I wasnt sure where to post this but for the past 3 weeks ive been have a problem. my water turns green after a few days. the only thing i have changed in my tank are the live plants. I think its from that but I cant imagine that everyone has this problem. if anyone knows how to correct this please let me know. thanx
Water in tank turning greenish after a few days
- Thread starter bella535
- Start date
ahh, algae soup. This is just free floating Euglnoids in the watercolumn. The reason they are so green is that they contain both chlorophyl a and b.
This happens a lot and is normally caused by an imbalance in nutrients. Primarily Nitrogen, Potassium, Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium (dubbed, macro nutrients). There are some quick fixes, but you'd be better off finding out what is causing this and fixing that. I found that my tank was way too high in potassium and it kept causing a green water outbreak. To fix it now there are a few ways:
I wouldn't recommend waterchanges, this will just provide more nutrients for the algae that's free floating in the water.
The blackout method works. Algae is a simple organism and doesn't have any energy reserves, but plants are complex and do. A blackout (5 days, no ambient light whatsoever) will kill the algae and not the plants. The plants however, will look nasty for a week or so.
Diatom Filters: I'm not going to recommend this because it's a pain and expensive. If you want, google it.
UV Sterilizer: Can be expensive, but awesome for taking care of any problem like this. Most people who keep large, high tech systems will have one.
Flocculents: Terrible idea. In theory it causes the algae to clump together so it can get caught in the filter. Will temporarily fix it, but rest assured; it will be back.
Of there's a way that some die hard people use, and I think is awesome. You take some thin willow branches (just large enough to not be green) and submerse them in the water. After a few days they will start making shoots, and a few days later your green water will be gone. Will is such an aggressive consumer of nutrients, that the algae will not be able to compete. Due this though, you should take them out as soon as it's gone. More fast growing plants will help too though.
This happens a lot and is normally caused by an imbalance in nutrients. Primarily Nitrogen, Potassium, Iron, Calcium, and Magnesium (dubbed, macro nutrients). There are some quick fixes, but you'd be better off finding out what is causing this and fixing that. I found that my tank was way too high in potassium and it kept causing a green water outbreak. To fix it now there are a few ways:
I wouldn't recommend waterchanges, this will just provide more nutrients for the algae that's free floating in the water.
The blackout method works. Algae is a simple organism and doesn't have any energy reserves, but plants are complex and do. A blackout (5 days, no ambient light whatsoever) will kill the algae and not the plants. The plants however, will look nasty for a week or so.
Diatom Filters: I'm not going to recommend this because it's a pain and expensive. If you want, google it.
UV Sterilizer: Can be expensive, but awesome for taking care of any problem like this. Most people who keep large, high tech systems will have one.
Flocculents: Terrible idea. In theory it causes the algae to clump together so it can get caught in the filter. Will temporarily fix it, but rest assured; it will be back.
Of there's a way that some die hard people use, and I think is awesome. You take some thin willow branches (just large enough to not be green) and submerse them in the water. After a few days they will start making shoots, and a few days later your green water will be gone. Will is such an aggressive consumer of nutrients, that the algae will not be able to compete. Due this though, you should take them out as soon as it's gone. More fast growing plants will help too though.
You often see green water algae blooms in the spring time for 2 main reasons..
1) Increase in Nutrient level from spring snow melt and run-off in local water sources.
2) Increased amount of Ambient Lighting and photoperiods from longer days.
Combine them, and it fuels algae growth.
1) Increase in Nutrient level from spring snow melt and run-off in local water sources.
2) Increased amount of Ambient Lighting and photoperiods from longer days.
Combine them, and it fuels algae growth.
cassharper;1601803; said:
Wow dude you know your algae! I've never had an algae bloom thank goodness but still interesting info.
While keeping I have experienced most all types of common growing algae, when one comes up... I just learn all I can about it make it go away for good.
Is the tank getting any direct sunlight,? My 180 caught sun in one corner in the afternoon and that caused the greenies, blocked the sun with a piece of newspaper ,problem solved . P O ed the nosey neighbor too lol