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Have cloudy water in your fish tank? In order to clear up your water, first you need to understand the potential causes to apply the correct solution.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
Do you have questions about algae in your aquarium? Petco has the answers! Learn about the types, causes and treatment options for aquarium algae.
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What is activated carbon and should you add it to your aquarium filter? Learn about activated carbon's uses, maintenance, and how to add it to your filter.
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Learn how to care for Chinese Algae Eaters, recommended diet & aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
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Learn how to care for freshwater community fish, recommended diet & aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
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Check the water chemistry using a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Rinse the filter media in tank water, not tap water, and replace it. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. To limit algae growth, maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular water changes. If possible, turn up filter flow to keep water moving. If this stresses the fish though, do not do it. Do not overfeed and remove any uneaten food promptly. Limit lighting to 8 hours daily and closely monitor water temperature as well. All these can promote algae overgrowth.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for reaching out. Have you tested water quality for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Correct problems. Don't see any signs of external lesion on the pictures, except fine erosion, and possible gravid fish. A veterinary visit is probably needed to trouble shoot for disease. Randomly adding chemicals to the water could have detrimental effects. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Thanks for reaching out about your aquarium and including photos. Did you test your water quality prior to the water change? Continue to test for pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Pristine water quality is needed for health. Are any of the fish new, that could have introduced parasites? Itching/flashing can be due to water quality, external parasites, bacterial or viral infections and other causes. The white lesions on the photo could be fungal infections. A skin scrape and examination under the microscope (at a veterinarian's office) is needed for an attempt to determine a cause. Fungal infections are often secondary problems, so check water quality first. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Check the water chemistry first. Elevated ammonia levels may result in a cloudiness to the eye(s). Use a master test kit (liquid, not strips) at home or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes daily, in indicated, to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged/conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. If chemistry is fine, it could be bacterial infection. A broad spectrum antibiotic, such as kanamycin, can be used for treatment. Look in the local pet store or Petco for "KanaPlex". It should be in the aquarium section. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Without anything to use for scale, it is hard for me to tell how big your tank is, but in general it seems very small. Also, the water that is in the tank appears very cloudy right now, so that would be the first place to start. Water quality is very important, and will make or break your ability to house and care for fish. I would recommend getting a good filter system (you can visit a local pet store to assist you with brands in your area, as I am not familiar with what you can get in India). Be sure to bring the measurements (height, length, width) of your tank, or the gallons or liters so they can tell you what capacity of filter you will need. Everything else will depend on what types of fish you get - if you plan on getting multiple fish, they will need to be small - a general rule of thumb is one square inch of fish per gallon of water. Depending on the species you get, you may need to also get a bubbler to ensure there is enough oxygen in the water for them, and you will also
Updated on September 24th, 2025