Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned fish tank filled with pretty little fishes swimming around in the corner of their home? But from their food to the water they swim in, to taking care of any newly laid eggs and baby fish, fishes, require a lot of care and looking after. One of the most important aspects of having fish as a pet is taking care of their tank water, which must be hygienic and clean at all times to ensure fish safety.
Cause of Yellow Tank Water
There are a few causes that might cause give your fish tank water a cloudy, yellowish appearance:
- Accumulation of organic compounds – this means waste that comes from living beings like uneaten food, waste matter excreted by fishes, or any decaying plants in the fish tank may all turn the water an unappealing yellow color.
- Over-crowding of the tank – if you have many fishes in your tank and have decorative live plants but slack off in cleaning it, it may lead to a surge in the bioload of the tank, causing yellowing of the water.
- Decorative driftwood – using driftwood for an aesthetically pleasing aquarium may also be the culprit for that yellow gross water. Over time the driftwood releases tannins in the water, which causes the water to turn yellow.
- Too many minerals – if your tank water source has many minerals in it, namely manganese or iron, it may also be a cause of yellow tank water.
Does Yellow Tank Water Harm the Fish?
It usually depends on the source of the yellow fish water. If it’s because the source of water is yellow, then it doesn’t matter. Still, if it’s because of accumulating waste materials, tannins, or minerals, it may be a hazard to the fish as all of these are known to cause toxicity and, ultimately, death in fish. This is why assessing the cause of your yellow fish water and treating it immediately is very important for ensuring your fish’s health and safety.
Cleaning Yellow Fish Tank Water
As the causes of yellow fish water are different, the solution to each one is different too.
- Preventing organic matter accumulation – any wastes, left-over food, and plant decay should be regularly removed to prevent organic compounds’ buildup. It is recommended that weekly cleaning and changing at least one-quarter of the tank water should be done.
- Avoiding overcrowding – this is probably the most common cause of yellowing and, therefore, must be prevented at all costs. Try to keep lesser fish per tank and add fewer live plants to balance the tank.
- Driftwood treatment – before you introduce the driftwood in the tank, make sure it is either boiled in water for an hour and then soaked in a pot of water until all the tannins have completely seeped out. The wood gives off no color in the water.
- Safe water source – ensure that the water source you have is safe and does not have high amounts of toxic minerals like iron or other such components like ammonia or nitrates.
In addition to these measures, vacuuming your fish tank to get rid of all waste accumulated once a week may help eliminate the yellow fish tank water.
Conclusion For “What To Do When You Have Yellow Fish Tank Water”
Yellowing of fish tank water is a very common problem, and it is important to identify the cause to prevent or treat the condition. Although it is mostly only a displeasing slight, at times, it may become toxic to the fish, such as in the case of toxic mineral accumulation.
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