Clear Green Water

Do you have driftwood in there? Is the tank planted? IME, for some reason, my planted tanks with driftwood both have clear water but with a green/yellow tint. Params for both are consistently A0, N0, N<20. Doesn't seem to be hurting the fish any, though.

It's odd because my tanks which only have driftwood & the tanks which are planted w/o driftwood all have normal, clear water.

I don't think it's free floating algae- isn't that somewhat cloudy?

I'd like to hear some suggestions on this as well.

Sorry for the semi-hijack.

-cd

cdienzo;2053392; said:

Do you have driftwood in there? Is the tank planted? IME, for some reason, my planted tanks with driftwood both have clear water but with a green/yellow tint. Params for both are consistently A0, N0, N<20. Doesn't seem to be hurting the fish any, though.

It's odd because my tanks which only have driftwood & the tanks which are planted w/o driftwood all have normal, clear water.

I don't think it's free floating algae- isn't that somewhat cloudy?

I'd like to hear some suggestions on this as well.

Sorry for the semi-hijack.

-cd

Click to expand...

Not in the early stages.

aeri... Need to know what filtration system you have.

Any build up in filter or tank?

How old is the tank?

Have you made changes recently?

Stocking levels?

Possible over-feeding?

Anything you've already tried?

Can you borrow or buy a UV sterilyzer?

Dr Joe

.

Thanks Doc, for addressing this common problem that the OP & I are having.

Each tank is 10g w/ Penguin 100 HOB + sponge filter. One tank is in a dark room inside the TV section of an entertainment console. Never in direct sunlight. Other tank receives indirect sunlight from an adjacent window. Both tanks are equally green/yellow but "clear". Tanks lights are nearly never on. Both are planted with bunches of java fern and anubias, which are both doing well. Ordinary (non-fluorite) gravel for both, too.

Water changes are 20% 2x/week.

Any build up in filter or tank?
No algae build-up in tank & filter is rinsed in aquarium water ~ q10 days.

How old is the tank?
About 7 mos. (1 bought new, the other had been out of service for about 2 years)

Have you made changes recently?
Nope. Everything is "as is" from the start.

Stocking levels?
1 male betta + 2 peppered corys in one tank, 1 male betta + 3 black neon tetras in the other.

Possible over-feeding?
Doubtful as each betta gets ~6 pellets per day. Corys get sinking microwafers or discs. Tetras get sinking microwafers and avg. 4-6 "bites" per fish. Yes, I really do sit there and watch/count.

Anything you've already tried?
Other than upping my water changes, I've tried a round of "Al-gone" . I thought is was working, but no dice.

Can you borrow or buy a UV sterilyzer?
That was going to be my next step. I was going to rig a UV steri. to an old HOT Magnum filled with media, carbon and filter floss in an effort to polish and sterilize. I was planning on rotating the Magnum to each of my tanks for 2-3 days each.

IDK.... at least the fish are healthy!

Regards,
-cd

tannins being released by bogwood?