Whitish and cloudy water in aquarium, what to do?

Whitish and cloudy water in an aquarium. What to do?

Every fish lover and hobbyist has experienced the dreadful episode of encountering murky water.

Chances are you're dealing with bacterial growth or unwashed substrate. Your water may also contain some visible particles if it becomes completely or partially opaque.

Whitish and cloudy water in an aquarium can have several causes. Here are some steps you can take to solve this problem:

1. Check water parameters: Make sure your aquarium water has the proper pH, hardness, and temperature for the fish living in it. Improper pH or temperature can cause cloudy water.

2. Clean the filters: Make sure your aquarium filters are clean and in good working order. If the filters are clogged or faulty, it can cause cloudy water.

3. Change some of the water: If the filters are clean and the water parameters are good, it is possible that the water is simply dirty and needs to be changed. Change some of the water in the aquarium to see if this improves the appearance of the water.

4. Check plants and decorations: Plants and decorations can sometimes be the cause of cloudy water. Make sure there are no rotting leaves or decaying decorations in the aquarium that could be contributing to cloudy water.

5. Consult an aquarium expert or specialist If you have followed all these steps and the water in your aquarium remains whitish and cloudy, it is possible that the fish are sick. In this case, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian for further advice.

If it is a new aquarium, cloudy water is often caused by limescale that must first "precipitate". This is often the case in fresh water, if your tap water is very loaded. You can use a water conditioner like Aquatan, it is the most reliable and it is what we have been recommending to our customers for several years.

If it is a new tank, the water is often milky. There are a lot of bacteria that will start to grow to create the nitrogen cycle and "cycle" your tank. The problem should resolve itself within a few days. If you want to speed up the process, you can use solutions like bactocool.