Green water?

[dralarms]

Ok, next problem with the 55 gal. everything has been fine except the green water. I did a complete water change on wendsday when I got my new gravel, and today Sunday, the water is starting to turn green again. I don't understand, I have an emperor 400 and a penguin 170, both with bio wheels, I do have the green (whatever it's called, starts with a C), in the tank, is it possible I have too much of it? When it gets to high (almost to the top of the tank) I'll cut it bakc and make another bunch and cram it in there also. My 26 gal bow front has 3 bunches of it in it and no green floating stuff. I'm dazed and confused. :? :? :?

 

[dralarms]

To add to my confusion, I used the filters out of the 55 gal to start the 26, took them out of the 55 gal and shook the living daylights out of them into my nice clean (well it was until I did this), tank. I haven't had a problem.

 

[robertmarda]

I've had problems with discolored water caused by algea before. The one I remember distinctly was a 3 gallon tank and no matter how much water I changed it always returned to green.

What I remember from researching the problem for solutions was this: Make sure the tank doesn't receive sun light. You may need to cover the tank with a blanket for a few days and keep the light out so the algea can't grow.

Also high Ammonia can trigger an algea growth so check your ammonia level. If it is high, do a partial water change and don't put food in the tank for a day or two. That should reduce the amount of ammonia produced and give your bio filter time to grow.

 

[Allivymar]

Sounds like an algae bloom. Usually shows up when there is a lot of light (not only tank lights, but room lights and sunlight as well) and extra nutrients in the water.

From the krib faq: "Green water
Green unicellular algae will sometimes reproduce so rapidly that the water will turn green. This is commonly called an "algae bloom" and is usually caused by too much light like direct sunlight.
An algae bloom can be removed by filtering with micron cartridges or diatom filters. UV sterilizers can prevent the bloom in the first place. Green water is very useful in the raising of daphnia and brine shrimp."

Some other suggestions here: http://freshaquarium.about.com/library/series/blalgaegreenwater.htm

 

[dralarms]

Ok, so I throw a blanket on it for a few days? Ok I've done that. If what you say is correct I'm always gonna have problems with this. (it's sitting right in my front door), and every body wants to keep the door open.

 

[robertmarda]

How does the water look now?

If the tank is always getting sun light, I would move it to where it does not get direct sunlight. If the problem is caused in part by extra nutrients in the water (as mentioned by Allivymar) I think adding some live plants to the tank (if you don't already have some) could help to use up those nutrients. This I am not sure of but perhaps someone else knows more about it.

 

[dralarms]

Looks great, Making everyone close the dang door and kept it closed up for 2 days (at least until the grandbaby got here), the first thing she does is check on the fish. She and the cori's sit and stare at each other.

 

[grimlock3000]

With 2x 65 watt bulbs over the 55g, you shouuld really look at getting some live plants in that ASAP. I suspect you will have thgese problems again, since high light and no plants which creates the perfect environment for algae to spread like crazy with any nutrient availible.

 

[dralarms]

I do have plants, I have 2 Banana plants and 4 big bunches of Green Cananwa? I think they count as "plants".

 

[captainGregor]

I personally do not think that you need that much light for that little set of plants you have. Seems like it is enough light to start a little thermo-nuclear chain reaction. With 55G it looks like you have 2.36 watts per gallon and it is good for nicely planted tank. I only have 2 -18 W standard bulbs and my banana plant and anacharis and java fern feel just great.

 

[dralarms]

True I don't "need" that much light. However every bulb I put in the old fixture didn't "shed enough light on the subject" pun intended. I wanted to have my "display tank" as nice as I could. I can get more plants, BUT, my mollies like to chomp off the plants and watch them float around. I had some "sprite" in there and when I tried to rescue it there was just a "nub" left.

 

[captainGregor]

I wish I had your lights but I have spent enough on my tank already and any more expense would mean public execution by stoning.

 

[grimlock3000]

Since the algae needs nutrients to live, you could try doing daily water changes and really cutting back on the feeding. If the algae keeps coming back, that means you still have nutrients floating around. Since you already have plants, more plants would be able to take more algae out of the water.

The more light you have, the more easily the algae can spread using these nutrients availible.

 

[dralarms]

Well, I don't have any alge now, so I'm going to try it with just keeping the door closed and see if it comes back.