How to Decloud a Fishbowl

A fish bowl is a miniature ecosystem and because of its small size, it doesn't take much to destabilize the environment. Cloudy water may be caused by dirt or dust from new gravel or decorations, a bacterial bloom or algae from inappropriate maintenance. Fish in unfiltered bowls are effectively living in their own waste and the water quickly becomes dirty through a build up of feces and uneaten food. Installing a small filter takes care of waste problems and provides a safe, clean environment for your pet fish. Eradicate fine particles of dust or a bacterial bloom in a filtered bowl with an aquarium flocculant.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish bowl filter
  • Aquarium flocculant solution
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean out your fish bowl if it is dirty through lack of maintenance. Cloudiness after routine maintenance usually settles without intervention, but if the problem is persistent and returns after a day or two, install a filter to keep your tank clean.

    • 2

      Measure how much water is in your fish bowl and purchase a filter in an appropriate size. Filters have guidelines on the outer packaging so you can see which one is suitable for your needs before making a purchase. If in doubt, choose a larger capacity. Over-filtration is better than insufficient filtration. There are filters designed specifically for small fish bowls, so even if your tank is tiny, you should be able to find a suitable piece of equipment.

    • 3

      Install the filter according to the instructions on the box and leave it to work for a day or so. You should see the bowl start to decloud within a couple of hours as the filter pulls dust, debris or suspended algae from the water.

    • 4

      Check your fish bowl after 24 hours. If the problem was excess dirt and waste, the water should be vastly improved. A persistent white cloudiness in the water that the filter has not rectified is a bacterial bloom. Typically, this appears after a new setup or following routine maintenance. If it remains cloudy after two or three days, you may need to apply a water treatment.

    • 5

      Purchase a commercial aquarium flocculant from a pet store. If you are not sure whether the cloudiness is particle or bacterial-based, buy a broad spectrum solution that treats both problems. Very fine dirt particles can pass through the filter and remain in the water giving a cloudy appearance. A flocculant binds together suspended particles until they are big enough to be caught in the filter.

    • 6

      Add the aquarium flocculant to the water according to the dosage instructions. Don't panic if your fish bowl suddenly becomes cloudier because some brands make the water look worse for a couple of hours before it starts to clear.

    • 7

      Prevent a reoccurrence and keep your bowl clean and bacteria-free with regular maintenance.