MOUNTAIN DEW_PEA SOUP

[Bill Martin]

55 gal, 80 watts, temp. 76, PH 7.5, nitrates near 0:2 1/2" substrate.
This is my first attempt with a planted tank. It is sparsley planted with 5-6 fish.
Started off nicely, pearled, and was clear.
Now has tuened green like pea-soup.
Tryed several water changes, to no avail. Same results within 2 days.
Currently feeding litely once a day, and no additives for plants; and they seem healthy.

Would like advice on clearing up the water, and what tests to do regularly, and what action to take when readings are not normal.
Is there a "low-maintenance" procedure?
All suggestions will be considered, and appreciated.
Bill

 

[Anemoneman]

Sounds like a nutrient overload is causing an algae bloom. I would add more plants and keep up with the water changes to help export the nutrients. Maybe some floss in the filter temporarily to remove suspended algae?

Mark

 

[Guest]

Yes, More Plants!!! Everything I've read says plant heavy from the outset. Especially fine-leaved plants like hornwort, they'll supposedly suck up the nutrients from the water column faster.

 

[Bill Martin]

Thanks for thr responses. I will take your advice, and let you know in a week or so what progress is made.
Bill

 

[nikki]

algae

you can also add a few ancistrus, they love algae and they eat them all day long.

 

[Bill Martin]

Thankyou everyone for your help. Changed the water and added more plants.
Lo and behold we have a clear tank.
Oh, i almost forgot; changed lighting from 12 hours to 10.
Thanks again everyone.
Bill

 

[Guest]

I think the light thing was crucial, as I got greenwater shortly after you started this thread. I did 5 days of total darkness, then went to 10 hour light days, my water is crystal. Glad you solved yours too.

 

[lunker]

Good move on the lighting, I had some problems with algae and reduced lighting to 8Hrs/day with 2 hrs at max wattage 390 watts of power compacts. Helped a great deal. I have never had the green soup algae and I think it is due to the use of a UV sterilizer. Water passes by UV light and disrupts DNA of single celled organisms. I think it's worth the investment to reduce algae and parasite problems.

Get a fast growing plant(water sprite, watter lettuce, or similar) as they will assimilate nutrients much faster, competeing with the algae. Continue to add other slow growing plants slowly and gradually cut back fast growing plants as they will try to take over the tank. Do NOT remove too much of a fast growing plant at one time like I did. I let my water sprite take over and removed almost all of it a once and had algae problems in about two days. I

If you can get the book "Ecology of the planted tank" by Diana Walstad. It has a lot of research based imformation on planted tanks and relationships of various factors and how they affect the planted aquarium. I wish I had bought ot before I started planted aquariums.

Good luck