Cloudy Aquarium Water
One of the most common challenges of keeping an aquarium is cloudy water. Whether the cloudiness is green, white, or gray, a fish habitat that is short of crystal clear is not just an eyesore but also a serious health risk for its inhabitants. Why does the water turn cloudy and what can you do about it?
Grayish or dirty white water is often encountered when setting up a new tank. In most cases, a sand or gravel substrate that has not been diligently rinsed before setup will generate sufficient debris to fog the water. The only solution would be to re-rinse the substrate until all the debris is removed. An efficient mechanical filter will also help take care of minute floating particles.
Green water, which is oftentimes also thick and hazy, is caused by an “algae bloom” or the rapid growth of microscopic green algae. High and prolonged levels of bright light are the main causes of green algae growth and proliferation. If a tank gets direct sunlight or if the overhead lighting is left on for more than 10-12 hours a day, algae overgrowth becomes imminent. The simple solution is to locate the tank away from direct sunlight and attach a timer to the overhead lights so that the ideal light exposure cycles can be maintained.
Milky white water that sometimes gives off a rotten smell is caused by decay. Uneaten leftover food deteriorates and fouls up the water. An overstocked aquarium will render filtration systems and nitrifying bacteria inadequate to handle the bio-load. The result is pollution from rotting food and excess waste, making the water murky. In severe pollution situations, drastic water changes may be necessary.
Cloudy aquarium water caused by decaying food can be prevented by feeding only as much as the fish community can consume in three to five minutes. Leftover food should be scooped out.
Murky water caused by excess waste products can be prevented by maintaining a balanced tank with a population of fishes suitable for the size of the tank and the capacity of the filtration systems. This ensures that the filters and the colonies of beneficial bacteria can keep up with the bio-load of the community.
In effect, cloudy water can be minimized if adequate colonies of beneficial bacteria are present to break down the harmful ammonia and nitrites (from decaying food and excess waste matter) into less harmful nitrates. Experts have suggested adding gravel from established aquariums to supplement the insufficient bacterial colonies in a cloudy tank. One simple solution is to add an EcoBio-Block product to the tank.
The EcoBio-Block Family Products are mineral-rich porous volcanic stones from Japan embedded with prolific bacteria (“bacillus subtilis natto”) that can actively multiply every half hour. The bacteria establish colonies quickly, degrading organic matter and nitrifying waste products, and keeping the aquarium clear, odor-free and healthy for years.
Cloudy aquarium water, which causes stress to the fish community, should never have to happen. Feed just the right amount of food, keep a population of fish suitable to the tank size and filtration system, and add a bacteria enhancing product like EcoBio-Block, and you are assured of crystal clear water and healthy fishes all the time.
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April 3, 2009 at 10:10 AM
March 11, 2010 at 10:05 PMjon hao
Can real coral cause the water to be cloudy/milky in my fresh water set up?
#150
March 11, 2010 at 10:51 PMAquarium Care
You should never place real coral in freshwater aquariums.
Coral is a marine organism. Because it is alive, it would die in fresh water. This would create too much organic waste matter and would make the water cloudy.
#151 | Author
May 16, 2010 at 8:39 PMBetty Minton
I have goldfish,I put easybalance in weekly as directions and my water is still cloudy. What do I need to do? I have Ick away blue,but my bottle got wet and I cannot read the directions,will this help clear the tank? Or what will help clear my tank?
#152
May 16, 2010 at 9:45 PMAquarium Care
Dear Ms. Minton,
Ick Away is for treating the “Ick” disease. It will not clear your water. Water generally gets cloudy because you have too much organic waste. It’s also not good for your fish. EcoBio-Block was formulated specifically to breakdown the toxins in your tank which cause cloudy water and odors and which are bad for your fish, into safer by-products which clear up your water. EcoBio-Block products are easy to use, attractive and last for about 2 years. You simply rinse it off with chlorine-free water; soak overnight and place it in your tank. Beneficial bacteria living in the block start to multiply and disperse into the tank. It is the beneficial bacteria that changes ammonia, into nitrites and then into nitrates. EcoBio-Block also appears to encourage the microbes which break down the nitrates into harmless nitrogen gas which then dissipates into the air, leaving you with clear water. Because the bacteria do the work of clarifying the water and because the block is made of lava which slowly leaches necessary trace minerals back into your water, the need for water changes is drastically reduced.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
Administrator
#153 | @152 | Author
May 19, 2010 at 1:20 PMKelsey W
I have a small 2.5 gal freshwater aquarium. My water was allowed to circulate for 3 days before I got my fish (3 tiny neons- less 2 are just over a half inch in length, and 2, inch long white tip razboras). The lady at the aquarium assured me that I was not overcrowding my aquarium, but I now doubt that. My aquarium has been cloudy (yellowish) since about 4 hours after adding my fish. I thought maybe adding a bubbler would help, it hasn’t. I have rinsed all substrate and plants prior to adding, and don’t believe I’m overfeeding. I DO think I may have originally added too much water conditioner, but I’m not sure if that would have been the problem. Adding clean water hasn’t helped. Is there a store in Colorado Springs that would sell your EcoBio-block products? I’ve had a 10 gallon for years and never, ever, had cloudy water. This is both confusing to me, and quite disheartening as I despise watching my fish suffer in inadequate conditions.
#156
May 19, 2010 at 8:33 PMAquarium Care
Dear Kelsey,
Cloudy water is due to too much organic waste. You may be overfeeding your fish, but I think you also may have too many fish for such a small aquarium. Also, because it’s a new tank, you are probably experiencing “new tank syndrome” which occurs when the natural ecological balance of the tank hasn’t stabilized yet. The water conditioner wouldn’t affect this conditon. EcoBio-Block would definitely help your situation.
EcoBio-Block is presently only available online. We would recommend that you get the EcoBio-Stone S. Continue to change about 30% of your water every few days until the bacteria from the block build up sufficiently to handle the waste in the water and monitor your levels of ammonia and nitrites. Usually EcoBio-Block takes 2 to 6 weeks to start to work, but since you have such a small tank, it will probably work much faster. We send the product by priority mail, so you would get it in a couple of days. Be sure to use non-chlorinated water and rinse the block and soak it overnight when you receive it. If you should need to treat your fish for any illness, simply remove the block until the fish are well.
#157 | @156 | Author
July 29, 2010 at 10:44 AMPatricia
I had my oldest Red parrot fish lose its color and within 4 days, died. Now all of a sudden my water is cloudy, smells, my Parrots, Black Convict, and Firemouth fish, colors are fading too. Tank is 120 gallons with 2 Pink Kissing Gouramis-5-6″, 2 Silver Tip Sharkis-5″, 2 Silver Dollar-4″, 1 Electric Yellow-3″, 2 other cichlids-3″, 1 loach-small, 1 black spotted Catfish-6″, 1 Pocathamus-13″, 2 Red Parrot-3-4″, 1 Black Convict-3″, 2 Firemouth cichlids-2″. This is an established tank of 3-4 years. Most of the fish are 2-3 years old. I run two of the largest charcoal filter Emperor makes (400 I think) which I rinse weekly and replace every couple months. I add salt crystals monthly when the water level decreases and I add fresh water (both routines since start-up). I fear my fish, those that are fading fast in color, will die very soon. This has never happened before. Your thoughts please.
#162
July 29, 2010 at 2:32 PMAquarium Care
We assume this is what happening in your tank.
When the water evaporates, the salt does not. Therefore, slowly but surely you have been making the tank that their freshwater fish are in into a salt water tank. You’ve been doing this for 3 – 4 years, so that means that you have added LOTS of salt during that time period. The fish can get used to it up to a point, and then they simply cannot deal with it – they lose their color and die.
I’m pretty sure this is what is going on. You should take a water sample to the local fish store and ask them to test the salinity – and have them do a series of 30% water changes every other day using fresh water only and not adding any salt. And add EcoBio-Block products for healthy tank.
#163
September 12, 2010 at 2:34 PMCin Val
I bought a new tank for my crawfish and the water gets cloudy within a few hours. At first it was green and cloudy within 12 hrs. The next day its cloudy white with a weird odor and that time it turned that way in about 6 hrs so frustrating, and its not in the sun light either!! I changed the water, the filter is new along with everything else. It was a kit I bought last week we only had it for a few days and never stayed clear. I’ve changed the water three times and we’ve only had it for 4 days.
I read a few articles and because its a band new tank it said it may be the gravel. So I cleaned the gravel with water for over an hour. We have water declorinator in there and a mineral pyramid. I am trying a process of elmination so I don’t know what it could be next. Help!!!
#165
September 13, 2010 at 3:00 PMAquarium Care
Can you tell us where you got the gravel from? If the gravel had green algae spores when you got them, green water algae will dominate very quickly. Just cleaning gravel will not eliminate them. You have to boil them for 15 minutes or soak them in chlorine water, rinse them very well after and then leave them out to dry and again dechlorinate to make sure no chlorine left in gravel.
You then need to start the aquarium all over again. You have to go through the cycle until you have established the tank. EcoBio-Block products will speed up this cycling process and will keep the water clear, odor-free, and healthy after the end of cycling.
#166 | @165 | Author
November 2, 2010 at 8:47 AMManash
i am hacing a aquarium setup at my home . i want to keep my aquarium clean and purified but how? my aquarium size in 3ft*2ft*1ft
#169
November 2, 2010 at 9:46 AMAquarium Care
You should initially do partial water changes of about 20% every week or every other week, according to the conditions in your tank. You will also have to scrape the sides of the tank occasionally and vacuum the gravel about once a month. Check your fishes’ condition when you feed them to see if they look or act strangely, it may be an indication that they are ill. You will have to remove the fish then for treatment because it will affect water conditions.
For a new fish tank, you can speed up the nitrogen cycle. This can be accomplished easily and quickly with the EcoBio-Stone L for a tank of your size. The great thing about EcoBio-Block Family Products is it will allow you to decrease the frequency of water changes and eliminate odors because the blocks keep a high level of beneficial bacteria living in your tank and breaking down the organic waste into safer materials which will keep your water clear and healthy.
#170 | @169 | Author
March 11, 2011 at 4:28 PMMegan
I have a 25 gallon fish tank with what was greenish water but is now white and murky. I did I partial water change when I first noticed my tank was greenish then it turned white and murky. I’ve had my tank set up for seven months and I have 3 black skirt tetras, 1 angelfish, 2 corys, 1 pictus catfish and a female betta. I’ve checked my water and there isn’t a problem there but I recently added a piece of driftwood from my pet store. The driftwood had been soaking in a tank with some live plants and the water was clear. She said it should be fine in my tank. I’ve read about tannins being leached into the aquarium and lowering my pH but that hasn’t happened. I just siphoned my tank last week and got the usual waste so my question is what is turning my water this color?
#180
March 11, 2011 at 10:02 PMAquarium Care
Hi Megan,
Your tank is experiencing bacterial bloom, which comes from an excess of organic waste. Be careful not to overfeed your fish (just give them the amount of food that they can eat in 1 minute. You can start by not feeding them for a couple of days (it won’t hurt them). Change about 25% of the water once a week and that should help. Watch for ammonia spikes, if it gets too high change more water. Of course, the best thing to do is to get an EcoBio-Block M, which will disperse the beneficial bacteria your tank needs to keep the water clear, clean and odor-free on a regular basis, keeping levels high and organic waste under control.
#181 | Website
May 24, 2011 at 2:21 AMkatie
i have a 10 gallon tank and have about 6 mollies in it. well they had babies and the tank was fine, but here recently it started turning green, because the babies i let it go for a while and then yesterday it was smelling wierd, so i cleaned the sides and changed the water, like a 50% water change, and it was fine at first, but then i woke up this morning and the water is cloudy and the fish are all at the top, like they cant breathe or something, and i dont know what i can do about it, help!
#202
May 24, 2011 at 8:59 AMAquarium Care
Changing 50% of the water at one time is a bad idea, and the fish are up at the top because you probably did not put in the right additive to neutralize chlorine/chloramines in the new water. At this point in time the only thing to do is to aerate the water very heavily, and stop feeding. If the fish do make it you needs to find out what his tap water has in it, and get the water conditioner to treat it.
#204 | @202 | Author
December 20, 2011 at 2:13 PMKristin
I recently upgraded my 10 gallon fish tank to a 60 gallon fresh water tank. When I set up the new tank I added tap water and treated it with a conditioner and EZ Balance. I ran the filters/heaters for 2 days. The water was at the right temperature and clear. I added the fish from my old tank and within 6 hours or so the water was cloudy. I added some tannen drops to “clear” the water – it didn’t help. Since, two of my fish have died… is this just a normal thing with a “new” tank? The fish seem to be swimming and enjoying the new tank. I am worried about the color. What do you think? Thanks for your help!
#290
December 20, 2011 at 3:00 PMAquarium Care
Your tank is experiencing new tank syndrome. Every tank has to go through a new aquarium cycle.
Keep checking ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels using a liquid-type water testing kit. Ammonia and nitrite are very toxic to fish.
Feed fish regularly once or twice a day, but only very little at a time. Uneaten food will worsen the water quality. Change 20% of the tank water once a week.
The ammonia level will rise at first and then will start to decrease, at which point the nitrite level will begin to rise. Water often gets cloudy around this time. The nitrite level will eventually decrease, as the nitrate level rises. When nitrate has gone down, the cycle has finished.
Do not add any new fish into the tank until ammonia and nitrate levels are at zero.
This usually takes 1-3 months.
EcoBio-Block products will speed up this process and will keep the water clear and healthy after the cycle has finished.
#291 | @290 | Author
December 20, 2011 at 7:33 PMKristin
Thank you.
#292
February 15, 2012 at 4:26 PMJena
I have a 70 gallon tank and I moved about a year ago. My tank was well established at my last house and was always crystal clear. Moving, I disassembled the tank and put everything back together clean. Now, after a few months in my new house the tank turned hazy gray/white. I have cleaned the rocks in the tank, changed filters, and reduced the amount of food. Nothing seems to help. I have two filters on the tank, under the rocks and a top filter. There is an amazing amount of snails in my tank which have always been in there. I also have a variety of cichlids and when the water first turned gray/white there were 4 fish in the tank and after months of gray/white water no fish have died. Any thoughts or help on this situation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
#312 | Website
February 15, 2012 at 5:48 PMAquarium Care
It sounds like you are having a bacterial bloom, which means you have too much organic waste. It’s one of the reasons that your snails are multiplying. There is a lot of food for them and they are thriving. Also, when you moved and change your filter, you got rid of the beneficial bacteria which break down the organic waste into safer by products and clear your water. If you use EcoBio-Block, you will quickly replenish the beneficial bacteria and your water will clear up again. It normally takes 2 to 6 weeks for the water to clear (it clears suddenly, not gradually). You should do about a 25% water change weekly until you have sufficient beneficial bacteria to take care of the waste problem in your tank. Don’t overfeed your fish. Only give them the amount of fish food that they can eat in about 2 minute. And, you should probably dispose of some of your snails. They eat waste, but they also make it. If you float a lettuce leaf on top of the water overnight, they will be attracted to it and you can pick them up and get rid of them easily.
After your water clears up, you can reduce water changes to monthly or bi-monthly, just monitor your ammonia and nitrite levels and don’t forget to vacuum. EcoBio-Block does best near an air source.
Good luck, let us know if you have any other questions.
#313 | @312 | Website | Author
March 19, 2012 at 4:37 AMnavi
my fish tank’s water turned white and milky….wat is the palm and wat should i do to clear it up??
#323
March 19, 2012 at 9:51 AMAquarium Care
First you should reduce the amount of fish food you give your fish.They only need as much as they can eat in 1 minute. Then vacuum the gravel and change about 1/4 of the water weekly. If you have too many fish (rule of thumb is 1 gallon of water per inch of fish, 10 gallons per inch of goldfish)
If you use EcoBio-Block, the beneficial bacteria which multiply in the block and disperse regularly into the water will breakdown the organic waste and clear your tank.
#324 | @323 | Website | Author