What Are the Causes of Foggy Salt Water Aquariums?

Maintaining a clean clear tank provides a chance to enjoy the beauty of brightly colored exotic saltwater fish. You may find it frustrating, though, when the tank becomes cloudy.

  1. New Tanks

    • During the first few weeks you start a tank, you might experience "new tank syndrome," caused by a bloom of bacteria. These bacteria actually benefit the tank by removing nitrite and ammonia produced by the fish in the tank. As long as the fish do not appear stressed, this phase is perfectly normal and there is no need to do anything about it.

    Algae

    • This green plant can appear in even perfectly maintained tanks. Overfeeding and more than 10 to 12 hours of light cause algae growth, but other factors can contribute also. Since algae spores are microscopic and can float in the air, when they land in your tank, your filter might not remove them, so they bloom and cause a green coating in your tank. Partial water changes and the use of a UV sterilizer can help control algae growth.

    Overfeeding and Overstocking

    • Overfeeding and overstocking your tank can raise the level of nitrites to a point where the filter cannot handle the amount of waste the fish are producing. A good rule of thumb is to keep your tank stocked at 10 percent less than the tank's capacity and to only feed your fish once or twice a day what they can entirely eat in one minute.

    Phosphate

    • If your water supply contains phosphate, the tiny particles can suspend there and cause the tank to look cloudy. Products containing aluminum sulfate will help clump the particles together so that they sink and then the filter can remove them.