New Tank (green Water)

[Ryan.170]

hi i have got a 130L fish tank with a long power head filter that i keeped discus in after 5 weeks or so the water started to go green so i give the tank lots of water changes the water was still green so i moved the discus to a littler tanks and they are now ok with my 130l i took all the green water out and started again with rocks and plants. now after a week it has started to go green and there is no fish in it at all just the filter that i hadnt clean from the discus. why is the water green and there is no fish in it just plants and rocks?
what can i do?



thanks for your help!!!!!

 

[SamUK]

its a bacteria bloom. you jus have to let it run its course.

 

[smmetz]

I had a green water problem, so I looked into this also. I found the most common advice is:

1. make sure no sunlight gets on the tank
2. get a timer for the hood light, and have it go on 4 hours in the morning, and 4 hours in the evening, instead of all day.
3. test for phosphates, and get rid of them if you have them



For me, I tested for phosphates, and I had quite a bit. I purchased 2 products to deal with it:

First, I tried these "Phosphate Filter Pads". They did reduce the phosphates, but even when using a couple pads over the course of 3-4 days, it did not get rid of them. I do not recommend this product.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...cfm?pcatid=4343

Then, I tried "Phosphate Sponge" gravel.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...cfm?pcatid=4911
This stuff worked like a charm. I added it to the filter in the evening, and phosphates tested at 0 the next morning.

Since getting rid of my phosphates, the green has not come back after water changes like it did before. I am again enjoying clear water.

 

[Ryan.170]

I had a green water problem, so I looked into this also. I found the most common advice is:

1. make sure no sunlight gets on the tank
2. get a timer for the hood light, and have it go on 4 hours in the morning, and 4 hours in the evening, instead of all day.
3. test for phosphates, and get rid of them if you have them



For me, I tested for phosphates, and I had quite a bit. I purchased 2 products to deal with it:

First, I tried these "Phosphate Filter Pads". They did reduce the phosphates, but even when using a couple pads over the course of 3-4 days, it did not get rid of them. I do not recommend this product.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...cfm?pcatid=4343

Then, I tried "Phosphate Sponge" gravel.
http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...cfm?pcatid=4911
This stuff worked like a charm. I added it to the filter in the evening, and phosphates tested at 0 the next morning.

Since getting rid of my phosphates, the green has not come back after water changes like it did before. I am again enjoying clear water.

is the sponge gravel like mini shells???
because i like i might have some.

Also i was told that the cloudy water was mayby down to the die bacteria in the water could this be true???

 

[smmetz]

is the sponge gravel like mini shells???

Also i was told that the cloudy water was mayby down to the die bacteria in the water could this be true???

The gravel material I got does not look like shells, mini shells, or broken shells to me. I honestly don't know what they are made of.

I'm not sure what you mean my your last question, but here is what I know about bacteria blooms.
The first time I had green/cloudy water, my tank was like yours, a month or two old. Water changes alone got rid of it that time. It may have been the "bacteria bloom" problem that SamUK suggested. From what I have read, that problem is common in newer tanks, and usually goes away by itself. Perhaps my water changes were only coincidental that time, and did not really solve the problem as much as time and luck did.