Tips on Keeping Fish Tank Water Crystal Clear

The great thing about keeping goldfish is they are pretty easy maintenance which is why they are such a great choice as first pets for kids. However, this does not mean fish can be put in their tanks and then forgotten, because their environment still needs to be kept as clean as possible for them to remain healthy. If the water is crystal clear you can enjoy seeing the fish swimming around which is extremely relaxing. If the water is too murky, you won't be able to see a thing!

The Importance of Filtration

The water won't stay very clear if there's no filtration system in the tank. It doesn't take long for debris and dirt to mount up and it can really spoil things for your fish. A dirty environment is not very nice for them to swim around in because the majority of the dirt would be made up of their poop. However, just because you have a filter in a tank doesn't mean you can then just forget about things, because filters too need to be kept clean and regularly checked or they won't work properly which could make water clarity that much worse.

Avoid Overfeeding Your Fish

It's all too easy to give fish too much food which is why it's important for any uneaten food to be taken out. It tends to float around in the tank and just waiting 10 or minutes before scooping it up with a net will help keep things a lot cleaner, and clearer. As a rule of thumb, fish should be fed little and often which not only prevents any uneaten food from laying at the bottom of the tank where it starts to rot, but less waste means less expense too.

Dealing with Bacterial Bloom

If you have just got a new tank, the chances are the water is looking a little cloudy which is commonly known as “new tank syndrome”. The reason why the water is a milky colour is due to a bacterial bloom, but the good news is you can quite safely change a little of the water on a regular basis without harming your fish in order to get rid of the problem. It's something that tends to happen in new tanks as the water settles and the right chemical balance is achieved. You can change a bit of the water twice a week and pretty soon, the cloudiness will disappear altogether.

Dealing with Algae

Algae causes water to have a green tinge to it and although most fish tanks have some algae in them which fish tend to nibble at it every now and again which means when there's only a little, it should not be too much of a problem. The trick is to keep algae growth under control and not let it take over. If there's too much light on a tank it can accelerate the growth which can really spoil the effect and clarity of the water, not to mention it's not a very nice environment for fish to swim around in. You should avoid placing your fish tank too near a window and to turn lights on for around 10 to 12 hours a day at most.

Using Chemicals to Keep the Water Clear

Using chemicals is an easy route to take when it comes to keeping water in a fish tank clear and as a last resort there are some very effective water treatments available which are very safe to use. Chemical flocculants are a good option because they bind tiny particles of dirt together which makes it a lot easier to scoop the larger lumps out of the tank using a fish net.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

The rule of thumb is “a clean tank is a healthy one” which means regular maintenance and cleaning is essential. As with most things, prevention is always so much easier than cure so by keeping on top of things, the water in your fish tank should remain crystal clear which means your fish live in a lovely environment which ensure they stay nice and healthy.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about getting a first pet for the kids choosing some colourful fish could be the perfect solution. Fish are pretty low-maintenance, but they still need taking care of which means maintaining the clarity of the water so they have a nice environment to swim around in. It's not that hard to keep the water clean and prevent it from turning too murky, it just means setting up a good quality filter that you regularly clean and to keep on top of any algae growth which can really spoil the effect and clarity of the water. Fish tanks should never be placed too near a window either and any artificial light should only be turned on for a maximum of 12 hours a day because light accelerates algae growth making it harder to keep things under control.