What Causes White Cloudy Aquarium Water? How To Solve?

What Causes White Cloudy Aquarium Water? How To Solve? In this article we will help you to solve this problem.

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Does the water in your aquarium look white cloudy? Is this something you should be concerned about? Most inexperienced aquarists would probably freak out if they set up a new aquarium, added some fish, and in the morning, woke up to white cloudy water or a milky appearance.

But there is really no reason to worry when that happens, as this is not a big problem and can be easily solved. In fact, in many cases, it may even disappear on its own.

See also:

• 5 Ways To Keep Your Aquarium Water Clear;

What Causes White Cloudy Aquarium Water? How To Solve?

There are two main reasons why the water looks cloudy, and the good news is that none of them are dangerous.

Bacteria Proliferation

The most common reason for cloudy aquarium water is the bacteria proliferation or its rapid growth. This growth does not mean that something bad is happening. As you may know, bacteria are everywhere, and aquariums rely on the presence of bacteria to “work” properly, as they help to break down waste created by fish and plants.

These little faces are called beneficial bacteria; they grow in aquarium filter media, gravel, decorations and other surfaces. Fish residues are nutrients for beneficial bacteria, and bacteria residues, in turn, are nutrients for aquarium plants.

Sometimes, as new fish are added to an aquarium, bringing new nutrients to the bacteria, they can start to grow at extreme speeds and therefore make the water look cloudy.

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• Why My Fish Spitting Out The Food?

Lack of gravel washing

The second most popular reason for the aquarium to present this problem is the lack of washing of the gravel that was added.

The new gravel is covered with dust and must be washed before being added into the aquarium. If you do not rinse the gravel, all of these dusty particles float as you fill the tank and the water will likely turn white.

How to know what is making the aquarium water cloudy?

If you recently added gravel, it could be one of those reasons, because the new gravel is also the perfect place for bacteria to grow.

Typically, if the water is cloudy because of the dust left by the addition of the substrate, it will settle in less than a day. If it remains cloudy longer, it is more likely to be a growth of bacteria due to the addition of fish.

What to do if the aquarium water is cloudy?

If you have concluded that your water is cloudy because of bacteria (the most common cause), there is not much you can do – the water will be crystal clear within two or three days.

See also:

• Fish Bowls! Why Are They Bad For Fish?

You can, however, check the oxygen level in your fish tank. There is no need to test – just check the behavior of the fish, whether they are moving their gills quickly or becoming inactive.

If you see any of these signs, increase the flow of your filter or perform a Partial Water Change to renew the aquarium water.

If, however, you suspect that the root of the problem is insufficient cleaning of the gravel, one way is to remove it, rinse it and put it back in the aquarium. This process is much more laborious, but it will make the aquarium environment much more friendly.

The ideal is to let the gravel stay inside the aquarium and wait until the white dust particles settle to the bottom; however, keep in mind that the water will turn cloudy whenever you partially replace the water or rearrange the substrate, although the effect will disappear over time.

So, while it seems worrying, we can emphasize that, in most cases, cloudy water is not a problem for aquarium inhabitants. As long as they have enough oxygen, their friends will be fine and the water will be crystal clear over the days.

What Causes White Cloudy Aquarium Water in your Aquarium? Tell us! 😉