Ok i need help.

[JustinKScott]

My tank continuously has a green tinge to it and I'm not sure what to try next.

By green tinge I mean light light green colored clear. And I can only see it strongly looking long ways through the tank.

My tank:
180 gallon
Playsand/ floramax bottom
1liter co2 diy + co2 booster liquid
2 fluval g6
6x54w t5ho
Ammo 0-.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-30
Phos .25
Kh 4
Gh 7
Ph 7.6

My plants are finally growing. They are looking quite strong. But I wouldn't call the tank heavily planted. I have a 2' x 2' section that is "well" (not heavily) planted and that's it.

I always keep the fluvals running @>90%. Haven't cleaned the bio filter in them for 6+mo; haven't replaced in over 1 year. Never run chem filter. I always clean Mech filter twice/wk

Lights are on a timer. 7am-8pm with 2 hour siesta.

I have probably 60 community fish in the tank. Fed once/day 2 oz flakes 1oz crisps. Every so often bloodworms. Fish of note 1discus, 4gouramis, 1 butterfly, 1reedfish, 1 lg lazy common plec, 1 bristlenose, 8 ottos, 6 SAE.

So what's next to try?
More plants?
More co2?
MTS to stir up the sand to release anarobic bacteria?
Less fish? (probably not going to happen)

 

[mfdrookie516]

I'd start with reducing your photoperiod. You're running lights for ~9 hours? I'd go to 7-7.5. I'd also reduce feeding to once every other day. A tank that old should have no ammonia present. How often and much are you changing water? Does the tank get any direct sunlight?

 

[JustinKScott]

No direct sunlight.

Ammo is always closer to 0 than .25; I can't read the test tubes as well as the test strips. But I will pay more attention to it and make it stay at 0.

Photo period; good idea, wouldn't have thought of that. Will do immediately.

 

[waterfaller1]

I always keep the fluvals running @>90%. Haven't cleaned the bio filter in them for 6+mo; haven't replaced in over 1 year.

So what's next to try?

I would start with changing out the fine filter/cleaning any coarse filter in a water change.
A UV sterilizer would eliminate it within a few days.

 

[JustinKScott]

I would start with changing out the fine filter/cleaning any coarse filter in a water change.
A UV sterilizer would eliminate it within a few days.

What do you mean "fine filter": "coarse filter"? I have a mechanical which I clean every few days, and a bio filter which I don't touch.

I've used a UV, but the reasonably priced ones (<$70) don't seem to effect my tank.



---- lighting ----

Can I just extend my siesta? I'd like the like in the morning when I feed them and a few hours at night when I get home. (Which is longer than 10hours apart.)

 

[waterfaller1]

I am sorry, misunderstood. I thought you had fluvals which you had not cleaned.
You might try a UV, it really does clarify water.{edit, oh I see, you have also tried one-perhaps saving for a better one?}
Have you tried carbon in a mesh bag? Just trying to toss some ideas around. There has to be a way to fix the problem.

 

[JustinKScott]

Have you tried carbon in a mesh bag?

I tried standard carbon a while back; I could try it again.

I tried biozorb (I think that's the name, they have several with similar names). Did effect anything.

. There has to be a way to fix the problem.

God I hope so. I honestly think it is some balance between plants and lights. Was really hoping the plants would take over and beat up the algae.

Which makes me think I have either too much light or not enough plants.

 

[waterfaller1]

Some more thoughts-Is the tank fairly new IE: could the bulbs be due for replacement?
How often do you do water changes, and at what volume?
You may want to increase their size or frequency. At the least a nice large one or two back to back. Followed by three days of no lights might reset the balance.