An aquarium with clean water is synonymous with a healthy environment. Fish need a clean and healthy place to live and thrive. Food leftovers, their feces and plant residues raise pH levels and make the environment unhealthy; however, there are many ways to sanitize it. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Setting up the Aquarium
Step 1. Leave the water cloudy
Most of the time it becomes clear on its own as a good balance is established inside the aquarium; often, this phenomenon is due to the mixture of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa and micrometazoa, which develop from fish, food and dirt residues. Usually, the environment is able to restore its balance and clean itself within a week.
Be patient. Before adding chemicals or making any other drastic decisions to get rid of cloudy water, remember that the aquarium is full of living organisms. Before acting, try to understand why the water has taken on this aspect; if you add chemicals and other unnecessary cleaners, you could upset the balance of the aquatic environment and harm the fish
Step 2. Enter the good bacteria
They help with the natural biological processes that take place in the aquarium and you can add them in a couple of ways. You can buy them in pre-made packages at the store or buy gravel that contains them. You can also take gravel, rocks, pieces of wood, or a sponge filter from an already established aquarium to place them in your tank, as they should contain good bacteria.
Cultures of microorganisms help eliminate ammonia and nitrites, which are toxic, turning them into less harmful nitrates and which are removed when you change the water. The best bacteria for this purpose are those of the Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter species
Step 3. Enrich the aquarium with suitable aquatic plants
This is another way to keep the aquatic environment clean, since live plants welcome good bacteria and constitute a natural filter; you can buy them at pet stores.
Step 4. Make sure you have the correct filter
There are different types that offer different results for fish. Cloudy water could be caused by a wrong filter; which one to choose depends on the amount of creatures present, the type of aquarium and the presence or absence of natural or artificial plants.
There are three main models to choose from. The mechanical one removes dirt particles by forcing water through a material that captures them; the biological one uses bacteria to transform toxins into less harmful substances, while the chemical one uses chemical substances to remove residues or harmful compounds from the water
Step 5. Set up your aquarium wisely
Do not overdo it when introducing fish, otherwise you could cause health problems and make it more difficult to clean the tank. To calculate the population density, consider about 2.5 cm of fish for every 4 liters of water.
Method 2 of 3: Maintain the Aquarium
Step 1. Change the water
A good rule of thumb is to change 20% every week. If you use tap water, let it sit for two days so it reaches room temperature and the chlorine dissipates, so the fish don't get shocked when you pour in the new water.
You can also purchase a faucet-pluggable device that sucks up solid residue as it removes and replaces water. In this case, it is not necessary to let the new water stand for a few days; the important thing is to make sure it has a temperature similar to that present in the aquarium and add a dechlorinating product
Step 2. Keep the filter clean
It must be effective and functioning, since its job is to ensure a healthy and vital environment; if you do not change it when necessary or neglect it, the water can become cloudy and the fish can die. Read the instructions of the model in your possession to know how to perform proper maintenance.
- All filters require monthly inspection and must be changed if necessary; check them weekly for obstructions or blockages, clean and replace if necessary.
- Read the instructions in the manual that comes with your pump to make sure you install it correctly and that it works properly. The pump is important for aerating the aquarium with oxygen present in the air; if it does not do its job properly, the fish suffer, especially if the water becomes cloudy due to dirt.
Step 3. Clean the aquarium regularly
This is another way to keep the water clean. You should schedule regular cleaning at least once a month, in addition to establishing a timely water change that should occur weekly.
Method 3 of 3: Resolve Water Impurity Problems
Step 1. Pay attention to bacterial bloom
After making some changes in the aquarium, such as changing a lot of water, thorough cleaning or administering medicines to the fish, a bacterial colony can develop. If these changes cause the water to become cloudy, you simply have to be patient; the balance of the bacterial flora is restored within a few days and the water should return to clear without any intervention.
Step 2. Clean the filters
If they do not perform their function properly, the water starts to become cloudy. In fact, the filtration system contains bacteria that consume by-products such as ammonia and keep the environment clean; however, if it stops working, bacteria accumulate in the water, depriving it of the purity that characterizes it.
Step 3. Change the environment when adding fish
If you have recently added any new specimens, make sure the tank is properly equipped to house them. For example, if you added a large fish to an aquarium that contained smaller specimens, the filter system will have to work much harder; in this case, it is advisable to install various filtration systems or reduce the population density.
Step 4. Don't feed your fish too much
Large doses of food can make the water not very clear; remember that these animals need to eat in moderation, offer them only a small amount of food once a day and fast for one or two days a week.
Step 5. Be careful with the decorations
Sometimes, they could be the cause of your problem; be sure to wash them all thoroughly before placing them in the aquarium; Also, check the ones already present to make sure they are suitable for aquatic environments and that they have been purchased from reputable pet stores.
See if these objects have melted or deformed in the water, if they have softened or loosened, if they have faded or if the paint is flaking off
Step 6. Monitor green algae
They typically tend to stick to container walls and sometimes even decorations. The moment you change the water can be a great opportunity to scrape them off the tub. Use a small water brush to scrub the walls and then rinse it under running water before rubbing the glass again; remove all accessories and scrape them under the tap.
- Make sure the aquarium is not exposed to too much light, as this could be another factor causing algae growth. don't put it near a window and let it stay in the light for only 10-12 hours a day.
- Do not overfeed the fish, as food debris can contribute to algae growth.
Advice
- In most cases the cloudy water becomes clear again by itself, without the need for interventions; you just have to be patient.
- Don't put too many fish in the aquarium, or you will have a hard time keeping it clean.
- Verify that the filters and pumps are installed correctly according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- It may be necessary to proceed with a thorough cleaning of the whole aquarium - gravel, filters, decorations and tank - in addition to completely draining the water, but proceed in this way only after trying all other solutions.
- Bacterial blooms are often caused by the decomposition of organic material which makes the water cloudy, make sure there is nothing dead or dying.
