help with green water in the fish tank?

Question

so i have really murky dark green water. So i am thinking it is that algae water. I have heard of this product called AlGone. Does it work? How do you use it? I have heard you just stick it in your tank underwater, do you need to remove your filter or anything. and how long does it take?

the only problem is my tank is a planted tank. So if i turn the lights off all day then everything dies. I have co2 as well. I have cut back on my feeding a little bit to help with that. And i did water changes but that did not seem to workl

Answer 1

I have never used algone so I can't speak to it's quality or anything, but I have dealt with greenwater before and have tried various products to clear the water. I would sugegst you NOT use products to try to clear the water, they usually only end up making things worse on your tank. You need to control the green water by controlling the cause. The green water is just aglea, all it needs to grow is light and nutrients from the water and gravel. Do several larger water changes (about 50%) a few days apart and be sure to clean the gravel well as you go with a gravel siphon. This will reduce the nutrients in the water. Wash off or replace your filter cartridge as well. Keep the tank lights off unless you are there looking at the tank. The fish don't really need the light, it's more for you than anything else. DOn;t allow direct sunlight to shine on the tank. If it is, move the tank or bloack the area the light hits with a piece of heavy paper. Light colored opaper is better than dark so that it won't heat up the tank. This won't get rid of the green water over night,but it will clear it up and in a way that's safer for your fish. Doing regular weekly water changes of about 25% while cleaning the gravel will go a long way towards preventing this from coming back.

MM

Answer 2

I don't like dumping chemicals if I don't absolutely have to. It's a temporary fix at best, and doesn't solve the reason the algae are multiplying that fast in the first place. Before you try the chemical route, continue feeding less, but try upping your water changes - either more frequent or more volume (or both). The algae still needs nutrients to feed on, so by cutting off the food supply, you should reduce the algae a little more. You might want to cut back the CO2 for now as well.

Light is the best cure, but this will be a problem for you with the plants in the tank.

If you don't have success with the water changes, I'd try Algae Destroyer before AlGone. People that I know who have tried both seem to like the Algae Destroyer better (claim it does a better job), but these were mostly cases of attached, rather than free-floating forms. I've never used either product, and try not to go that route - I prefer light and nutrient management.

Answer 3

Chemicals are a waste of money, honestly. Green water is basically a free floating, one celled algae, which does not hurt the fish in the least, but does make the tank less attractive to look at.

First step is to determine the cause of the algae. Most times its one of two things...or a combination. Excess nutrients, and/or excess lighting.

Excess nutrients stems from several things like overfeeding and overstocking. Checking the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in the water is a good first step in determining whether you have excess nutrients, and should be a cornerstone in any good fishtank maintenance program. If you find that you do have an abundant amount of these things in your water, do 25-40% water changes once every 3 or 4 days until they are under control. Cut down on the amount you are feeding the fish, and make sure your tank is not overpopulated.

Second, lighting. Make sure your tank is not by any windows, and only keep the hood light on 6-8 hours a day, no more. Fish are also perfectly fine without the light on at all, so until you get the problem under control you can keep the light off, or even put a blanket over the tank to help kill off the algae.

Once it is under control, keep up the tank maintenance with weekly 20-25% water changes, and keep checking the chemical levels in your tank so if the problem arises again, you can catch and fix it quickly before it gets out of hand.


Good luck!

Answer 4

I would suggest you do an overhaul and clean the tank and any plastic plants you may have in it. You should also replace the gravel. There are several products to prevent algae. Most of them are effective. You may also consider an algae eater (provided your fish can be among other fish). They are really good at keeping algae away and they're pretty cool to watch too!

Answer 5

Algone will likely harm your plants. Things to consider.

1)Check your nitrate levels.
2)Are you over feeding. (If your fish eat for more a couple of minutes it's to much.)
3)Does your fertilizer contain phophates?

PS- Assuming you've got the nitrate levels, and feeding under control it's harmless.

Answer 6

Best way 1) clean and replant your tank
2nd way 2) get an algae-eating fish (sucker fish)

...in all cases, more chemicals are the last and worst way of dealing with nature.

Answer 7

i have tried algone and it didnt really work for me,but i wasnt taking other measures to stop algea growth too much sunlight,tank light ,over feeding etc...be careful if you use other algea removers algea destroyer example..to much will fry fish

Answer 8

Try frequent water changes ..

Answer 9

instead of using a chemical to remove the algea, try purchasing a couple of "sucker fish", they clean your tank and always have plenty to eat.

Answer 10

Yeah, you better get an algaecide ( however you spell it ) b4 yer fish die