Your aquarium water could be cloudy for a number of reasons. In this article we'll explore how to remedy the issue.
One of the most common questions new aquarium owners ask has to do with cloudy or hazy water. The good news is that cloudy water in a new aquarium isn't necessarily an emergency situation and there are some very simple ways to diagnose and treat!
The first thing to do is have the aquarium water tested for ammonia and nitrite as soon as you notice the water begins to get cloudy. In most situations the levels will be zero. Although it can be alarming seeing cloudy water in your new aquarium, this is no cause for concern and the best advice is to be patient and wait it out. Don't add any more fish and feed sparingly once every other day. Have your water tested and just leave the filter alone for the time being.
Cloudy water in an established aquarium is another issue. Please contact us for assistance!
Should I add anything to it?
Live plants are helpful as their leaves are coated with helpful bacteria and other microbes on them, which help establish the biological balance in the aquarium.
Live plants compete for nutrients and help starve out microbes that cause cloudy water. In addition, they produce oxygen during the day, which aids in the breakdown of fish waste, uneaten food, and the cloudy water bacteria as they begin to die off. This also helps clear the water. Live plants also consume ammonia generated by fish and uneaten food, that can build up in newly set up aquariums until the nitrifying bacteria become established. As you can see, adding live plants to your aquarium has many benefits!
Leaving it alone
Left alone, the cloudy water bacteria will eventually consume all the nutrients in the water and die out. This is part of the cycling process.