Green Water

[rabbut]

A UV will cure the problem, not the caurse, and IMO is a very slap dash method to fish keeping. I'd try to find the caurse, probibly that ammonia, and rectify it rather than masking the caurse by only dealing with the problem

All the best
Rabbut

 

[cute_chubby_cory]

How many flakes are in your small pinch? I ask as my idea of a small pich will feed 4 discus, 6 corries, two plecos and 20 tetras Possibly overfeeding is the caurse of the green water here Just a thought

All the best
Rabbut

Once I read this article by a fish shop owner, saying that his staff tend to overfeed the fish. So, he decided to do a test and asked each of the staff to take what they think is a right amount of food and place on their palms. You can guess.

So The owner advises to take a small pinch of flake food, place it on the palm of the hand. Then give just a tiny bit and wait until fish will eat it (in 2 mins ), then put another tiny bit ... when u see fish are no longer interested in food and tend to wonder away, finish the feeding... Some flake food might still be left in your hand or in the tank which you suposedly should scoop out. Erm, that bit is hard.

As for my pinch, I guess you'd have to have a look for yourself. Thank you though

 

[waterdrop]

Hey, another idea you could add in is to try to devise some sort of screen or curtain that could be temporarily placed in a strategic position to ensure that the direct sun doesn't make it to the tank. I say temporary because you may have a reason (perhaps a spouse ) you don't want it there other times.

I've seen some good advice from seangee before. You might really want to give that fine filtration idea a shot - would be interesting to hear your report.

Don't lose sight of the fact that unless you are keeping ammonia and nitrite as close to zero as possible, you are basically in an emergency situation and should follow jollysue's advice about very frequent small water changes.

It is so easy to project our human-ness onto fish. They are not people. They do not generally find frequent food in the wild and are healthier with small, infrequent and even irregular bits of food.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[cute_chubby_cory]

It is a pleasure to see that people are ready to help, advice and sometimes make a couple of jokes out of it all. Thank you for that.

Decision has been made and actioned - already.

I quickly cleaned the filter, inserted the Special Carbon Filter Pad (came packed with Fluval 3 Plus ) in between two foam pads and made a 10% water change. Tomorrow I will make a trip to the nearest Fish Store to look for a couple of things you have suggested here.

Fish are back in the tank - happy to stretch their fins. However, I lost my wee Rasbora Esmei

At first it just simply vanished! I searched in the filter, around heater, in all corners (the water even in the quarantine tank turned impossible to see-through)...nowhere to be seen. And then I spotted it ...


...on the floor - cold and lifeless I suspect it jumped out itself during the day - committed a suicide, couldn't take the stress & the pressure


I will keep in touchletting you know if the water will clear up. Another worry will be cycling.

Thank you again.

 

[cute_chubby_cory]

Hey, another idea you could add in is to try to devise some sort of screen or curtain that could be temporarily placed in a strategic position to ensure that the direct sun doesn't make it to the tank. I say temporary because you may have a reason (perhaps a spouse ) you don't want it there other times.

~~waterdrop~~

brilliant ...thank you.

 

[waterdrop]

Normally carbon isn't for suspended algae, but hey, maybe the experts will comment further and maybe it will help!

We all assume too that you've thought about your artificial lighting, its strength and hours etc (?...)

~~waterdrop~~

ps. poor little rasbora.

 

[jollysue]

Yes, some sort of shield from the sun will make lots of difference. Good idea! Blackouts will reduce the aggression of the algae.

Turn the temp down slowly as low as your fish will abide, too. Ammonia is higher or more toxic at higher temps I believe. The fine felt is a good idea too. I often use layering in the filters it is appropriate in. Coarse wool or the bonded floss, then a coarser felt and then a much finer felt at the last. Felt will certainly help with polishing the water. Does Purgen also do that?

But do follow the regimen to bring the water quality into line before you start fooling with the large waterchanges, etc., to remove the green water. You know that fish actually find nourishment in green water? LOL I suppose the plants aren't crazy about it though.

Sorry about the fishy. Moving fish is always a potential hazard for me. I am never careful enough.

It may not be necessary to fast the fish for weeks, although most can handle it. But keeping in mind that food creates fish waste--ammonia--will help to keep you in a moderate frame of mind. It is also necessary to keep them strong and healthy.

As to light the light spectrum is always something I am ignorant of and not careful about.

 

[cute_chubby_cory]

Hello hello again,

Thank you for your helping tips. The water is clearing!!!

Today, even though the water still has some sort of green shade to it, it actually is getting clear I can see the plants as well as my fish.

Fish seem to be unusually active, happy even though they have been starved for two days.

So what did I do? - Well, I added a finer layer of filter material into filter (changed it twice since), changed 10% water twice a day and kept the tank in the shade and with no tank lighting (which I usually put on only for 2-3 hours in the evening anyway).

I think the fact that we had a couple of rather grey and cloudy days helped too.

However, the cycling still worries me .
Ph - 7-7.5, Ammonia - 2.4mg/L (still high), Nitrite - almost none color, Nitrate - almost none color.

Thank you again

 

[jollysue]

It is good news that the water is clearing.

Continue the frequent water changes to keep the ammonia down. That is very worrisome, because the fish can sustain permanent damage. Do enough small water changes to keep the ammonia under control. If you can get mature media or even some BioSpira (There is also a "Love" something that worked for me) or any live nitrifying bacteria, it always helps my tanks, although it is expensive.

Fasting the fish will help control the ammonia.

Have you had your water tested at the lps to double check your test kit? I am unfamiliar with the test kit you are using, but it is reported that asome do go bad occasionally.