How to remove sludge from an aquarium
What does it look like?
- Mud or sludge on plants ornaments substrate and building up in the corners of the aquarium.
What are the fish doing?
- Unlikely to cause behavioural changes in your fish
What should I do?
- Treat the aquarium with your chosen treatment to breakdown the sludge
- A few days after treatment complete a 25% water change and use an Aquarium gravel cleaner to remove sludge from the substrate
Why does this happen and how do I prevent it?
Sludge is the build up of organic waste, often fish excretion, excess food and dead plants in your aquarium. Not only is sludge unsightly, but it is also unhealthy and can encourage disease causing bacteria. To help prevent the build up of sludge:
- Complete regular aquarium maintenance
- Use Aquarium Sludge Buster every 2 weeks to break down sludge before it becomes out of control
- Control feeding and remove any uneaten food
- Don’t over stock your aquarium
What treatment should I use?
Sludge Buster
Solid organic waste builds up in your aquarium and blocks up your filter media. It comes from fish excretion, excess food and dead plants.
Find out more >Specifically designed for sludge removal.
or
Keep It Clean
Waste build up and unsightly algae are a common aquarium nuisance. Keep it Clean Tablets make key nutrients unavailable to algae, starving them out of existence, and break down waste to create the perfect environment for fish.
Find out more >For sludge, hair algae and enhanced plant growth
Use with any of the above
Gravel Cleaner
Gravel Cleaners are a great tool for water changes as they remove water efficiently and will pick up waste built up in the aquarium's gravel.
Find out more >Not what you are looking for? Back to Diagnose What's Wrong >
Visit the Interpet Aquatics website
Treatment dosage Calculator
Testing your aquarium water
Doing a water change
