Green Water And Algae

[electropunk06]

Hi i have just set up my 4th tank and after a month or two the water has gone green, i haven't experienced this before.
Firstly this is my first tank not to have plant, could this make the water green?
There is also lots of brown algea, i have had this in my other tanks and it just went after a few weeks so am hoping for the same.
i do a 10-20% water change every other day.
What can i do to get rid of the green water?
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[bigmomma86]

Oh man....I had a ten gallon go green soup on me...tryed everything, blacking out the tank, chemical additives....massive water changes...all I can say is, nothing worked so I stripped it and started over again. I now only do 10 hours of light a day. Hasn't happened again.

 

[electropunk06]

Thanks hope i dont need to do that.
If need be i'll get a uv steriliser to get rid of it.
Any ideas how to get rid of it?
Cheers
Lloyd

 

[MBOU]

Firstly...

- How long are your lights on for? 6-8 hours os more than enough, any more could cause it...

-Is the tank oposite or near a window? Direct sunlight, even from an angle will also cause this...

-Phosphates... check/get your LFS to check your phosphate levels, its often very high even in tap water, you can buy products to absorb phosphates and cut off the food supply for that algae (diatom algae is tiny algae particles floating in the water). JBL PhosEx is great for external filters or Fluvals GreenEx Sachet for internal filters...

-How much are you feeding fish? Both fish food and waste contain high phosphates...


*Doing loads of water changes isn't going to help if it is your phosphate levels (harmless to fish) but might well kill off all your good bacteria that is keeping your tank stable...

 

[electropunk06]

They were on form 7am - 10pm but they are now on from 4pm - 10pm (only started this today )

Not near a window in same place as my other tank was and that is/was algae free.

I will try to test my phosphates, but will have to find a test kit for it

I'm not feeding my fish too much just a little bit every other day.
Thanks
Lloyd

 

[Monty-2010]

You could also try getting some plants like java moss or indian fern that will take up the nutrients that the algae need

 

[electropunk06]

You could also try getting some plants like java moss or indian fern that will take up the nutrients that the algae need

Yeah that would work but its a tang set up so trying not to have plant. i might get some if it hasn't gone soon.

Thanks
Lloyd

 

[karin]

Well here is what worked for me. A UV sterilizer (The Green Killing Machine) and, alternatively, Seachem Purigin, a filter insert. There are arguments against both of these, so I will leave that out there. Yes you have to figure out why your tank turned green.

This is from James Planted Tank at http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Green Water

Description This is a unicellular algae. Water goes cloudy. Sometimes just a green tint, other times it can look like pea soup.
Cause Ammonia is often the main cause green water. There may have been an ammonia spike that isn't detected with test kits. Other possible causes are an imbalance of nutrients and/or low CO2 levels.
Removal Large water changes do not seem to always help. If there is an imbalance in nutrients then fixing it will sometimes make it go away by itself after a while. A three day blackout followed by a large water change will hit it hard and sometimes may clear it. A UV steriliser/clarifier or diatom filter will clear it up very quickly and is often the only way to clear it.
A new method is to use freshly cut 1-2 year old willow branches about 0.5-1cm in width. Place these in your tank vertically so they go from the substrate to a few centimetres above the water's surface. After a few days they will start to grow roots and the green water should start to clear. When cleared remove the branches from the water.
Don't confuse this with a bacterial bloom which gives the water a white haze.