Water looks horrible - please help... - Aquarium Advice

heartsx2 · 09-05-2005, 04:41 PM

I don't know what to do about this cloudy water. Tank has been setup for 1 month. I did a 20% water change 2 weeks ago (which I later read I probably shouldn't have). I originally had lights on for 12 hours and I've reduced to 10 hours for the last couple weeks. I thought it would clear up over time but it's been a couple weeks now and it continues to get worse. Below are water parameters. What should I do?? Thanks for your help!

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - almost 0
pH - 8.2
dGH - 28
dKH - 16

29 gallon
Coralife F/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-30"
Magnum 350

rich311k · 09-05-2005, 04:46 PM

I think you need to add nitrogen fertilizer. Looks like green water to me. Mine started to go away as soon as I started to dose nitrtaes.

rubysoho · 09-05-2005, 04:47 PM

nice looking tank.

My only advice would be to keep up with those water changes. try 20% every couple of days for the next week and a half. Hopefully someone will come by with better advice.

pretty tank and fish!

rich311k · 09-05-2005, 05:33 PM

How many watts of light do you have? I am guesing 40 watts if it is the same as the double light I had.

travis simonson · 09-05-2005, 05:38 PM

I think Rich is correct - it looks like green water, basically an algae bloom. When nitrates bottom out in a well-lit planted tank you can get algae blooms.
I also agree with rubysoho, partial water changes can help remedy the green water problem. Follow Rich's advice and supplement with a nitrogen fertilizer after performing a partial (20-30%) water change. Ideally you should maintain [acronym:9d14c3a38b="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:9d14c3a38b] at ~15 [acronym:9d14c3a38b="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:9d14c3a38b].

heartsx2 · 09-05-2005, 05:56 PM

The lighting is 1.24 [acronym:8d2aa148c5="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym:8d2aa148c5].
I also have been adding Seachem Flourish once or twice a week.

So to fix this, I should do a partial water change followed by a dose of (lets say Seachem Flourish Nitrogen)? And then continue to do this how often (how many days in-between)?

rich311k · 09-05-2005, 05:59 PM

Sounds like you have the plan down. I treat twice a week to keep the Nitrates at 15. You will have to test and experiment to get the right dosing schedule for you.

travis simonson · 09-05-2005, 05:59 PM

I would continue performing partial (20-30%) water changes every other day until the green water abates while maintaining [acronym:123e094d2f="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:123e094d2f] levels at ~15 [acronym:123e094d2f="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:123e094d2f].

heartsx2 · 09-05-2005, 06:04 PM

Thank you very much! Will give it a try!

travis simonson · 09-05-2005, 08:48 PM

Please let us know how it goes

09-05-2005, 04:41 PM	#1
heartsx2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 52	Water looks horrible - please help... I don't know what to do about this cloudy water. Tank has been setup for 1 month. I did a 20% water change 2 weeks ago (which I later read I probably shouldn't have). I originally had lights on for 12 hours and I've reduced to 10 hours for the last couple weeks. I thought it would clear up over time but it's been a couple weeks now and it continues to get worse. Below are water parameters. What should I do?? Thanks for your help! Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - almost 0 pH - 8.2 dGH - 28 dKH - 16 29 gallon Coralife F/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-30" Magnum 350

09-05-2005, 05:38 PM	#5
travis simonson Hortipath Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,038 Images: 32	I think Rich is correct - it looks like green water, basically an algae bloom. When nitrates bottom out in a well-lit planted tank you can get algae blooms. I also agree with rubysoho, partial water changes can help remedy the green water problem. Follow Rich's advice and supplement with a nitrogen fertilizer after performing a partial (20-30%) water change. Ideally you should maintain [acronym:9d14c3a38b="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:9d14c3a38b] at ~15 [acronym:9d14c3a38b="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:9d14c3a38b]. __________________ “There is something in the quality of a good translation that can never be captured in the original.” -William Gibson

09-05-2005, 05:59 PM	#8
travis simonson Hortipath Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,038 Images: 32	I would continue performing partial (20-30%) water changes every other day until the green water abates while maintaining [acronym:123e094d2f="Nitrate"]NO3[/acronym:123e094d2f] levels at ~15 [acronym:123e094d2f="Parts per Million"]ppm[/acronym:123e094d2f]. __________________ “There is something in the quality of a good translation that can never be captured in the original.” -William Gibson

09-05-2005, 08:48 PM	#10
travis simonson Hortipath Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,038 Images: 32	Please let us know how it goes __________________ “There is something in the quality of a good translation that can never be captured in the original.” -William Gibson

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09-05-2005, 04:46 PM	#2
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	I think you need to add nitrogen fertilizer. Looks like green water to me. Mine started to go away as soon as I started to dose nitrtaes.

09-05-2005, 04:47 PM	#3
rubysoho Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,539 Images: 3	nice looking tank. My only advice would be to keep up with those water changes. try 20% every couple of days for the next week and a half. Hopefully someone will come by with better advice. pretty tank and fish!

09-05-2005, 05:33 PM	#4
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	How many watts of light do you have? I am guesing 40 watts if it is the same as the double light I had.

09-05-2005, 05:56 PM	#6
heartsx2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 52	The lighting is 1.24 [acronym:8d2aa148c5="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym:8d2aa148c5]. I also have been adding Seachem Flourish once or twice a week. So to fix this, I should do a partial water change followed by a dose of (lets say Seachem Flourish Nitrogen)? And then continue to do this how often (how many days in-between)?

09-05-2005, 06:04 PM	#9
heartsx2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 52	Thank you very much! Will give it a try!

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