Help ! Green Water

[jr.stratton@virgin.net]

My tank is a year old next month. Recently the water has been turning green, so much so that I cannot see through the tank anymore. The water levels are fine and no fish have died. I ve tried `greenaway` and have upped the water changes but this only works for a few days. Any ideas please ?

 

[Callum]

it could be that floating algae you get in ponds (forgotten the name) if it is a UV sterilizer would get rid of it

 

[MHunt]

Has anything changed in the tank recently?
Have you added any fish or lost any before the change in water colour? Have you added or removed any plants recently.

Try adding some CO2 to the tank if you have some plants, the increased growth of the plants may take nutrients away from the algae causing it to die away.

 

[smmetz]

I recently wrote a list of things to keep a tank clean looking. Here it is:

1. Do not place the tank where direct sunlight will shine on it.
2. Do not over-feed your fish. They will be fine with 1-2 feeds per day. The food should be all gone in 2-3 minutes.
3. Do not put too many fish in your tank. The rule of thumb for small freshwater fish is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water.
4. Do not leave your tank light on too much. For best results, get a timer for $5, and set the light to come on for 4-5 hours in morning, off for at least a couple hours, and 4-5 hours on in the evening. Algae needs light for a few hours to start photosynthesis, while other plants in your tank start using light right away. This lighting schedule takes advantage of that.
5. Maintain your tank. I recommend taking out 15-20% of the water weekly, and adding new water. Vacuum your gravel while taking water out. Treat the new water so it does not contain chlorine.
6. Try adding live plants to your tank. They will compete with algae for nutrients, reducing the algae in the tank.
7. Get one of those magnetic cleaners to easily clean any algae from the walls of your tank. This should only have to be done 1-2 times per month, at most, in a healthy tank. Some fish eat algae on surfaces, which could eliminate this task altogether. These fish do not help with green water though, and may actually make that condition worse since they create a lot of waste for the algae to consume.
8. If all above steps don’t clear your water within a couple weeks, you may consider buying a UV filter. This will kill all free floating bacteria and algae.

 

[Callum]

a good list but i disagree with point 3 and 7

the one inch per gallon rule is mainly a guideline for beginners and getting old fast. also the magnetic cleaners are rubbish catch a piece of sand or gravel in them and it scratches all the tank.

 

[Crossfc]

I used something called 'algae fix' and my green water went away. Also helps if you don't keep your lights on all day.

 

[smmetz]

Thank you for the compliment and the input. I have updated my list to stress "small freshwater fish" to address number 3.

I have edited number 7 to talk about manually cleaning the class, or wiping it, rather than specify the magnetic cleaners.

A few months ago I was writing up a few 1 page things to answer common question, since I have a fish tank at work and get questions a lot. I think I'll have to make a seperate one for stocking, in order to properly explain the limitations of that 1 inch per gallon rule, and to briefly talk about other stocking considerations. (filtration and maintenance levels, min tank lenght or height for individual fish, aggression and territory, etc.)

edit: just saw the "algae fix" product recommendation. Beware that some fish and most crustations to not take well to most of the algae control remedies sold at your pet store. The warning will be on the bottle.

 

[Callum]

will an algicide reduce my high phospahte level it is off the chart literally lol

 

[smmetz]

will an algicide reduce my high phospahte level it is off the chart literally lol

I am pretty sure that an algicide will not reduce phosphates in your water. There are a few products you can add to your filter to take it out. I tried a couple and they worked for me. I have since stopped using them however.

Other ways to reduce it are the usual - decrease feedings, increase water changes, vacum gravel well to get rotting crap outta there (which produces phosphates), and add plants to help consume the phosphates.

Good luck!

 

[Callum]

the main problem is the phosphates are super high out of my tap water rather than aqaurium water