How to Make My Aquarium Clear

Aquariums require intense maintenance to keep tanks clear and fish happy, although most fish enthusiasts will deal with a cloudy tank at some point. Cloudy tanks can result from any number of reasons; however, regular cleaning and maintenance of tanks will minimize if not fully prevent cloudiness. Though chemicals are available to help maintain tank clarity they often only treat cloudiness symptoms as opposed to treating the entire issue, according to First Tank Guide.

Things You'll Need

  • Scrub pad
  • Tank vacuum
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wait it out. If you have just set up your tank but are looking at cloudy water it is most likely the result of your tank's cycling process. A tank must cycle so the filter's biological elements can handle waste produced by fish, according to First Tank Guide. Cloudy or milky water late in the cycle is not unusual and will clear up in a few days.

    • 2

      Change 10 to 15 percent of your water weekly. Regular water changes help keep debris from building up and causing cloudiness. Insufficient water changes can also lead to algae growth, which results in cloudy water. Changing the water regularly will also remove buildups of nitrates and silicic acid, which causes algae growth and unclear water.

    • 3

      Check your aquarium decorations and equipment. Sometimes tanks appear cloudy even before the fish are added due to a dirty piece of equipment or decoration. Remove any dissolving decorations and allow your filter to clear up the cloudiness. Regular water changes will speed up this process. Wooden decorations can also produce a weak tea-looking cloudiness that will not harm fish. The tannins from the wood can actually help soften the water and lower the water pH, which can boost the immune systems of your fish friends.

    • 4

      Minimize chemical use. Chemicals added to your aquarium can react with other tank chemicals or the water, resulting in cloudiness.

    • 5

      Check your water filter. Insufficient water filtering from a broken or clogged filter will lead to cloudy water.

    • 6

      Maintain fish population levels. Overpopulation in an aquarium can cause stress, algae growth, more fish deaths and additional tank maintenance in addition to cloudy water. Keep your tank population at or below 1 inch of fish per gallon of water, according to First Tank Guide.

    • 7

      Scrub your tank with a scrub pad to get rid of algae buildup, which causes aquarium cloudiness. Vacuum the tank regularly as well to control algae levels.