Why does the water become cloudy in the aquarium and what to do about it?

Clouding of the aquarium water is very common and can lead to illness and even death of the entire aquarium community. Therefore, it is important to learn how to quickly recognize the cause of contamination and take action as soon as possible to eliminate the problem.

Most often, the problem of water turbidity is faced by inexperienced aquarium owners who have recently bought a new aquarium and launched it. but sometimes water becomes cloudy in established ecosystems that exist in established and mature reservoirs... The reasons for such an unpleasant phenomenon can be both mechanical and biological factors.

The aquarium is a closed ecosystem with many artificial details that recreate the natural habitat of fish. These include soil, decorations, roots, driftwood, ceramic pots, and coconut shells. All these objects contribute to the formation of solid suspended particles in the water, which lead to a significant decrease in the transparency of the water. The reason for this may be the too active behavior of fish, many of which are prone to digging the soil and pulling out the roots of algae from it., as well as improper maintenance of the decorations or incorrect starting of the aquarium.

It is categorically impossible to do this. The soil should be selected for the fish that you plan to purchase. So, for some types of cichlids, for example, black-striped cichlases, it is recommended to use river pebbles as a soil. This is due to the tendency of the species to dig trenches, which is why, on the second day, an aquarium with a sandy bottom risks turning into a bowl with muddy and dirty water.

The next reason for the appearance of mechanical debris is the use of loose, soluble and coloring elements, which over time begin to deteriorate and cause water pollution. In this regard, you should not purchase too many decorations, which, although they decorate the aquarium, but under the influence of water, begin to deteriorate and cause it to become cloudy. Overcrowding of the reservoir and ineffective filter operation are often the cause of contamination. When choosing fish, it is imperative to take into account the size of the tank and remember that for every centimeter of the fish body there must be at least two liters of water.

Water pollution in an aquarium is often caused by an imbalance in biological balance or biological balance. As is known, aquarium water contains a huge amount of beneficial bacteria and fungi... The former are involved in the processing of ammonia, nitrates and nitrites present in tap water, while the latter contribute to the decomposition of the remains of dead vegetation, converting organic compounds into inorganic ones, thereby maintaining biological balance.

As a result, there is some discrepancy between the amount of biological waste and the number of microorganisms that process this biological waste. However, after a few days, the system self-regulates and the biological balance returns to normal. Fungi and bacteria begin to do their job perfectly, and the liquid becomes transparent. Usually, the balance is restored 3-5 days after launch, and the whitish fog dissipates without a trace.

As for the turbidity of the liquid in an old aquarium with an established ecosystem and a stable community, in this case, one of the most probable reasons is a violation of elementary care. For example, overfeeding fish leaves a lot of uneaten food, which sinks to the ground and begins to rot.

Another biological factor causing water turbidity is algae. Some of their species, under the influence of excessive lighting, grow too much and provoke water bloom. Improper water changes are also common in older aquariums. For example, replacing more than a third of the liquid from the total volume or inaccurate filling of a fresh portion, leading to the rise of solid suspensions from the bottom.

Along with the mechanical and biological causes that cause cloudy water, there is also chemical pollution, which also leads to a change in organoleptic characteristics. This phenomenon often occurs after the use of aquarium medicines, which negatively affect not only pathogenic microflora, but also beneficial bacteria. As a result, the biological balance of the ecosystem is disturbed, and the aquarium liquid becomes cloudy.

Seasoned aquarists are capable of unmistakably determine the cause of cloudy water by its color.

• So, if the water darkens sharply and acquires green tint - this may indicate an excessive growth of microscopic algae. The reasons for this process can be an excess of sunlight or artificial light, ineffective filtering systems and poor quality tap water. An equally common cause is clogging of the filter with debris and vegetation debris. In this case, it is enough to clean the unit and run it with clean water. To regulate the amount of microscopic algae, you can introduce daphnia into the aquarium, which will gladly devour them.
• White dreg in an aquarium, it often appears from overpopulation of the reservoir, water changes by more than 1/3 and the treatment of fish with various chemicals. And also a whitish muddy shade often appears in newly launched aquariums, where the biological balance has not yet been established. In other words, the appearance of white turbidity indicates the struggle of the internal biological environment with poisons and toxic substances present in the aquarium water.
• Brownish tint can appear as a result of an excess of wooden decorations, which over time begin to release tannin into the water. Such water does not pose a critical danger to fish, however, it spoils the appearance of the aquarium and makes it untidy. In addition, the acidity index changes, which can also negatively affect the general condition of overly fastidious fish species. To prevent the appearance of brownish turbidity, it is recommended to soak new wooden structures in water and keep them there for a while. Most of the harmful compounds are released in the first week, and decorative elements cease to be a source of brown dregs.
• Liquid gray is the result of soil contamination or the presence of harmful elements such as silicates, heavy metals and phosphates in the water. To determine their presence and concentration, it is recommended to use special indicators or litmus tests, which show the level of their presence in water.

The smell appears a little later than the turbidity and is an indicator of more serious problems. The reasons for its appearance are still the same - it is insufficiently thorough and untimely care of the aquarium, poor filtration, overpopulation, insufficient oxygen saturation and improper selection of aquarium plants. Besides, the cause of the smell can be a dead fish, the body of which is decomposing and smells unpleasant.

If everything is in order with the filter and algae, all the inhabitants of the community are alive, and the smell still appeared, you should pay attention to the food, since low-quality compounds often cause unpleasant odors. Another reason for the attenuation of water can be overfeeding of fish, as a result of which uneaten food sinks to the bottom, sour and begins to smell.

After the cause of the appearance of the turbidity is determined, one should immediately begin to eliminate it. If the contamination was of a mechanical nature, then it is necessary to carefully siphon the bottom, remove all decorations from it and clean the walls of the tank from mucus and solid deposits. Next, you should carefully take 1/3 of the volume of water by adding fresh settled water. If the filter is very weak or too small for the aquarium, it is necessary to replace it with a more powerful model, taking into account the quantity and quality of aquatic vegetation, the size of the container and the total number of its inhabitants.

In order to quickly get rid of heavy contamination, experienced aquarists recommend replacing the sponge in a standard filter with a synthetic winterizer. It is placed in place of the removed sponge and the unit is turned on. This method helps to eliminate not only mechanical pollution, but also the greening of the aquarium liquid.

You can also get rid of mechanical pollution of water with the help of activated carbon. It is put in a filter and left there for 2 weeks. This absorbent will help you quickly remove cloudiness and keep the water clear. However, activated carbon is incapable of absorbing nitrates and nitrites from liquid, therefore it is additionally recommended to use zeolite.

If the turbidity of the aquarium water is associated with biological processes taking place in it, then to quickly restore the biological balance, they use specialized drugs that can inhibit harmful microorganisms and provoke the development of beneficial bacteria. Such formulations also help to neutralize ammonia, nitrates and nitrites contained in tap water.

In advanced cases, when the above methods are no longer effective, chemical preparations are used. They must be used in strict accordance with the instructions, having carefully read the composition and making sure that the components are well tolerated by all inhabitants of the aquarium. Modern industry produces a huge number of items of aquarium products, the most popular and effective of which are discussed below.

Tetra products are well known to Russian aquarists.

• Crystal Water remedy binds fine solids into tangible particles that are easily captured by the aquarium filter. Already after 2-3 hours, the water in the tank is noticeably clarified, after 7-8 hours it becomes clean, and after another 10 hours it becomes crystal clear.

• Conditioning preparation Tetra Bactozym contributes to the acceleration of the process of stabilization of biological balance in the ecosystem. Thanks to its use, dissolved organic matter is enzymatically decomposed and does not pollute the water with decay products. In addition, the air conditioner helps to minimize damage from fluid replacement and filter flushing, as well as helps to recover microorganisms damaged by the use of medications.

• Means-granules Tetra Nitrate Minus Pearls effectively reduces the nitrate content of the aquarium liquid and destroys some of the nutrients necessary for the growth and development of algae. The granules buried in the ground will allow you not to worry about the transparency of the water and not be afraid of the rapid growth of aquatic vegetation throughout the year.

• Tetra Nitrate Minus Conditioner has the same effect as the previous drug, differs from it only in the form of release. It is represented by a liquid suspension, which is added to the aquarium weekly at the rate of 2.5 ml for every 10 liters of liquid. The drug converts nitrates into nitrogenous compounds, helps to normalize the carbonate hardness of water and stabilize acidity.

The following drugs are also very effective and work at a chemical level.

• Sera Toxivec is engaged in blocking toxic compounds and is used as a preventive measure. However, it should be noted right away that this drug does not remove toxic substances, but only contributes to their transformation into forms that are safe for fish. It instantly neutralizes dangerous pollutants that threaten the health of the aquarium inhabitants and the life of beneficial bacteria. The drug quickly copes with ammonia and nitrites, does not allow them to turn into nitrates, and removes aggressive chlorine compounds from tap water.

• Sera Aquaria Clear acts by a biological method and binds any turbidity, regardless of its origin.The product does not contain harmful substances and is absolutely safe for the inhabitants of the aquarium.

• Sera Bio Nitrivec is a tool that allows you to quickly start up the aquarium and restore the biological balance in it. Due to the presence of special bacteria in the composition, the fish can be launched within a day after filling the aquarium. The bacteria included in the preparation are instantly set to work, making the liquid clear and transparent.

Modern chemical and biological agents to combat fluid cloudiness are quick and effective, but in most cases they are used as a last resort. It is much better to prevent the formation of turbidity, in general, than to deal with its consequences later. For this a number of preventive measures must be taken to avoid contamination of the aquarium fluid and to maintain the health of all members of the aquatic community.

• Once a week, you need to replace part of the aquarium liquid, adding filtered and settled water. And also it is necessary to regularly clean the decor items, preventing them from overgrowing with green mucus.
• It is advisable to feed the fish in such a way that all the food is eaten by them in 15-20 minutes. If the surplus food still remains and has already settled to the bottom, it is necessary to remove it from the substrate as soon as possible, without allowing it to acidify and pollute the water.
• The bottom soil should be regularly treated with an aquarium siphon, which will help protect the reservoir from cloudiness.
• For self-cleaning of the aquarium ecosystem, it is recommended to purchase snails-coils, corridors, ancistrus, girinoheilus or algae eaters, which feed on dead algae leaves and other organic matter, preventing it from rotting or blooming.
• To improve water quality, it is recommended to use multi-stage filtration systems and purchase a phyto filter.
• When starting new aquariums, it is advisable to add water from the old ones to them. This will help to quickly restore biological balance and will promote the speedy self-cleaning of the aquarium liquid.

For information on why the water in the aquarium becomes cloudy, see the next video.