Why is the water in the aquarium foaming? What to do?

Changes in the color and transparency of the water indicate problems in the aquarium. There are many reasons for this, and the consequences can be very sad for aquatic life. We wrote about it earlier in the blog Zootovary.com. Today we will try to deal with another problem, which is not so rarely faced by aquarists, why the water in the aquarium is foaming. How it affects the fish, and what to do in case of foam on the water surface.

Why does the water in the aquarium foam? For one reason or another, organic compounds, which are basically proteins and amino acids, accumulate in aquarium water. When the concentration of these substances exceeds acceptable levels, the water becomes significantly greasier. What happens to the protein when there are currents and “churning” from the filtration and aeration systems? That’s right, it whips up. Appears foam cap, which spoils the impression when contemplating the aquarium, and aquatic inhabitants such changes are not in favor.

Most often foamed soft water, not hard water. This is important to consider when starting the aquarium.

Now, let’s talk about what factors affect the formation of foam in aquarium water.

Causes of foam on the surface of the water and methods of their elimination

Knowing why the water in the aquarium is foaming, you can eliminate the problem and get away with a slight worry. Ignoring the same will lead to complication of the situation and even the loss of your favorite aquatic pets.

First start-up of the aquarium

The appearance of foam on the surface of the aquarium during the initial start-up is not uncommon. The water can be cloudy and foamy for several days until the biological balance is established. This happens regardless of whether or not the soil and decorative elements have been prepared correctly, whether or not the plants have been planted correctly and the equipment has been installed.

What to do?

There are two ways to solve the problem:

• Leave things as they are until the situation stabilizes. After 3-4 days, the water will become transparent, and the foam will disappear gradually. On the seventh day, you can safely launch aquatic inhabitants.
• Use special aquarium chemistry at the initial start-up, which will make the water habitable for fish not in a week, but in a couple of days, avoiding problems with water turbidity and foam formation.

Untimely maintenance

Untimely cleaning of the aquarium is determined not only by the presence of foam, but also by the debris that accumulates in the water. If fungal slime also appears, then it will be necessary to restart the aquarium with a complete water change.

What to do?

• Clean the aquarium weekly, collecting from the bottom of the siphon remains of fish products and uneaten food. The volume of replaced water should be no more than 25-30% of the total volume. Decorations are removed and thoroughly washed if they appear on them lower algae.
• If fungal slime is detected, the fish are relocated for a while in another tank, and the aquarium is completely cleaned, including the soil, decorative elements and using aquarium chemistry for the treatment of plants and aquatic life, if necessary.

If the fish are overfed, even regular cleaning of the aquarium will not help. Feed so much that they eat it in 5 minutes.

Improper water change

The water in the aquarium foams not only because it is not cleaned in time, but also if it is done frequently or incorrectly, for example, in a larger volume than recommended. Useful bacteria in the case of frequent and excessive water changes do not have time to restore the biological balance, which leads to a deterioration in water quality.

What to do?

• Carry out the cleaning procedure no more than once a week. The amount of water replaced in the aquarium – no more than ¼ of the total volume. The water should be clean and tempered.
• If you find a disturbance in the biological balance, use special conditioners for the preparation of tap water and other aquarium chemistry.

Inefficient filtration

A problem with the filter is recognized by a loss of water clarity, the appearance of foam containing organic residues and the rapid spread of lower algae. Reduced filtration quality is most often due to improper cleaning of filter elements or untimely replacement with new ones.

What to do?

• Make sure that the filter equipment has enough capacity to handle the entire volume of the aquarium. If not, it should be replaced.
• Keep an eye on the condition of filter elements, cartridges, clean and replace them in a timely manner, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Poor quality decorations

Do not be surprised that the water in the aquarium is foaming if cheap and low-quality decorative elements are bought. Brightly colored chests and pots, lacquered castles and vases, covered with strange paint artificial algae and figures – all this leads to the formation of foam on the water surface, which usually has a grayish, milky shade or color similar to the decoration. You can’t sacrifice the health of fish and other aquatic inhabitants in favor of beauty.

What to do?

• Use only high-quality decorations for the aquarium, let them be a little, but they will be without a pungent smell, poisonous color and made of reliable materials.
• If found poor-quality accessory, remove it from the aquarium, turn on the full capacity of the aeration and filtration systems. If necessary, perform a partial water change.

Sometimes quality decorations are to blame for the formation of foam in the aquarium. Fish can get stuck inside them and die. After time, protein contamination of the water occurs and foam appears. Therefore, during periodic cleaning of the tank, decorative elements are inspected for the presence of dead aquatic life in them.

Medication

Some medications used to treat aquatic life cause the water in the aquarium to foam and become cloudy. The concentration of the medication may be higher than required. To avoid the problem, pre-test in a separate tank.

What to do?

After treatment, more powerful filtration and aeration will be needed to maximize the clearance of the drug from the water.

Algae

Foam in the aquarium can be caused by algae, which release volatile substances into the water. A putrid odor will be emitted from the water. The main source of algae infestation is the soil.

What to do?

• Use special means for the destruction of algae – biological solutions and preparations that are sold in the pet store.
• If the aquarium chemistry does not help, remove the ground from the aquarium and thoroughly calcine it in the oven or replace it with a new one. Clean the tank’s decorations, equipment and glass.

Spawning

The breeding products contain a large amount of protein, so during the spawning period, the water in the aquarium often foams. This problem is temporary and does not require any special remedial action.

Overpopulation of fish in the aquarium leads to the appearance of foam on the water surface, because it is impossible to provide them with proper care. The problem is eliminated by settling aquatic inhabitants in other tanks.

Observance of elementary rules for the care and maintenance of the aquarium will avoid deterioration of water indicators. If the water in the aquarium is foaming for unknown reasons, even after eliminating any problems, it is better to seek help from a specialist.

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