Why is my aquarium water green?

An aquarium is a closed environment containing fish, plants, and in some cases, shrimp. It is imperative to have clear water in which the various species can thrive.

However, there are a number of factors to take into consideration, and unfortunately, these can negatively impact the water quality. As a result, you end up with green water in your aquarium.

Why do you have green water in your aquarium?

In an aquatic environment, having green water means you have an excessive density of planktonic micro-algae or algal chloroplasts. In other words, you have a significant amount of green algae. Of course, the aesthetic aspect is degraded, but this can also pose a threat to the species in your aquarium.

It is important to act correctly based on the causes. Indeed, when water is green, it means it is not clean. However, you will need to determine the physicochemical factors responsible for this cloudiness.

You might have an issue with your aquarium filter, a lighting problem, or even the initial setup of the tank might explain the appearance of green water. But this does not excuse you from being vigilant about the various undesirable elements in your decor that can unfortunately disturb the clarity of your water.

Monitoring micro-algae in the water

The presence of heat and sunlight encourages the proliferation of micro-algae. As a result, your fresh, clear water will gradually turn into cloudy water. If you have direct light hitting your aquarium, it is certainly excessive and therefore a source of micro-algae proliferation.

Keep in mind that the majority of plants, including algae, use light for photosynthesis. If your exposure is far too strong, algae will tend to proliferate. The solution is then to move the aquarium to moderate the brightness. Be careful, this does not mean you should put your aquarium in the dark.

A significant amount of waste

If you unfortunately have an overcrowded aquarium, your fish will tend to produce a lot of organic waste. This waste is used directly by plants for food. In fishkeeping, it is important not to end up with overpopulation, because, unfortunately, you will experience devastating effects.

In a very short time, you could end up with a large amount of waste, which obviously harms the water quality. You have a disturbance of the biological balance with a carbon dioxide level that rises significantly.

It then becomes impossible for the present species to thrive, especially since the organic waste released will promote the development of algae. As a result, you will end up with green water.

Be careful not to overfeed

You must carefully dose your fish's food, because otherwise, food that is not consumed will turn into nutrients for the algae. With an excessive amount of food, algae growth will be extremely rapid.

Once again, this is a particularly harmful situation for your fish, plants, and shrimp. You must therefore strictly follow the feeding recommendations by dosing appropriately.

Solutions to implement to combat green water

An ecosystem disturbance will be observed if you have green water. In other words, it is a harmful situation for the shrimp, fish, and plants in your aquarium. But this is not inevitable, as there are several solutions available to help you get rid of this problem.

Eliminating sources of light

To combat algae proliferation, it is important to limit photosynthesis in your aquarium. If you have multiple light sources, you will need to get rid of them while avoiding direct sunlight.

In this case, it is imperative to move the aquarium to a more suitable location and to eradicate the existing algae. For this, there is nothing better than performing a thorough cleaning using the right tools and products.

Using a micron or diatomaceous filtration system

By installing this type of device, you will be able to get rid of the algae suspended in your aquarium. For the animals to grow, you will need to be vigilant about water cleanliness. This is why you should use this type of filtration system, which is particularly effective for limiting algae.

But that's not all; you will have a greatly increased purification capacity so that the water is of better quality. However, to achieve such a result, you must have optimal maintenance, meaning the filter must be able to process the entirety of your aquarium's water at least four times per hour.

As a result, you will be able to see the cloudiness gradually disappear in favor of clear water.

Introducing daphnia into the tank

Don't know what daphnia are? They are planktonic crustaceans between 1 and 4 mm in length. They feed exclusively on bacteria and algae to survive.

Consequently, they are absolutely essential for the purification of your aquarium. Another advantage is that these tiny crustaceans do not pollute the water but undeniably contribute to its purification.

As a result, you won't have green water in your aquarium, and you will have excellent water quality.

Using shrimp or snails in your aquarium

These are species that eat waste in your aquarium. By introducing snails, you will be able to maintain a better balance.

Indeed, they will eat sick and dead leaves on the algae. If you have dead fish, shrimp and snails can also help you get rid of them.