Gross Green Water

[ArauraDiscus]

Rdd thats why I said its good for small fish.........

But simply saying it's a good "guide" isn't often a good thing to say unless you make it clear that you only mean for small fish......

id you not read my thread,
best read it again the 2in rule is a good guide for mature systems

Again I'm saying, make it clear that its for small fish in the future, as my point is IT CAN CONFUSE AND STEER NOOBS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION if they don't alreadxy know as much as you do. Thats my point!

f nitrates and phosphates cause algae, how is a water change going to get rid of the algae bloom? Is tap water that pure?

Did I not say that tap water is often high in these? Did I also not say that it will at least lower the levels of that of the tap water, and will temporarily reduce the algae levels, and even keep an overstocked tank clean? ANd I don't reccomend an RO unit because it is much more expensive and you will have to re-mineralize your water after it's been used or your fish may die. DONT GET AN RO UNIT.

Based on the number of posts saying the stocking has a good effect has helped me to learn something new yay! So I suppose reducing the level of fish in your tank and then getting a UV sterilizer will stop all algael growth from here on out.

 

[tamara]

I tried the blackout by the way, and also, i'm getting rid of about 20 of my fish that are in there to friends, i'm trying to get my number of guppies down because there are to many of them!!

 

[tamara]

Stocking doesn't make algae bloom. High nitrates and phosphates do. Phosphate removers, plenty of water changes, and such will help it. And yes UV sterilizers will take care of the problem for good. Also they will destroy protozoans, bacteria, and most fungal spores which means that your tank will be healthier as well, but they can be very expensive.

If nitrates and phosphates cause algae, how is a water change going to get rid of the algae bloom? Is tap water that pure?

How about using RO water then? Put a glass of RO water in direct sunlight for a week or two and see what happens.

A high fish load could result in greater O2 uptake from the water column, resulting in less O2 for the filter bacteria colony and a subsequent reduction in bacteria numbers. The fish load will be producing amounts of waste that the filter is no longer able to cope with completely. The excess Ammonia, along with direct sunlight are the two ways of triggering green water, either in isolation or together.

In the interim, a UV steriliser will do a great job, or you could try the method on APC that I linked you to on another thread. In the long term, you are going to need to ensure that your filter can keep on top of the load your fish are exerting on it.

Dave.

okay well is quite confusing...I would like to buy a UV steriliser, are they sold at most lfs? or are they only boughten online? Also, i have two filters, both that hang on the back of the tank, is taht okay? or do i need a different type of filter for the UV steriliser?

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Many local fish stores have them, but most run around 100 to 150 dollars.

Now that your stocking level is down, do a water change a day until the algae starts to diminish and stay that way. Also try phosphate removers. This problem can be solved without spending over 100 dollars.

 

[rdd1952]

By it online. You will save 50% over stores. You can get a good 9w for under $100.

 

[tamara]

What about those willow branches? i heard you put them in your tank, then they grow roots within a week, then they start to suck up the nutrients that form green water?

 

[rdd1952]

Never heard that but since it is not a true aquatic plant, I seriously doubt that it would live very long under water. The barley balls are supposed to work in ponds but they never did for me.

 

[tamara]

i asked about this in the planted tank forum...they said yes, but no one has told me how to do it..so i'm not sure what to do.

 

[tamara]

Here is a great source for where i found out about willow branches as well.
http/www.myfishtank.net/forum/aquatic-pl...its-end-gw.html

 

[rdd1952]

I think the key thing I saw in that thread is the post by bigfoot150 which says "They don't really filter the water. The willow is a heavy nutrient adsorber and by putting a few branches in your tank it ends up burning up all the nutrients which ends up happening eventually with or with out the branches." I would figure it to take a good 2 to 4 weeks for the willow to take root and in that time the tank would most lkely clear on it's own. I have to beieve it is more coincidence than anything. Well before the branches took root, the leaves would beginto die and decay causing more problems than they solved. That's just my opinion though. I don't have any experience wih it at all.

 

[tamara]

hmm well if the leaves do start to die. i'm going to take the branches out right away, i had the green problem for the past 3 months, in two 10gal. tanks, so i thought buying a larger one [20 GALLON]and putting that somewhere without light would help and it's in the darkest spot, and it still goes green so i'm trying anything now.

 

[rdd1952]

I still feel that overstock is one of the biggest problems. Your nitrates must be super high and will help feed algae.In your situation, the U Sterilizer may be the only solution.

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Seriously rdd theres many things that can be done before forcing her to use a ton of money on a sterilizer. It seems you are all ignoring my advice, which I think is some good advice.

I'll say it one last time, ignore it again if you want to waste a ton of money.

But all you need to do is multiple water changes to bring the nitrates down to the level of your tap as well as the phosphates. After lower the stock of your tank, doing many water changes will help. Barley straw can be added at a cheap price to aid. Lifting the ph slightly and reducing sunlight will help greatly in addition. Try this first before buying a sterilizer. I say a 40 percent water change every day for a week if you can.

 

[Dave Spencer]

But all you need to do is multiple water changes to bring the nitrates down to the level of your tap as well as the phosphates.

What level of nitrates and phosphates do you suppose are causing the algae?

What level of nitrates and phosphates do you suppose Tamara needs to reduce her tank down to, to prevent algae?

I add nitrates and phosphates to all three of my planted tanks. Where is the algae?

I think you may have misinterpreted what I said about the glass of RO water kept in direct sunlight. I wasn`t suggesting that she buy an RO unit, but I was suggesting that algae can grow in RO water. Algae needs a germination trigger, and sunlight is one of them. Ammonia is another. Overstocked tanks contain Ammonia.... and lower O2 levels for the filter bacteria colony? Algae can thrive in low nutrient environments.

Three day blackouts can work, but in this instance it would be suited to a planted tank where the plants can regain the advantage over the algae.

Give the willow a try as it seems to have worked for some people. From what I can surmise, as the willow grows roots it becomes virulent in its uptake of Ammonia.

If your green water is too severe a case, a UV steriliser may be the only answer powerful enough to overcome the problem.

Dave.

 

[Lhutch]

OMG THIS IS PERFECT I HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU, SAME THING HAPPEND TO ME

i went swimming in a lake and i found a couple snails, and i put them in my fish tank, cleaned them and everthing, and before i did this my tank was just green and the water was cloudy and grose, and that next morning i woke up went down stairs and what i found was a nice clear tank, the snails must have been working their asses off

try snails
or
algea remover stuff

If u want a quik nice way to do this is(snails) they do the trick and there super cheap

regular petsmart snails or pretty much any water snail should do the trick