Aquarium Plant Dips for Snails – Bleach, Alum & Copper Comparison

I’m just going to straight up say it: I don’t like snails. Pest snails, pet snails... they’re just not for me. So how do you prevent unexpected guests from hitching a ride on your aquarium plants? Like any good beginner hobbyist, I did a bunch of online research on plant dips to find out what methods will remove hitchhikers without killing my aquarium plants. And right from the start, there seemed to be a lot of differing opinions, especially on what will get rid of both snails and snail eggs. So I decided to run some scientific experiments to see for myself.

Since my tanks are currently snail free, I reached out to Greg Sage from Select Aquatics, who has a long-running fish breeding business. Huge thanks to Greg for providing me three clumps of java fern, which he put in his most snail-infested tank for this experiment. (Pro tip: snails can be very useful for cleaning up excess food in fry tanks.) Don’t forget to check out his rare livebearers and green dragon plecos for sale at selectaquatics.com.

Experiment Objectives

The three plant dipping methods I decided to try this time were bleach, alum, and copper medication. The criteria I’ll be judging these methods on is:

1. Does it get rid of snails?
2. Does it also neutralize the snail eggs?
3. Did the plant survive the treatment?

Experiment Procedure

The plants were kept in shoebox-sized plastic containers at room temperature around 70°F, and they received daily indirect sunlight through a frosted window. Snail eggs supposedly hatch in two to four weeks, so I planned to run the experiment for at least a month. Since the tubs had no filtration, I did 100% water changes (and added a little all-in-one liquid fertilizer) twice a week to remove surface scum and stagnant water. Java fern is pretty hardy, so I also ran some supplementary tests to see the treatments' effects on more delicate plants like vallisneria and cryptocoryne spiralis.

Bleach Dip

There are many different concentrations and treatment lengths for bleach, so I chose to follow the instructions provided by the online aquatic plant seller where I bought my val and crypts.

1. Mix up 1 cup of regular bleach (or 3/4 cup of concentrated bleach) with 19 cups of room temperature water in a bucket.
2. Completely submerge the plant in the bleach solution for 2 minutes. 
3. Dump out the bleach water, fill up the bucket with room temp water again, mix in 1 tsp of dechlorinator like Seachem Prime, and let the plant soak for 3 minutes. 
4. Repeat the last step of soaking in fresh, heavily dechlorinated water a couple more times.

And that’s it! After the initial bleach treatment, I just floated the java fern in fresh, clean water with a little fertilizer for 30 days to see if any of the snail eggs survived.

Alum Dip

Alum, or aluminum potassium sulfate, is a white powder you can commonly find in the spice aisle of your grocery store. It’s found in baking powder as a leavening agent that causes baked goods to rise and is used for home pickling recipes because it’s both an acid and an astringent. Many sources recommend it as a gentler method compared to bleach and therefore should be more suitable for delicate plants. I chose the following recipe:

1. Mix up 1 Tbsp of alum per gallon of water.
2. Let the plants soak in the solution for 3 days. 
3. Rinse the plants thoroughly with fresh water.

And then like the bleach method, I quarantined the plants for the remainder of the 30 days in fresh water to see if any snail eggs hatched.

Copper Dip

Copper medication like Seachem Cupramine is commonly used to treat fish for external parasites, and the bottle always come with a warning “Not Safe for Invertebrates!” So on the PlantedTank.net forums, there’s a guy named Roy (aka Seattle_Aquarist) who recommends the following treatment:

1. Add 2 drops of Cupramine per gallon of water.
2. Continue the treatment for the entirety of the 30 days to ensure all the snail eggs have had sufficient time to hatch, which means every time I do 100% water changes, I add two more drops of copper meds.

Experiment Journal

• Day 0: This morning I started treatment on all three plants. In the bleach tub, all the adult snails were immediately eliminated. By evening, I removed a bunch of dead adult and baby snails from both the copper and alum tubs. As for the eggs, the copper tub’s eggs look normal, like clear snot blobs with light-colored translucent dots inside, whereas the alum tub’s eggs have turned bright solid white. The bleach tub also has a few snot blobs, but I can’t tell if the eggs are affected. Only time will tell.
• Day 3: No more major snail deaths that I can see, but the bleach tub has brown tinted water – not sure if it’s caused by dead snails or dead leaves.
• Week 1.5: The copper tub had a planaria outbreak! I removed all of the flatworms except one to see if the copper will kill it.
• Week 2: The last planarian is still alive even after several days of copper meds, so I removed it. The alum tub is very clean with no baby snails, whereas the bleach tub has hatched more baby snails. I can now see that some of the bleached eggs turned to a white foggy mush while other eggs are intact.
• Week 3: The bleach tub still has more baby snails and I had to remove a bunch of dying brown leaves. The other two tubs’ plants are much greener with no sign of baby snails (or other invertebrates). I couldn’t see any eggs in the bleach and copper tubs, and the alum eggs are still bright white and pristine like before.
• Week 4: All the tubs seem to be snail free! Again, no eggs on the bleach and copper tubs, and all the eggs on the alum plant are still solid white just like on day 1. The leaves on the bleach plant definitely look worse than the leaves on the copper and alum plants.

Bleach-treated eggs (left) and alum-treated eggs (right) on Day 0

Supplementary Tests

Before I close out the experiment journal, let me share how these three treatments worked on more delicate plants like vallisneria. The bleach flat out killed the val. All the leaves dropped off and the roots died. So I tried alum and copper with the remaining val and crypt spirallis. I never saw any snails or snail eggs so not sure if there were any to begin with, but I can tell you how the chemicals affected the plants, specifically the val since the crypts didn’t show much difference.

By week 2, the alum had significantly browned all of the emerged leaves on the val into a mushy goo, whereas the emerged leaves in the copper tub had only browned a little and were still pretty firm. However, by the end of week 4, the tides had turned! The alum-soaked val had very green submerged leaves and was sending off shoots with healthy roots. The copper-soaked val, on the other hand, had brownish-red submerged leaves and seemed to be melting away even three weeks after being planted in the main tank.

Green alum-treated val (left) and brown copper-treated val (right) after quarantine

Results and BEEP Rating

So time to summarize the results and give them the BEEP rating (i.e., how Beneficial, Easy, Efficient, and Proven are the methods).

1. Did it kill the snails? Yes, all three treatments did.
2. Did it kill snail eggs? I think only the alum method definitively did. The bleach killed some snail eggs but left many intact (maybe because the bleach could only be used for 2 minutes or else the plant will be killed). Unfortunately, those intact eggs regularly hatched throughout the process. The copper seemed to leave intact eggs as well, but I saw fewer baby snails survive since the water always had medication in it.
3. Bonus: Did it kill planaria and its eggs? I didn’t know there were planaria eggs in the plants as well, but the copper was unable to get rid of the planaria nor its eggs whereas the bleach and alum eliminated them both.
4. Did the plant survive? The bleached java fern significantly browned, and the bleached val completely died. The alum val fared much better than the copper val, but both chemicals had little effect on the java fern and crypt spiralis.

So the next time I get new plants, I’m going to go with... alum! The top advantages I saw were:

• Gentle on plants (at least the three I tested it with)
• Cheap and easily available at grocery stores 
• Not as dangerous as bleach
• Efficiently neutralizes both snails and snail eggs
• Recommended by many aquarists for many years

My second choice would be copper since it was also effective and worked on snails, but it did stunt my val’s growth after 30 days of treatment.

Question of the Day

I hope you enjoyed this experiment as much as I did! There are a bunch of methods I haven’t tested yet, like potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, manual removal, etc. so comment below to let me know what I should try testing next time around. Don’t forget to take time to enjoy your aquariums and I’ll see you next time!

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How to Pick the Best Dog for a Cat Lover

Despite being a huge lover of all animals since childhood, I never got a dog until I got married. Why? Well, dogs are a huge time commitment, they smell funny, they destroy things, and they're not as cute as cats (haha don't kill me). So keep reading to find out how my husband convinced me, a cat lover, to get our first dog.

Ever since childhood, I've kept a wide assortment of small pets like parakeets, hamsters, and finally my biggest pet, a cat, during my senior year of high school after endlessly pestering my dad. Fast-forward to being married with no kids, I got my second cat after endlessly pestering my husband, Mr. Gamer, who is actually semi-allergic to cats and definitely a dog person.

One day, we went to PetSmart to pick up some kitty treats, and they happened to be having a huge National Adoption Weekend with big tents outside that contained, like, a hundred dogs from all the surrounding rescue centers. So I told Mr. Gamer, “Ooo, let’s look at the doggies,” but what I really meant was, “Let’s look at them like we’re going to the zoo." You observe the animals and say aww, but at the end of the day, you don’t take the giraffe home.

After I had my fill of dog viewing, we proceeded inside and I beelined for the cat food aisle. Mr. Gamer instead lingered around the rescue dogs that were being held inside the store. Big mistake. In the back of one of the covered kennels was a quiet, medium-sized black dog, curled up in the corner and almost completely hidden in the shadows. (Ninja!) Soon Mr. Gamer was the one giving me the big, puppy eyes…

4 Considerations for Choosing a Cat-Like Dog

Now, when you’re trying to convince your cat-loving spouse to get a dog, you’ve got one shot. If that first dog isn’t amazing, you can be sure there ain’t gonna be another dog for a looong time. So here’s the dog that Mr. Gamer chose:

A) Medium-Sized Dog

What he really wanted was a large dog but he knew I was only used to nano-sized pets, so we compromised with a medium-sized one. Sorry, I’m not used to dogs, especially those that are strong enough to drag me down the street if they see a squirrel.

B) Super Submissive

Appearances aside, the primary reason our dog got to stay is because she’s super submissive and trainable. She doesn’t jump on me or lick me (ew) and is very compliant. You tell her something once, like “Trash is not for eating,” and she never does it again. Plus, I was able to train this 4-year-old mutt to walk on a leash without pulling, and now she’s the perfect companion for my morning runs.

No licking for me, please

C) Affectionate but Not Clingy

I also like that she’s a little aloof like a cat. Like, she would love to be petted all day long, but if I tell her, “All done,” she immediately leaves me alone and goes to bed. And another nice thing is we’ve never had separation anxiety issues when we leave the house.

D) Low Energy and Not Destructive

I think the most important thing is that we chose a low energy dog that fits our low key lifestyle. I mean, her favorite pastime is sunbathing next to the window. And for some reason, she doesn’t like to play with balls or doggy toys, but also that means she’s totally non-destructive. No half-eaten sandals, no chewed up stuffed animals, nothing. Yeah, I can completely trust her with full reign of the house when we’re out and about.

No interest in playing fetch

Bonus: Silent

Oh, and did I mention she’s completely silent? I’ve literally only heard her bark twice, and that was when she was dreaming. Doesn’t make for the best guard dog, but hey, that’s what the security system is for.

So if you’re looking for a good first-time dog for your cat-loving significant other, don’t necessarily go for the cutest or most feline-looking dog. Our dog is an unassuming, older black dog of unknown lineage, and it’s her low energy, low maintenance personality that completely won me over. While I still really love cats, she's really opened my eyes to what is possible in the dog world!

Question of the Day

What kind of dog do you think a cat lover should get? Comment below to share your ideas because I’d love to hear them. Good luck with your pets, and I’ll see you next week for more aquarium action!

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How to Disinfect a Used or Contaminated Aquarium with Bleach

So you just went through the horrors of dealing with a massive disease outbreak in your fish tank and you want to know how to nuke those nasties out of orbit. Keep reading to find out how to use bleach (yes, bleach) to thoroughly disinfect your aquarium, aquarium equipment, and accessories.

Materials for Bleaching

Okay, first things first: gather your materials. I put on latex gloves and old clothes that can get ruined. Also, get some bleach, a measuring cup, siphon or container for emptying out the tank, washrag or sponge to clean surfaces, and spray bottle (optional).

Should I Bleach It or Toss It?

Bleach anything that may have been exposed to the fish water, even accidental drips from your hands. So besides the tank, you'll need to clean the filter, heater, aquarium décor, nets, siphon, algae scrubbers, buckets you used, etc. Be aware that some of this stuff may get discolored because you're working with, well, bleach.

Some people say gravel is ok to bleach, but I personally dump all substrate (especially since I like to use sand and aquascaping soil). I also don’t bleach live plants, biomedia, filter floss, driftwood… anything super porous or closed off that might be able to retain the bleach.

Disinfecting Instructions

1. First, wash off all the debris with warm water. Don’t use any soap or other detergents (especially ammonia-based cleaners) that may react with the bleach
2. The next step is to make your bleach solution. Just a safety reminder: bleach is dangerous if not properly handled. Read the bottle for the full warnings, but don’t ingest it, don’t let it come in contact with your mushy body parts, and use it in a well-ventilated area (like outside). The recommended concentration I make is a 1 part bleach for 10 parts water (preferably hot water). In most stores near my area, they only sell 8% concentrated bleach (not 5% regular bleach), so that comes out to about 1 cup of concentrated bleach per 1 gallon of water. See the CDC instructions for more details.
3. To clean the aquarium, you can fill up the entire tank with the bleach solution and wipe down the outside with a washrag or sponge. You can also use a spray bottle to spray and wipe down all the surfaces. Let it sit for 10 min, rinse with tap water at least twice, and then let it air dry completely so that the bleach breaks down into harmless compounds (mostly salt and water).
4. To disinfect equipment or décor with lots of crevices, completely submerge and soak them in a bucket of the bleach solution (or in the tank itself). Rotate and agitate the items in the solution to get rid of any air pockets or bubbles. Soak for 10 minutes, rinse with water a couple of times, and air dry.
5. For a canister filter where you can’t submerge it, throw away all filter media and run the bleach water through the empty canister filter for 10 minutes. Don’t forget to use the bleach solution to wipe the outside surfaces of the filter, tubing, etc. Then flush out the filter by running it a couple of times with clean tap water mixed with lots of extra dechlorinator. Empty out the water and let it dry completely for the next 2 weeks or more.

Lesson Learned

Do not let anything that is even slightly damp with bleach solution back into your aquarium. Remember the canister filter that I cleaned out? Yeah, after a few days of drying, I set up the entire aquarium again and put my axolotl in it. Unfortunately there was a tiny bit of bleach left in the closed-off motor compartment of the canister, and it was enough to kill her. 😭 So the second time around, I let the canister filter sit empty for multiple weeks to make sure it was completely dry. To make extra sure all the bleach is gone, you can buy a test kit that measures chlorine levels. And when adding animals, maybe put a cheap, delicate plant (like java moss or some plant trimmings) or a pest snail in first, kind of like a canary in the mine, before you add your expensive dragon puffer.

The BEEP Rating

So how beneficial, easy, efficient, and proven is this method? In other words, what’s the BEEP rating? Well, given that the CDC recommends it for disaster zones and tons of aquarists have successfully used it for their aquariums, it’s definitely beneficial, efficient, and proven. However, I’m going to give it 3 out of 5 stars for how easy it is. You're working with bleach, there’s some measuring involved, and you have to make sure that everything is completely dry before reusing it. But in my opinion, this method is absolutely BEEP-worthy and I regularly incorporate bleach cleaning for used and contaminated aquarium stuff.

Question of the Day

How do you clean a used or contaminated aquarium? Comment below with your suggestions to share them with the fish fam community. Don’t forget to take time to enjoy your aquariums and I’ll see you next time!

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I Have Terrible Bedside Manner (AKA How to Take Care of Your Sick Husband)

So... basically I’ve been accused of being a robot sometimes. Like, by my own husband, my mother, my brother... It’s because I think my emotion chip got short-circuited when God made me and I ended up with the empathy level of a rock.

Because of this personality trait of mine, one of my “areas of improvement” in our marriage is having a better bedside manner when my husband gets a man cold, uh I mean, is legitimately sick. He grew up with a nurse for a mom, so she’s, like, the ultimate loving, caring mother and I’m definitely not built like that.

So this is what happens when Mr. Gamer is feeling under the weather. I say (in a robotic voice):

1. What’s wrong?
2. Do you require medication?
3. Let me get you said medication.
4. Is there anything else you need?

Boom, problem solved! I mean, from my standpoint, he’s a grown adult, he knows how bad he feels, and he can call the doctor if he needs immediate medical attention, right?

On the flip side, when I’m sick, I do the following:

1. I inform my husband, “I’m sick with xyz.”
2. Then I drink lots of fluids, get more sleep, and feed myself medication as needed.
3. If I need help, I say “Mr. Gamer, I require assistance in this manner” (e.g., “please make dinner tonight”).
4. Finally, I do whatever it takes to get well as soon as possible since my family needs me.

As you can probably tell, this low level of compassion and empathy doesn’t really fly well with my husband, and it’s been a longtime complaint in our marriage. Thankfully I got together with my amazing friend Alyssa, who is like the sweetest, most considerate woman I know, and she ran me through her response to a man cold, I mean, real illness:

1. First she tells him “I don’t want you to do anything but rest and recover.” That means she volunteers to do all the chores while he’s sick.
2. She brings him water or hot lemon ginger tea.
3. She makes him ramen or congee rice porridge, which is like the Asian version of chicken noodle soup.
4. She says caring things like “Are you comfortable? Is there anything you want? Maybe you should take a nap.”

Holy cow… Mind. Blown. My husband has always said generic things like “bedside manner” and “compassion,” but I don’t think I really understood what that meant until someone spelled it out for me. I know this is probably super obvious to most of you, but I’m like, “YES! Thank you, Lord Jesus!” And I’m even more excited for Mr. Gamer because now he’s in for a real treat the next time he’s feeling under the weather.

Question of the Day

What are your best tips for taking care of a sick spouse? Comment below with your experiences because I’d love to hear them. And if you know someone who needs a little help in the “bedside manner” department, definitely share this article with them.

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Confessions of a Fish Breeders Award Program (BAP) Veteran

I’m kinda getting interested in breeding aquarium fish, so I interviewed Larry Brown on how he’s managed to breed so many different kinds of fish as a hobbyist (including saltwater fish)! Larry runs the Breeders Award Program for our local fish club, and he gave me a tour of his amazingly diverse fish room. (If his name sounds familiar, it’s because Dustin’s Fish Tanks has released THREE videos featuring his fish room.) Topics include:
▶ What fish are recommended for first-time breeders?
▶ What's the secret for successfully raising fish fry?
▶ What is the Breeders Award Program (BAP)?

Related Links

▶ Confessions of an Aquarium Addict series
▶ Fish Room of a Legend Larry Brown's house

Question of the Day

What kind of aquarium addict would you like to see me interview next? Comment below to share your suggestions because I'd love to hear them. Don't forget to enjoy your aquarium and I’ll see you next time!

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Which Aquarium Filter is Best for Axolotls?

Axolotls are one of the cutest but messiest animals I’ve ever kept in an aquarium, which means you need really good filtration to keep their water clean. But axolotls also get stressed out by strong currents, so what is the best filter to use?

Filtration Basics 101

So just in case you’re new to keeping aquariums, let me quickly cover the 3 basic types of filtration.

• Mechanical filtration is like a coffee filter, but you use a sponge or filter pad to strain out any debris in the water.
• Biological filtration refers to beneficial bacteria or live aquarium plants, anything that can consume the toxic ammonia and nitrogen compounds that come from axolotl waste. “Biological media” refers to bio rings, porous rock, and other stuff the beneficial bacteria can grow on.
• Chemical filtration, such as activated carbon or Purigen resin, isn’t necessary but can be used to remove medications or other impurities from the water.

Top 3 Filters for Axolotls

Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics of aquarium filtration, what exactly do axolotls require? Because they produce so much waste, they need really good filtration. However, bigger, more powerful filters usually have very strong flow, which axolotls hate. Too much current can cause your axolotl to get stressed or even sick!

The trick is to get just enough water turnover in your tank so that you don’t have any stagnant areas for debris to collect. And you also want enough biological filtration to consume the ammonia and nitrogen coming from the axolotl’s waste. So here are the top 3 filters most commonly used with axolotls:

Sponge Filter: Cheap and Easy

A lot of axolotl owners swear by the sponge filter, which I can understand because it’s cheap, won’t break down on ya, is very reliable, has very gentle flow, and provides both mechanical and biological filtration. I would say the cons are: it takes up a lot of room in your tank (since you’ll need a larger sized sponge or even two sponges to handle an axolotl), it won’t pick up the smaller particles in the water, and you’ll have to clean the sponge very regularly to remove all the waste it collects or else it’ll clog up.

Hang-on-back (HOB) Filter: Versatile and Reliable

HOB filters like the AquaClear series are probably my top vote for a beginner axolotl keeper who is just getting into the aquarium hobby. You can completely customize the media compartment with anything you want – sponges, bio rings, activated carbon, you name it. And they’re really easy to clean because most of the filter is outside the aquarium, and all you have to do is remove the filter media, swish it around in some tank water, and put it back!

The AquaClear filter has an adjustable flow rate so you can set the current to all-the-way slow. If you want it even slower, you can put some decoration right underneath the waterfall output area or even attach a DIY baffle using a plastic soap dish or sponge like some betta fish owners like to do.

Canister Filter: Powerful and Pricey

On the good/better/best scale, most people think canister filters are king. They’re a lot more powerful, they’re customizable like the AquaClear, and you can baffle the outflow using a spray bar. Plus, they’re super silent like a ninja. The only downsides are they’re usually more expensive if you get a good, UL-rated one, and they can be a little more hassle to clean than a hang-on-back filter.

Bonus Tip: Don’t be afraid to add some fast-growing beginner plants, because they can suck up ammonia and nitrogen like nobody’s business! Now you will have to account for lower temperatures and lower light, but people have had luck with anubias, java fern, java moss, aquarium lilies, and floating plants. And if you want to try an easy plant that grows outside the tank, stick the roots of a pothos plant into your HOB filter, and it will work wonders for your water quality.

There are a ton of other filters I didn’t cover, like under-gravel filters, sumps, UV filtration, etc. so do your research and I’m sure you’ll find something that works for you. Question of the day: what filter do you like best for axolotls and why? Comment below to share your experiences with the axolotl community. Take time to enjoy your aquariums, and I'll see you next time!

Related Links
Axolotl Care Guide
The Best Filters for Axolotls and Other Amphibians
Housing Axolotls in Captivity

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How to Fix Cloudy Aquarium Water for Axolotls

Axolotls are one of the messiest pets I’ve ever owned, so how do you keep their tank water nice and clear? Well, there's a lot of different reasons why your aquarium water may be cloudy, but if you have a pet axolotl, most likely it’s because of their poop! 💩 These cute little creatures can produce big ol’ brown logs that look like miniature dog turds. Unfortunately, axolotls just seem to have a knack for stepping right on them and then poof, you’ve got poo dust all in the water column. Yuck!

4 Ways to Fix Cloudy Axolotl Water

So to keep your water clean of axolotl poo particles, here are my top four suggestions, listed from least time intensive to most time intensive:

Axolotl poo (source: headFeed from caudata.org)

Tip #1: Bigger Tank

Get a bigger tank with more water volume. The more volume you have, the more diluted the waste will be and the clearer the water. This advice can also be rephrased as “Don’t overstock your aquarium.” For example, I started off with two juvenile axolotls in a 20 gallon and they were doing fine. However, as they grew closer to adult size, they were eating more and going to the bathroom more, and that 20 gallon tank just wasn’t gonna cut it anymore.

Tip #2: Better Filtration

Improve your filtration. What does that mean? Get better, bigger, or more filtration. I have a whole video on this topic, but for the purposes of water clarity, focus on improving:

• Mechanical filtration: You can add filter floss, filter sponges, or filter socks of different porosity that will physically strain out the poo particles. Just remember, the mechanical filtration is just collecting the waste for you, so in order to fully remove the detritus from your aquarium, you’ll have to either throw it away if it’s a one-time use product or wash the mechanical filter media regularly.
• Water circulation: Consider your water turnover rate. Filters are rated with a “gallons per hour” (or GPH) rating, and the higher that number, the greater the circulation to make sure dirty water actually reaches the filter and isn't stagnating in certain pockets. However, axolotls hate strong currents, so you may need to use a spray bar, a sponge to cover the output, or other type of filter baffle to lessen the flow.
• Bubble aeration: Cory from Aquarium Co-Op mentioned that air stones and sponge filters can help clear water because they create lots of large bubbles that carry up small particles in the water. And when the bubbles pop at the surface, those particles fly into the air and collect onto your tank lid, for example, which you can then wipe off. So it kinda works like a saltwater protein skimmer.

Tip #3: Spot Cleaning

Use a turkey baster to manually suck up waste anytime you see it. I know people who spot clean their axolotl’s tank every time they pass it or after each feeding, and it seems to help the tank stay clearer between water changes. (Too much work for me... Plus, I hate sticking my hands in cold water. Brrr!) Also, speaking of feedings, it will help water clarity if you don’t overfeed and make sure to remove any food that isn’t eaten right away.

Tip #4: Water Changes

Finally, the last and most important tip: do more frequent water changes. 👍 There’s nothing like physically removing a lot of water that will improve not only your water clarity but your water quality as well.

Other Water Clarity Solutions

So there are a couple of cloudy water solutions that I didn’t talk about, like water clarifying chemicals. I personally haven’t used them, but most people I’ve talked to either say that they're only a very temporary solution or they just flat out don’t work. Another solution I didn’t mention for cleaning detritus is UV sterilizers. I think they can really help with algae or bacterial blooms, but they’re not as useful for breaking down large particles like axolotl poop dust.

Other Causes for Cloudy Water

Lastly, I know this article is mostly about how to deal with cloudy water caused by messy axolotls, but if detritus isn’t your issue, here are some other causes of cloudy aquarium water that you may want to look into:

• Green water caused by free-floating algae: Try decreasing light and nutrients, and consider using a UV sterilizer.
• Milky water caused by a bacterial bloom: This is usually seen in new tank setups or if you over-clean your filter. Don't do anything (easy peasey). Just wait one to two weeks and it should clear up on its own once the bacteria settles down.
• Microbubbles caused by your filter: Limit the amount of contact the water has with air (e.g., raise the water level so the water is falling out of the hang-on-back filter doesn't make as much of a splash). Also, make sure filter media is evenly laid out in the media compartment of the filter.
• Dust coming from your substrate or aquarium décor: Next time, thoroughly rinse the items before placing them in the tank. Do multiple water changes to remove the dust from the tank.

Milky water caused by bacterial bloom (source: Ron deezzee)

Question of the Day

What tips do you have for cleaning up cloudy aquarium water? Comment below to help others in the axolotl community. Don't forget to take time to enjoy your aquariums and I’ll see you next time!

Related Links
Axolotl Care Guide

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