I have a 50-55 gallon tank which has been quite stable for months. recently we did a 1/3 water change, and replaced dying plants with new. Since then the water has turned bright green and won't clear up at all. Can anyone suggest anything. The fish don't seem to mind (it's been 3 weeks) but it looks horrible. it used to be crystal clear.
2007-04-27 06:01:17 · 12 answers · asked by dncingrl 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
If this is a freshwater aquarium, it sounds like you're experiencing an algae bloom. If it's the water itself that's green, chances are you have a free-floating type that just one to a few cells in size.
Two things you can do. The best for your situation would be to do a few more partial water changes in the next few days to reduce the amount of nutrients in your tank. If the algae doesn't have a source of food, it can't grow (this will also mean discontinuing or removing any plant fertilizers for a while!). The second method of control would be to turn off your tank lights. This won't harm your plants for a few days, but the treatment may need to be longer than that. But, since algae are photosynthetic, having light allows them to grow as well.
2007-04-27 06:17:33 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
thats an algae bloom. Do you have the tank in direct sunlight? This can cause this type of bloom. Do water changes weekly at min. Do not leave the light on the tank 24/7 and if it is in direct sunlight do your best to "shade" the tank as direct sunlight will cause this type of bloom. Add an algae eater and water changes are the best and safest way to fix this. It will take a little time but is overall better for the fish than algae treatments. Best of luck to you
2007-04-27 07:00:50 · answer #2 · answered by my3mohrkids 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Copperhead basically answered your question.
I will add a few other possibilities that are often overlooked:
*Nutrients and bio load: to high a bio load and often resulting decomposing mulm in the tank or even a filter (such as a canister filter that is not cleaned frequently) will produce a lot of nitrates and sometimes phosphates.
Over feeding including using poor quality foods that are high in cereals and low in disgestible aquatic food matter such as Spirulina Algae or Whole Fish Meal (not just Fish Meal: big difference).
*Redox Potential: this parameter is alsmost always off in algae outbreaks (especially Cyanobacteria/ Blue Green). This can be corrected by water changes, proper electrolyte levels and UV Sterilization. For more, please read this article:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Redox_Potential.html
*Make sure your circulation is also sufficient (at test of dissolved oxygen at 6-7 ppm will help determine this).
*Darkening the tank can help too, however I prefer to attack the source of the problem first and darkening a tank tends to treat the symptom.
2007-04-27 10:04:45 · answer #3 · answered by Carl Strohmeyer 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all, algaecides are a terrible idea because they'll kill your plants. Algae eaters won't work because they don't eat suspended algae, they only eat surface algae.
Water changes and a few days of darkness combined will help clear it up - darkness might wilt the plants but won't kill them. Make sure the tank isn't getting direct sunlight, and do a fish count to make sure none are dead and rotting, which would cause a fouling of the water.
2007-04-27 06:11:49 · answer #4 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It can either be algae or something in your filter. You have to be careful when changing the water. I had a friend that always changed the water correctly and the last time she changed it ( b/c the water was green) the fish died! so just leeting you know, you have to be careful with these things. Good Luck!
2007-04-27 06:11:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hi!
The best thing for you to do is completely cover your tank with black garbage bags for about four days. During this time, don't feed your fish. They will be fine and eat the algae. Algae needs light, so blackening your tank will deprive the light and it will die off.
2007-04-27 06:50:11 · answer #6 · answered by lornesett 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
get some plikos sucker fishs you can get them at wal-mart as well. Those little buggers are the best at cleaning your tank if its a Salt water tank get a cleaning crab they are just as good as the sucker fish. As for your tank turning green its normal for it to do that fast if you feed them way to much or lack of cleaning (some of us do have lives that make us forget about our fish) So for Fresh water wifh get a sucker fish a pet shop that sells fish will know what you want and they will be small but they get big if the tank is big. Sometimes you have to get them tablets but if your tank is that green then you wont need them for a bit trust me.
2007-04-27 06:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by Arizona Chick 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Add somem algae remover to your tank as directed. You can also get an algae eater.
2007-04-27 12:17:53 · answer #8 · answered by ZooTycoonMaster 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's from the plants, check your filter, make sure that's clean, get algae eatting fish too. All will be fine.
2007-04-27 06:07:25 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
try getting some algey eaters if you have live plants in your tank you should get an under gravel filter.
2007-04-27 06:08:51 · answer #10 · answered by Beth 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋