i already did water change with chemicals as normal but added glass shrimp been like that since and already changed filters too.
2007-03-16 04:41:05 · 11 answers · asked by tammy h 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Most likely is an algae bloom. Check your ammonia/nitrate/nitrite levels and keep the lights off in the tank.
2007-03-16 04:45:08 · answer #1 · answered by Rob_n_Liz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Green water is the common term for an algae bloom of single cell algae in the water. Algae needs two things to grow in the tank, nutrients and light. Please don;t use algae control chemicals in your tank, these can cause more problems than they cause.
Control the nutrients by doing regular, weekly 25% water changes and using a gravel vacuum when you do to clean the "muck" out of the gravel. Since you have a bloom in progress, go ahead and do a much larger change of 50% or so and really be sure the gravel is very clean.
Fish don't need a tank light in all honesty. Keep the lighting on the tank to a minimum. Only have your lights on when you are there to enjoy the tank and not more than about 10 hours at that. Also make sure the tank is located where it will not get any direct sunlight.
This will not get rid of the algae right away, but it will take care of the problem in a few weeks at most and will keep it away.
MM
2007-03-16 12:04:58 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It turns green due to free floating algae. It is a sign everything is cycled and well. To rid your tank of it you either need to do 50% water changes more often, and it will return. OR you can get a U.V. filter and it will permanantly get rid of it. I don't like to put algae killing chemicals into the tank, I think that should be avoided. Mine turned green 6 months after it was set up and is like pea soup right now. The fish love it but it looks bad. I have tried turning the lights off, feeding less and changing a lot of water but it always comes back. I have heard before that it could be time to replace the lights as they are not as powerful over time. Free floating algae may like that kind of lighting. I'm not too sure. If its been over a year that you've had your florecent lights they may need replacing. Just be happy you have a good system running in your tank. I find the greener the water the lower the nitrates!
2007-03-16 12:04:56 · answer #3 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like an algae bloom.
my tanks get that problem if they're too close to the window (getting alot of sun) or if i'm leaving my planted aquarium
lights on too long. You can also get this problem from over-feeding your fish or giving too many nutrients to your plants, if you have a planted tank, or from not doing as many water changes as you should.
you could get products to try to get rid of it, but figuring out the reasons for the bloom would probably let you avoid it in the future. having those glass shrimp will help too - they love the stuff!
a good natural way to decrease algae is to cover your tank for a few days. really, a few days without light shouldn't bother anyone too much, and the algae won't get enough light to keep with the fast growth you're seeing. also, really reduce the amount of food going into your tank. this will cut off both the nutrient sources and the light sources that your algae needs.
here's a link that gives some info on the topic, as well as treatment suggestions:
http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/cloudy%20water.html
from what i hear, "green" water is a great source of nutrition for baby glass shrimp, so if you have anyone carrying eggs that are about to drop, you might have more shrimp then you bargained for soon.
good luck!
2007-03-16 12:12:33 · answer #4 · answered by scampyfan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
More than likely it's algae. It will take a few water changes to get it gone. Sometimes it takes about an 80% water change. You can try a chemical that will make it clump and go through your filter and it works pretty good, but it all depends on whether or not you believe in using chemicals.
EDIT:
The chemical I use isn't for algae control. It's for any form of cloudy water.
2007-03-16 11:58:22 · answer #5 · answered by Mommy to Boys 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like an algae bloom. They sell products that are safe for fish in any petstore and most grocery stores that will clean it up. Some of the major causes are over feeding (the left over food feeds the algae) and water temperature too high/too much light. You might want to get an algae eater or snails too, they can help.
2007-03-16 11:51:28 · answer #6 · answered by Jensenfan 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sometimes the algae gets embedded in the rocks on the bottom and even the water change is not enuf
2007-03-16 11:46:12 · answer #7 · answered by Jim G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it could just be that its time to clean it and what you do is set out water overnight and then you take a small amout of the water and put the fish and whatnot in it and then you empty the old ater from the tank and wipe the inside with NO soap just tap water and then put the new water in it and put the fish back in it too
2007-03-16 11:48:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
algae, do you have it setting in direct or alot of indirect sunlight? mine does the same thing even though i have shears and no "direct" sunlight comes in.
2007-03-16 12:44:17 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have an alge problem. try washing your rocks with a lite solution of bleech
2007-03-16 11:47:32 · answer #10 · answered by lssiers 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋