Green Tank! Need Help!

[kirztie14]

Hii

I have a 200L tank with the following fish.

3 Dwarf gourmani
2 bristlenose catfish
6 serpae tetras
6 neon tetras
1 sissor tail (i did have 3 others)

I cycled the tank when we got it. Everything went well. We gradually added fish, had a few issues about 2 months ago but all has been going well until about 3-4 weeks ago.
i had recently got a new filter (bigger and better, got it about 5 weeks ago) and added it to the tank with the old one still running for about 2 weeks. It then broke, so we took it out.

About 4 weeks ago the water started to go a milky cloudy colour (bacterial bloom i assumed). So i followed instructions listed on here to get rid of it. However it just got worse.
The water has now turned green as green can be!
I tried water changes, algae chemicals, bio-clear, salt, turning the light off, changing the temp everything i could think of. i also have been constantly checking the water stats, and nothing is wrong, nor no dramatic changes.

What is going on? Another bacterial bloom, not enough "good" bacteria?? Or filter problems??
How can i fix my tank?


My stats tested 11th May

PH: 7.4
DH: 10
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: about 10

Temp is constantly at 24 Celsius


Please help me figure this out!

 

[oswoldy]

Does the tank get direct sunlight?

Mike

 

[kirztie14]

Does the tank get direct sunlight?

Mike

nope, no direct sunlight, its next to a window, but the curtains never get opened. They are also blockout curtains so they keep out the sunlight.

 

[oswoldy]

Have you tested the phosphate levels. Some people experience this after or during a cycle which it sounds like you have just been through. Do you have any live plants? Have you tried a large water change?

Mike

 

[kirztie14]

Have you tested the phosphate levels. Some people experience this after or during a cycle which it sounds like you have just been through. Do you have any live plants? Have you tried a large water change?

Mike

No havent tested the phosphate levels. Dont have a kit for it, might invest in one i think.
Live plant, nope. just the plastic ones which i have had since i started the tank.
As for a large water change, yes i have done 2 in the past....say....3 weeks. both about 50% i thought it might help, but goes straight back to what it was before the next day.

 

[aaronnorth]

do yourself a favour and save your money on the PO4 kit.

Green water is commonly caused by an ammonia spike, which makes sense following the change over of filters etc. Once it has cleared it shouldnt return (unless you create another spike somehow )

To remove it, do a 80% water change, followed by a 3 day blackout (cover tank up with something so no light enters the tank, no feeding or peeking) then after the 3 days do another 80% water change to remove the dead spores.

That should clear it.

 

[kirztie14]

thats awesome thank you!!
Hopefully it will clear up, i will let you know how it goes in 6 days.

 

[oswoldy]

Sorry I could not be of anymore help.

Mike

 

[kirztie14]

Sorry I could not be of anymore help.

Mike

Its all good, no need to worry!
I had no idea what to do either!!

Thanks though