Why does water bloom in an aquarium and how to deal with it?

Changes in the clarity of the water in the aquarium indicate certain problems that should be eliminated as soon as possible. An imbalance in microorganisms can negatively affect the condition of aquarium fish, plants and other inhabitants, and in some cases even lead to their death. The problem of the so-called water bloom is often faced not only by novice aquarists, but even those who have quite good experience in this area. It is worth considering what are the reasons for the cloudiness and discoloration of the aquarium water and how to eliminate this phenomenon.

It is not difficult to guess that your aquarium has bloomed. The change in transparency and color of its content immediately catches the eye. The water becomes cloudy and takes on an unnatural hue, in most cases brown or greenish. You may also notice plaque on the walls of the aquarium.

Unfortunately, if you let this process take its course and do not take any measures, the situation will only worsen. In addition to the unsightly appearance of your aquarium, you will have to face massive morbidity and possibly the death of fish and aquarium plants. Therefore, at the first sign that the water in the aquarium has bloomed, it is necessary to try to find out the cause of this phenomenon and immediately take measures to eliminate it.

Microorganisms that have developed in large numbers give the water an unnatural shade and turbidity. This, in turn, leads certain mistakes in the process of maintaining the aquarium. As long as the microflora of the water is in the right balance, the reproduction of negative bacteria and other organisms is naturally inhibited. In this case, the water is not subject to such rapid contamination and clogging.

It is worth paying attention to the following reasons leading to blooming and clouding of the aquarium water:

• too bright lighting, direct sunlight entering the aquarium - in this case, microscopic algae develop very actively, giving the water a greenish or brown tint;
• an increase in water temperature above the recommended standards - the development of many bacteria is inhibited, including by a certain temperature regime; when the environment surrounding them becomes warmer and more favorable, microorganisms begin to multiply very actively;
• the main food for microorganisms and bacteria is organic matter in the water; if in the aquarium there is often food that has not been eaten by fish or the remains of dead inhabitants, then the quality of the water in it will definitely deteriorate;
• excessive growth of algae and general contamination of the aquarium water does not in the best way affect its purity and transparency;
• rarely carried out filtration or its absence leads to blooming and turbidity;
• very often the water in the aquarium blooms due to insufficient oxygen content; in other words, aeration with a special compressor must be systematically carried out in the tank with fish and algae;
• ingress of foreign contaminated objects, plant particles into the aquarium, infection through uncleaned and unprepared accessories for decoration (driftwood, stones, and so on);
• contaminated or unsuitable soil can cause bacteria and unwanted microalgae to enter the aquarium;
• excessive and improper use of chemicals violates the quantitative balance of aquatic microorganisms;
• oddly enough, a very frequent change of water in the aquarium also leads to its blooming; the constant change of the environment does not allow the aquasystem to fully form, which is why pathogenic microorganisms often begin to predominate in the water.

So, you have noticed clear signs of water blooming in your aquarium. How do you fix this? In most cases, it will be necessary to take a set of measures, because imbalance in the aqua system is a complex phenomenon.

• Change the location of your aquarium if it is exposed to direct sunlight. The duration of artificial lighting should not exceed 8-9 hours a day at a lamp power of 0.5 W / l.

• A biological method of water purification is very effective, not labor-intensive and relatively safe. It consists in the attachment of certain organisms, which, in the course of their natural life, actively destroy unwanted inhabitants of the aquarium. For example, guppies, goldfish, telescopes, crucians, swordtails and veil-tails are quite active on algae.

• The addition of a small amount of salt to the water significantly inhibits the growth and development of algae and microorganisms. If you or someone you know has experience keeping a saltwater aquarium, then you may have noticed that in salt water the walls and bottom of the aquarium are never overgrown with plaque and algae. For a freshwater aquarium, the dosage of sea or ordinary table salt in order to get rid of water bloom is 1 g per liter of content.

• If the degree of water spoilage is critical, then the microorganisms are already well established in your aquarium. In this case, even a complete restart often gives only a very short-term result. After a fairly short time after a complete water change, you will again be forced to observe signs of pollution and bloom.

More gentle drugs are Penicillin and Streptomycin. They do not have a negative effect on the main inhabitants of the aquarium: fish, algae, snails. For aquarium refurbishment, add 0.3 mg for aquariums up to 50 liters. After 48 hours, a complete water change can be carried out.

In the fight against the bloom of aquarium water, the usual pharmacy hydrogen peroxide. A 3% solution in the amount of 3–6 g / l is added to the aquarium. In parallel, intensive aeration is required.

The following preventive measures should be taken into account:

• it is very important to do regular mechanical cleaning of the walls, but try not to leave scratches on the glass; it is best to use a hard sponge for cleaning;
• to maintain the water level and renew it, it is imperative to carry out a partial replacement of the contents of the aquarium; it consists in adding fresh water and withdrawing a small amount of already used one, the amount of new liquid should not exceed one quarter of the total volume;
• do not overfeed the fish, since the remnants of food will provoke rotting processes, watch how much your fish eat and try to adhere to the right amount and feeding regime; in any case, it is not so scary not to feed, than to create conditions for rapid water pollution;
• The balance of aquaflora is easier to maintain in a large aquarium, because a more permanent and stable ecosystem of microorganisms is formed there; aquariums that hold less than 10 liters of water are generally not highly recommended for long-term maintenance of fish or algae;
• avoid overcrowding the aquarium with any species of inhabitants, excessive vegetation, crowded fish content and a large number of snails are negatively affected; try to maintain an optimal balance when planning the settlement of the aquatic environment;
• do not allow foreign objects and debris to systematically enter the aquarium; decorative elements from natural reservoirs should be placed in water only after special cleaning and processing, otherwise there is a significant risk of introducing infection into the aquarium environment.

About why the water in the aquarium blooms, see below.