Gross Green Water

[-germ-]

Sorry umm... correct me if i'm wrong but wouldn't a purigen pad fix the majority of the aforementioned issues....
prepares for death by reply.
Just a thought, i'm rubbish at algae, ie; i don't have it unless i need it....
If someone understands the issues involved with these then theres barely any nutrients in the water for the algae to feed on?
I'd try a 2 day blackout in combi with purigen....
Followed by decent tank maintenance, good positioning, good lighting schedule and some live plants.
Agh! Run away...
Ps. don't add snails....

 

[Dave Spencer]

Just a thought, i'm rubbish at algae, ie; i don't have it unless i need it....
If someone understands the issues involved with these then theres barely any nutrients in the water for the algae to feed on?

If this were the case, all my planted tanks would starve to death because plants use the same nutrients as algae.

Mind you, I use Purigen to give me crystal clear water. The tanks look as if there is no water in them at all. It takes out nitrogenous organic waste and colour bodies such as tanins from bog wood which stain the water. It does not affect the mineral content of the water.

Dave.

 

[ArauraDiscus]

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

===========================

Bud, the levels caused by overcrowding. Just so you know, Nitrates are the end of the nitrogen cycle, they accumulate and algae and plants feed off of them. bringing them down ALWAYS reduces the food for the algae.

 

[Dave Spencer]

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

===========================

Bud, the levels caused by overcrowding. Just so you know, Nitrates are the end of the nitrogen cycle, they accumulate and algae and plants feed off of them.

In post #6 you said stocking doesn`t make algae bloom, high nitrates and phosphates do. Now, at post #33 you are saying overcrowding is causing the high nitrates and phosphates which are causing the algae, which directly links stocking and algae. A little contradictory, don`t you think?

Not all nitrates are the result of the nitrogen cycle, just so you know.

What does Bud mean? A term of endearment perhaps?

Dave.

 

[-germ-]

What does Bud mean? A term of endearment perhaps?

Thats just silly...

 

[tamara]

Alright, just so you know..there's so much debating so much i'm quite confused now, but i'm trying the willow, is there any specific ways to help the willow branches suck up the green awter faster? or no one knows? Also, blackouts do not work, i am feeding them less only everyother day now, and it is not in any way close to a window or the sun, it get no direct sunlight at all, as well i only turn the light on in the mornings-off in the afternoon [natural light in the room]-and on for a little while sometimes in the evening, but also other days i might not even turn it on at all...

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.

Barley straw? Is this somthing i can buy from a grocery store? or where?

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.

I have no plants in my tank [i have a hard enough time looking after fish, and i'm quite happy for the way my tank looks like so i'm not interested in plants either]. Blackouts do not work, i've already tried it once, no luck.

Sorry umm... correct me if i'm wrong but wouldn't a purigen pad fix the majority of the aforementioned issues....
prepares for death by reply.
Just a thought, i'm rubbish at algae, ie; i don't have it unless i need it....
If someone understands the issues involved with these then theres barely any nutrients in the water for the algae to feed on?
I'd try a 2 day blackout in combi with purigen....
Followed by decent tank maintenance, good positioning, good lighting schedule and some live plants.
Agh! Run away...
Ps. don't add snails....

Purigen pads? I have never heard of that in my entire life..., as i said above, blackouts do not work, there is no sunlight on it, and i only turn the lights on when i'm going to feed them, or if it's morning/night when it's dark. Wasn't going to add snails...i heard they multiply like crazy.

Just a thought, i'm rubbish at algae, ie; i don't have it unless i need it....
If someone understands the issues involved with these then theres barely any nutrients in the water for the algae to feed on?

If this were the case, all my planted tanks would starve to death because plants use the same nutrients as algae.

Mind you, I use Purigen to give me crystal clear water. The tanks look as if there is no water in them at all. It takes out nitrogenous organic waste and colour bodies such as tanins from bog wood which stain the water. It does not affect the mineral content of the water.

Dave.

So would purigen be a good product/object to invest in? Do you have any links to of what it is, because i haven't a clue what it is.


Thank you everyone for your continuous help!
I'm hoping maybe something will work without ahving to have to buy a 100$ UV steriliser.

 

[Dave Spencer]

As far as I know, you just stand the branches in the water. There is also the theory that the bark contains Acetylsalicyclic acid (Aspirin), which gets rid of the algae.

I thoroughly recommend Purigen for crystal clear water, once you have got rid of the green.

Dave.

 

[tamara]

So i should cut some bark off of the willow tree as well?
should i wash the bark off first [as there may be some bugs in it by chance]

 

[ArauraDiscus]

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

===========================

Bud, the levels caused by overcrowding. Just so you know, Nitrates are the end of the nitrogen cycle, they accumulate and algae and plants feed off of them.

In post #6 you said stocking doesn`t make algae bloom, high nitrates and phosphates do. Now, at post #33 you are saying overcrowding is causing the high nitrates and phosphates which are causing the algae, which directly links stocking and algae. A little contradictory, don`t you think?

Not all nitrates are the result of the nitrogen cycle, just so you know.

What does Bud mean? A term of endearment perhaps?

Dave.

Ok well apparently you read what you want to read and only what you want to read to support your argument, so I no longer am going to argue with someone like you. Just read all my posts ok, that will settle your misunderstanding.

p.s. I'll make it easy for you, I said High nitrates and phosphates are the cause and then said, o wait, no stocking can be the source of high nitrates and phosphates so I said, wait you guys are right, and I continued from there bud.

 

[Dave Spencer]

So i should cut some bark off of the willow tree as well?
should i wash the bark off first [as there may be some bugs in it by chance]

I would have thought that the bark on the branches would be enough.

Keep this thread updated as to whether it works or not. It has not worked for some people, and you seem to have a pretty persistent case of algae.

I think I might grow some green water and see what effect adding an Aspirin will have.

Dave.

 

[rdd1952]

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.

Water changes may eventually work but it's not likely to happen in a week. Before I bought my sterilizer, I had been doing 50% water changes on my 75 gallon tank every day for 3 weeks and it was only getting worse. The next day I literally could not see 3" deep into the tank. My nitrates and phosphates were 0 so I know those weren't an issue.

I stated earlier that in most cases the green water situation will most likely clear on its own eventually. With the severe overstocking issue though, I doubt it will happen in this case. I think it is going to take much more drastic measures than simple water changes. As for the barley straw, I have tried that on my outside pond and it did absolutely nothing. Maybe indoors out of the direct sunlight that a pond is subjected to it would be different though.

Edit: You can buy barley straw at most LFS stores that sell pond supplies. My understanding is that it is more often used for ponds where green water is a problem because they are always subjected to direct sunlight.

 

[Dave Spencer]

Water changes may eventually work but it's not likely to happen in a week. Before I bought my sterilizer, I had been doing 50% water changes on my 75 gallon tank every day for 3 weeks and it was only getting worse. The next day I literally could not see 3" deep into the tank. My nitrates and phosphates were 0 so I know those weren't an issue.

I get the feeling that in this case a UV steriliser will ultimately be the answer. It sounds too persistent for water changes or bits of willow to cure.

I have seen 9W sterilisers on eBay for $26. Shop around Tamara and you may find them for less.

Dave.

 

[dee dee]

The sure-fire cure is a UV sterilizer hooked up to a powerhead with a microfilter water polisher. It cleaned my 50 gal. bloom in 5 days. Beautiful. Regards, dee dee

 

[tamara]

Well the willow branches look like they're working...but i don't know for sure if they are or if i just think they are, i'll have to take a photo of day 1 and after a week etc.

 

[Straydum]

i think the problem would persist even with the willows. not there you're leaving the willows there for good. so yeah. a uv sterilizer would do.