How to Make Aquarium Water Less Cloudy

Aquariums can have cloudy water that appears white, brown or green. There are many causes for cloudy water, but cloudy water can be fixed once the cause is determined. Some causes include a newly set up aquarium, introducing new decorations or fish, or a poorly set up or maintained tank.

Things You'll Need

  • Dechlorinator
  • Live plants
  • Bucket and siphon for water changes
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Instructions

  1. Greenish Water Caused by Algae Bloom

    • 1

      Change half the water in your aquarium. Replace it with plain, dechlorinated water.

    • 2

      Leave the lights off for 24 hours.

    • 3

      Add live plants and fertilize. Plants consume the same nutrients that algae does. They will consume the excess nutrients so the algae doesn't have anything to feed on.

    • 4

      Repeat the large water change in a two or three days if the algae bloom is still present.

    Grey-white Water Caused by Chemical or Mineral Imbalance

    • 5

      Remove any newly added decoration. They may be leaching chemicals into the water.

    • 6

      Do a 50 percent water change. Replace with plain, dechlorinated water.

    • 7

      Stop using any other unnecessary chemicals in the water, including those designed to eliminate cloudiness. They can aggravate the problem.

    • 8

      Have your pH and water hardness tested. Water with a lot of minerals can become cloudy. If your pH or hardness is out of the safe range for the type of fish, you may have to consider another water source.

    • 9

      Continue doing large water changes every few days until water clears or you have discovered the problem (pH or hardness).