Today we talk about common problems in aquariums for all aquarist in the world. The filters for aquariums would be simple pumps if it were not for the filtering media inside, these are the ones that really make a difference in water quality and filtration capacity. The longer the water in the aquarium passes inside the filter, that is, in the filter media, the better the water quality and the cleaner it will come out.
Many of the most common problems in aquariums are those related to their clarity, color, and smell. And all these problems can be solved, most of the time using adequate filtering media.
Here we write 5 common problems in your aquarium
1. Green water
Green water, a common problem in aquariums. The water acquires this color because there are algae suspended in the water. The algae proliferate by an excess of sunlight and because they have the necessary nutrients to grow.
The quick solution is to use a clarifier, such as Fluval’s Quick Clear, this product will cause any suspended particles to precipitate at the bottom of the aquarium. Along with the clarifier can be used fine filtering media such as polyester to trap the algae in suspension, then strip the polyester Foamex. You must find out the cause of the growth of algae to tackle the problem from the origin and prevent these undesirable algae from growing back.
2. Scents in the water
Problems in aquariums: smells in the water. The smell of the water is a common problem in new or highly populated aquariums. If you have too many fish or you have fish too big for the aquarium that you currently have, you should consider buying or make a larger aquarium.
See this article: 10 Step by Step Making an aquarium in your home
The solution to this problem is to change the active carbon, the filtering medium of the chemical stage that is responsible for absorbing odors. You must also take into account what food you give your fish and the amount. Since a food of poor quality or a lot of food decomposing in the water. Because your fish have not eaten it all, can also cause odors in the water of the Aquarius.
3. Brown or cloudy water
Turbid water or brown water can be found in aquariums that use natural wood as part of their decoration.
In this case, the solution is rather a prevention. If you want to use natural wood as a decorative element of your aquarium, remember that it must be suitable for the aquarium, not any wood serves as they can modify the water parameters. Before introducing it to the aquarium let it soak for about a week, changing the water every day. Then make a change of water and change the carbon frequently.
4. High ammonia levels
Controlling the level of ammonia is essential in the care of an aquarium since ammonia is toxic to fish and can be fatal. It can be suspected that there is a high concentration of ammonia in the aquarium if we observe an atypical behavior in the fish, but this is a problem that cannot be seen with the naked eye with a water color change , we have to measure the ammonia levels with a test kit to know if the level is suitable or not. Ammonia is a residue that occurs naturally in the cycle of decomposition of organic matter in the aquarium (food debris, feces …), but we must ensure that the ammonia is degraded to compounds less harmful to fish.
Suddenly high levels of ammonia may be due to the death of a fish or we may be throwing more food than our fish can eat, we should not overfeed. Continue reading: 10 Tips how to feed your aquarium fish
The solution to this common problem in aquariums is to make a change of water with the same pH as the aquarium. You also have to change the ammonia eliminator or acquire one if you do not have one. This is a chemical filter medium that is responsible for precisely that: eliminate ammonia. In addition, you must make sure that your biological means are working correctly. Keep in mind that if you have a very populated aquarium or the fish have grown a lot. You will need more biological filtering media or another filter. Do not forget to take weekly the recommended dose of Fluval Cycle. These beneficial bacteria will promote the degradation of ammonia.
5. The unwanted growth of algae
The algae are the great enemies of the aquarists, their continuous growth in crystals, decorations, and gravel of the aquarium can be due to several factors. The exposure of the aquarium to direct sunlight, as we have commented on other occasions, can be a cause. High levels of phosphates can also cause the growth of algae. In this case, you can use Phos Clear to reduce phosphate levels. Phosphate can come from different sites, so measure the levels with a kit test for phosphates. Measure both the aquarium and the tap water that you use to fill the aquarium, since it may contain phosphates.
Also read this article: Aquarium Algae Problems – How can you fixing in your aquarium
To actively fight the algae you can have in your aquarium species of fish or invertebrates that eat algae. Such as the carina multidentata prawns, Marisa cornuarietis snails, neritina natalensis and farlowellas catfish and ancistrus. Having natural plants in your aquarium is also beneficial when it comes to combating algae, aquatic plants also consume phosphates. But it can be the case that the algae grow in the plants too.
Maintenance is the best solution
In general, all the most common problems in aquariums can be prevented and avoided by performing a regular maintenance that includes : partial changes of water, cleaning gravel and crystals, provide the weekly dose of beneficial bacteria and clean the filter and filter media (never at the same time and should be cleaned with water from the aquarium, not with tap water).
See this article: Aquarium Water Change – How you can ?
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Good day!!
Tags: common problems, Common problems in aquariums, problems in aquariums
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