I have a 54 corner thats been set up for about a year and a half, and in the past 3 months or so the water has gotten really green. Now before i get replys about it bein an algea blum. I dont belive thats the case... and if it is its tubborn, ive been thru those with other tanks. now for tanks set up 54 corner, Aquaclear 70, H.O.T. magnum canister(rated for a 75gal) aquaclear 70 prefiltered power head. The tank is not near a window. lights normally on for 7-9 hrs a day, the last 3 weeks only when in workin on the tank do i turn the light on. I do my PWCs every other week of about 15-20 percent. after this started i jumped to 15 percent every week, and in the last 3 days ive done 2 40ish percent WCs. Does anybody have an idea of what this is or what to do to fix it(besides an undergravel becasue it has a sand subsrate, udergravel is the only suggestion ive gotten that i havent tried) Any help would be appriciated.
Help sovling a green water problem
- Thread starter bwid713
- Start date
Well the lighting is very long for a non planted tank. How often do you gravel vac? What are your water parameters in the tank and out of the tap? I'd bet your nitrates/nitrites/ammonia or phosphates are very high. 15-20% is not a power water change. Some of my tanks get 50-75% 3 times a week, and I've had tanks that have had a daily 100% water change. It definitely sounds like an algal bloom, posting a pic will help identify it.
the tank is lightly planted(2 ruffle plant clusters, and 2 brazilian sword clusters) i used to have the light on For 11-12 hours a day, cut it back due to an algea bloom before and it was fine for like 8 months(u ised the black out trick and daily 50ish percent changes, but in doin so i lost someof my more sensitive fish). Gravel vac every other week with normal water changes. Results as of last test(thursday morning) Nh3/nh4+ <.25, NO2 .05, PH, 7.4/7.6, Cl2 .05, and i dont have a phosphates test, but i tried a fliter pad ment specifically to remove phosphtes, Ill get a picture up as soon as i locate my camera
stupid suggestion but, have you tried planting some fast growing plants...i know you said its not the lighting but, i would lay blame there first...try some fast growing plants to compete with the bloom (if it is an algae bloom that is)..
what is the lighting,could you use a softer light?
what is the lighting,could you use a softer light?
when i had algae blooms in my tank i brought a chemical called green away from my lfs<it clumps the particals together then easy for filter to suck up and it worked...but long term sulotion i moved tank into dark corner of the room and no probs no what so ever
Like i said the lights in the tank have been OFF for the last 3 weeks, except when im doin tank mantianence, And the lights are standard 20w floursent aquarium lights. Plants arnt my thing i dont want to add more i actually want to remove the ones i have. So i dont want to add more plants. Im Tryin to do this without adding chemicals also. The Tank is in the darkest corner of the room. so i dont belive its gettin to much outside light.
If a 50% waterchange affected your fish, it means that you likely have a lot of buildup. This will cause elevated levels of nitrogen, and phosphorus. Phosphate pads are only good for so much, and then when they get too much detritus on them, start to add to the phosphates. I recommend you do a good gravel cleaning, and then clean the pads in your filter (what kind do you have?) and do several 20% waterchanges throughout the week. Every day to every other day would be my recommendation.