Grrrr Green Algae Will Not Go

[KkAaNnEe]

I also have a Juwel Rio 180 and my lights are on for around 11 hours (I have read in many places that if you have plants it should be 10-12 hours) I don't have a massive problem with algae, but I must admit i recently got a small pleco (unsure of the name as it was recommended by the guy in the store) which only grows to about 5 inches and it seems to eat everything on the glass...

 

[oneblondebrow]

I also have a Juwel Rio 180 and my lights are on for around 11 hours (I have read in many places that if you have plants it should be 10-12 hours) I don't have a massive problem with algae, but I must admit i recently got a small pleco (unsure of the name as it was recommended by the guy in the store) which only grows to about 5 inches and it seems to eat everything on the glass...

I used to have a lot of diatoms on my glass and plants so i got myself 3 Oto's who clear this up nicely, not sure there is a fish that will clear up green water (if that is definitely what it is)

 

[OldMan47]

Instead of treating green water after the fact with a UV, which should work if you don't mind spending the money, why not install a shade that keeps the tank from seeing direct sunlight in the tank's water. If you have a tank near an external window, why not try a cover between the window and the tank's glass. That way the sunlight won't enter the water to promote green water algae. In the long run, removing the problem is always better than finding a way to deal with it.

 

[the biffster]

if its not a full height window from ceiling to floor couldn't you
put the tank with its back to the window that way the tank will not get direct
sunlight as long as the back of the tank is well covered with backing they
shouldn't be a problem i have actually done this myself in the past and it worked

 

[scotty]

i had a problem with staghorn algae,i started using flourish excel,it was gone in days and now i have no probs with algae.
cheers
scott

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, how did you end up with the 10 hours of lights on plus a room with extra sunlight? Is that accomplishing something for you?

What about 2x 4 hour blocks, morning and evening. Evening block could be 4 to 8pm, or 6 to 10pm or whatever maximizes your viewing pleasure.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[oneblondebrow]

The problem with the room it is in is that although i wouldn't say it has "direct" sunlight it is a very light room.

I am going to try and remove 2 large bits of bogwood which have a load of what i think is Java Fern attached, i am also going to clip down some of my other plants as they have grown quickly just to see if this green water issue is to do with me not dosing with CO2 and having it to heavily planted. combine this with a using some green away to clump the greenness together and then a massive water change and clean. hopefully this will then sort it, if not then UV sterilizer it is.

This wouldn't be caused because i removed the carbon filter would it?

 

[Dave Spencer]

I have been infested with Green Algae recently and have just completed a 3 day complete blackout with a very large water change either side, The tank stayed nice and clear for a couple of days but pretty quickly started turning Green and now is very green.

What have done to prevent the algae from coming back? You clearly have conditions in your tank which algae is exploiting, to the detriment of your plants. The steps above may temporarily rid you of green water, but you must take precautions to prevent it coming back. The link to JamesCs site mentions ammonia as being the cause, which takes me to this statement:

This wouldn't be caused because i removed the carbon filter would it?

It depends on how long the carbon had been in the filter. If it was part of a mature filter, then its huge surface would have housed a large bacteria colony. Removing it may have resulted in a percentage loss of nitrification of fish waste, with a corresponding ammonia spike which can trigger green water blooms. Adding Zeolite to your filter will help. The other bacteria in your colony will move in on it, especially as it will attract elevated levels of ammonia. Its large surface area allows it to double up as a good filter media.

I am going to try and remove 2 large bits of bogwood which have a load of what i think is Java Fern attached, i am also going to clip down some of my other plants as they have grown quickly just to see if this green water issue is to do with me not dosing with CO2 and having it to heavily planted.

Removing plant mass and their ammonia processing abilities is not going to help. Concentrate on plant health and mass, and let them define the tank, not the algae. Most of the basic information you require for plants is in the planted section.

combine this with a using some green away to clump the greenness together and then a massive water change and clean. hopefully this will then sort it…….

I really wouldn`t recommend this approach, for the above reasons. Treat the root cause.

…if not then UV sterilizer it is.

Green water can be very tenacious at times, once it is established. The UV option should be your last resort, but it will most likely be very effective in clearing your water if all else fails.

 

[oneblondebrow]

The carbon filter was only in the tank for about 4 weeks before it was removed and the tank has been running fine for around 3 months since, I also replaced the Carbon filter with another large surface area blue filter, On testing the water i have not seen any traces of Ammonia so can't see this being the problem, i cannot think of anything else to do but get the uv sterilizer

 

[Dave Spencer]

.....On testing the water i have not seen any traces of Ammonia so can't see this being the problem, i cannot think of anything else to do but get the uv sterilizer

Read the link to the algae guide you were given, then think about where tha ammonia could be coming from ie substrate distrubance, increase in stocking....

The UV could be the ultimate answer, but have a go at finding the cause first.

Dave.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Would a pair or trio of Otos be the answer here?

 

[oneblondebrow]

Would a pair or trio of Otos be the answer here?

Nope, I actually got myself 3 Oto's to deal with the diatoms, Diatoms are nicely clear but green water is still an issue.

 

[OldMan47]

No number of otocinclus or other algae eaters will help much with green water algae. because it is unicellular and free floating in the water, only tiny organisms can make use of it as food. I can easily grow as much green water as I wish by setting up a tub of water outdoors and providing it with some nitrogen. Indoors, I have a hard time keeping enough of it alive to feed my daphnia colonies, even when I leave the lights on 24/7. Green water takes a lot of light and a supply of nitrogen to thrive. If I only light a tank 12 hours a day, it dies off in just a week or two. Something you may wish to try, it seems to work for some people, is to set up a breeder box in your tank and place a daphnia breeding colony in it. The daphnia thrive on a diet of green water and will strip a tank of it fairly quickly. By using a breeder box, some of the daphnia will venture out into the main tank and become food for your fish. It is almost a self feeding setup where the only external input needed is plenty of light. The fish waste contains enough nitrogen to promote the green water and the green water feeds the daphnia which in turn feed the fish. End result: a lot less green water and fish that are fed a continuous supply of live food.
Either the moina or magna daphnia should work out fine this way.

 

[oneblondebrow]

Got myself a "green killing machine" UV sterilizer for £29.99 @ lfs and within a week green is all gone, Looks like this is the best answer. thanks for all the reply's