greenwater and diatom filters

[marke14]

Hello everyone, first post!

I have a small (20 gal) tank that has been absolutely consumed by protists. I can do a 50% water change, and they repopulate in about a day or so ... it's like I never changed the water!

I have about seven fish, mostly mollies and a couple of guppies (yes, I know this is the "monster fish" forums , with their fry currently sequestered in my QT. The QT is crystal clear; the main tank looks like a duck pond.

My question is: I have ordered a Vortex diatom filter + powder, but I think it won't arrive via mail before Saturday, when I am having a bunch of family and friends over. I'd *love* for this thing to be presentable by then, but I am hesitant to add chemical algicides (for fear of future birth defects in my fry).

I've tried light management/starvation, I do add a little salt, water changes, etc. Nothing helps -- it's cloudy again almost right away, and back to split-pea soup within two days or so.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

-Mark

 

[buddah101]

Is your tank in direct sunlight maybe? I know that the diatom filter will definately clear up your tank but you need to find out exactally what is causing your green water... I know that wasn't much help huh? You will love that diatom filter. After you "load" your diatom filter try some powdered activated carbon in it (after it runs for a little bit) and your water will shine! Good luck!

 

[neoprodigy]

i doubt it you can clear geen water tank that quick!!

i would do a 50% water change... and shut the light down for a week... cut the feeding down to 50% also. if there is sunlight cover the tank up..

 

[buddah101]

Diatom filters will clear up that tank up fast, but not for long.(temporary like) like maybe for a day.
You'd be absolutly right to follow neoprodigy's advice!
Diatom filters clog pretty easily and can't be run full-time, but are a great tool nonetheless. I swear by them. I have a VORTEX D-1 and a DIATOMAGIC which I really enjoy!
I don't really need to use them unless I am removing meds with the activated carbon charge or just want to polish up the tank after a waterchange (to rid the "floaters").
I think most will agree, that while they do their job outstandingly, nothing replaces regular water changes! Here is a pic of that diatomagic for reference.

 

[buddah101]

let us know how you made out ,ok?

 

[guppy]

Adding a uv tube would help but it is just a bandaid.

 

[buddah101]

did ya fix yur green-water yet?

 

[marke14]

Firstly, thanks for the advice to everyone!

You know, I have heard the sunlight / seasonal tilt o' the sun / shading the tank advice from other forums, and have tried that ... including 50 - 80% water changes, feeding reductions, etc.

Currently, I have a bunch of plants that I've recently added in the hopes that they will out-compete the protists in the tank. I also started doing "deep" gravel cleaning in my tank (previously I had only been cleaning the top layer of the gravel w/ a siphon, during water changes) -- I don't have an UG filter in this 20 gal. tank, and I do have a rather deep gravel bed (say, 3 inches / 7.62 centimeters), and it has been removing god-awful clouds of black debris from the bottom of the tank ... I suspect that this may be a cause of the greenwater, in conjucntion with the sunlight from the windwos in the apartment.

 

[marke14]

It was "fixed" for about two days before it began to seriously cloud up again ... haven't tried the Vortex diatom filter yet though.