Water looks horrible - please help...

[heartsx2]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 NO3 at ~15 ppm.

 

[heartsx2]

The lighting is 1.24 wpg.
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]

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]

I would continue performing partial (20-30%) water changes every other day until the green water abates while maintaining NO3 levels at ~15 ppm.

 

[heartsx2]

Thank you very much! Will give it a try!

 

[travis simonson]

Please let us know how it goes

 

[greenmaji]

You might want to test your PO4 and NO3 levels..