How to keep fish tank water clean

Clear aquarium water is a sign of a healthy living environment. Fish need clean water to stay healthy and grow well. Uneaten food, fish waste, and aquatic plant debris are responsible for raising the pH in the tank and making it unsafe for fish. This article will show you some ways to keep your aquarium water clean.

Table of Contents

Install fish tank

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Wait for the water to clear. Many times, the turbidity of water will disappear by itself when the water environment is adjusted. Often cloudy water is caused by a mixture of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, and multicellular organisms. These organisms come from fish, the food and waste of the fish kept in the tank. Usually, the aquarium water will rebalance and clean itself in about a week.

Please be patient. Before using chemicals or taking drastic measures to treat cloudy water, you need to remember that the aquarium is full of microorganisms. You should find out the possible causes of cloudy water before treating it. Unnecessary chemicals and cleaners can disturb the environment in the aquarium and be harmful to the fish.

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Add probiotics. The amount of probiotics added to the tank will help with the natural treatment of the aquarium within a few days. You can buy prepackaged bacteria at the store or buy pre-biotic gravel. Alternatively, you can also drop gravel, rocks, driftwood, or a water filter from a stabilized aquarium into your aquarium. These already have bacteria living on them.

The bacteria will help reduce the toxic ammonia and nitrites, turning them into less toxic nitrates, which are then removed in the water’s metabolism. ^{[1] X Source of Research} The bacteria species most effective for this are Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. ^{[2] X Research Source}
To keep bacteria in the tank, avoid cleaning the filter element and use tweezers to remove fish waste from the filter element.

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Plant suitable aquatic plants in the aquarium. Another way to keep the aquarium water clear is to grow aquatic plants. Aquatic plants carry many types of beneficial bacteria, and also have the effect of filtering water. You can buy aquatic plants at aquarium stores.

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Determine if your filter is appropriate. There are many types of aquarium filters with different effects for the fish kept in the tank. Cloudy water in the aquarium can also be due to the incorrect filter being used. You need to choose a filter based on the density of the fish, the type of aquarium, as well as the aquarium or artificial plants in the tank.

There are three types of filters to choose from. The mechanical filter removes impurities by pushing water through the material, which traps the impurities. Biofilters use bacteria to convert toxic substances into less toxic substances. Chemical filters use chemicals to remove toxins or chemicals from the water.
Choose the filter with the largest capacity possible, but remember that some fish such as beta fish and ax fish cannot tolerate the strong currents created by the filter.

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Think carefully when releasing fish into the tank. Don’t put too many fish in the tank, as this can cause health problems for the fish and make the tank harder to clean. For goldfish, the rule of thumb is 75 liters of water for the first fish, and an extra 30 liters for each subsequent fish. Research the fish you want to keep to determine the size of the tank needed. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Fish tank maintenance

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Change fish tank water. The general rule is to change 20% of the water in the tank every week. If using tap water, you need to leave the water outside for 2 days. This will help the chlorine in the water evaporate, and also bring the water temperature to room temperature, so the fish will not be shocked when you put the water in the tank. Dechlorinating chemicals help remove chlorine and reduce fish stress. You can also add a detoxifier to the water to prevent fish disease. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can also buy a device that attaches to the faucet to suck up gravel during suction and water changes. You won’t have to wait a few days when doing this, but make sure the water temperature is close to the temperature in the aquarium, and remember to add a dechlorinator.

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Keep the filter clean. You need to make sure the filter is new and in good working order. The filter works to create a healthy and favorable environment in the aquarium, so if you do not replace the filter or pay attention to maintenance, the water in the tank can become cloudy or even kill the fish. Read the filter manual for equipment maintenance.

All filters should be checked monthly and replaced if necessary. You should check weekly to make sure the filter system is free of blockages or deposits. Remember to clean or replace if necessary.
When cleaning the filter element, use tweezers to remove fish waste and other clogging material. Do not flush the filter element with water to avoid losing bacteria that help reduce ammonia and nitrite. Bacteria will be brown when growing in the filter cartridge.
Read the pump manual to make sure it is installed and working properly. The pump plays an important role in aerating and providing oxygen in the air for the aquarium. Fish kept in the tank will be affected if the pump is not working properly, especially when the water is cloudy due to waste.

Turbid water treatment

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Watch out for a bacterial outbreak. After changes in an aquarium, such as a large water change, thorough cleaning, or medication, a bacterial outbreak can occur. Be patient if the water in the aquarium is cloudy due to the above reasons. The bacteria will return to balance within a few days, and the water will automatically clear again. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Check the filter. If the water filter is not working properly, the water in the tank may become cloudy. In the filtration system there are bacteria that process the by-products formed, such as ammonia, while keeping the water clean. If the filter stops working, bacteria can build up in the water and make it cloudy. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Adjust the release of more fish. If you’ve just added new fish to your tank, you’ll need to make sure the tank can accommodate the extra fish. For example, if you put large fish in a tank where small fish are kept, the filtration system may not be able to handle it. You should install another filter system or reduce the number of fish in the tank. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Try not to overfeed the fish. The water can become cloudy if you feed the fish too much. Fish should be fed just enough. You can feed your fish once a day with a small amount of food and fasting for a day or two per week.

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Be careful with the decorations. Sometimes the water is also cloudy due to the decorations in the tank. Remember to wash all items before putting them in the tank. Check everything to make sure it’s designed for aquarium use and buy it at a pet supply store. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Check to see if decorations are melted, deformed, loose, painted or discolored.

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Algae control. Green algae cling to the walls of the aquarium and sometimes attach to the decorations in the tank. Water changes are the best time to scrape algae off the walls of the tank. Use a soft plastic brush to gently scrape the surface of the tank, then dip it in water to rinse it off before continuing to scrape another place. Remove all decorations from the tank and scrub under clean running water. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Do not illuminate the aquarium more than necessary, as this can cause algae to multiply. Do not place the aquarium near a window, and only let the light shine into the aquarium 10-12 hours a day. ^{[10] X Research Source}
It is important that you do not overfeed your fish, as leftovers can contribute to algae growth.

Advice

Rotten organic matter is often the cause of bacterial outbreaks and cloudy water. You need to check to make sure there are no dead organisms in the tank.
Do not put too many fish in the tank; otherwise, it will be difficult for you to keep the water clean.
Normally, cloudy water will clear up on its own. Please be patient.
Be sure to install the filter and pump in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
You may need to do a general cleaning of the aquarium – gravel, filter, decorations, aquarium, and a complete water change. However, you should only do this after you have tried all other methods.

Steps

Install fish tank

Fish tank maintenance

Turbid water treatment

Advice

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