an aquarium is the replacement of all fluid at the same time. Upgrade is necessary to one third of the total volume.
• Before starting up the tank, it is important to thoroughly flush the soil, internal surfaces and decoration elements.
• New jewelry must also be thoroughly cleaned before diving into the aquarium.
• It is necessary to control the state of the soil, timely cleanse it.
• An artificial reservoir must be equipped with high-quality filters that will help maintain its contents in a normal condition.
• Rotten, dead plants should be removed immediately from the aquarium.
• Do not overfeed the inhabitants of the tank. It is also recommended to alternate dry feed with other types of food, for example, larvae.

It’s enough to follow these simple rules so that you never have to think about how to solve the problem of troubled 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.