Green Water - Nitrate to blame?

7Matt7 · 11-01-2009, 07:32 PM

I have a 10 gallon tank shrimp that I have been cycling. I woke up this morning to a Green Water Algae Bloom. It is not really bad now. Do they get progressively worse?

It has been finished cycling (fishless) for 3 days, and I have been adding a drop or two of ammonia every day since then. It usually takes 1 day for the ammonia to drop back to zero. Nitrite stays at zero. The nitrates are really high, around 80. I was waiting until right before I got my shrimp to do the large water change.

I read that high nitrates could cause algae blooms. Do you think that is the problem? Should I do the large water change now? And then do another right before I get the shrimp?

Thanks!

Lissette · 11-01-2009, 08:00 PM

I've read that ammonia is one of the causes of green water. The other is too much light for too many hours.

hbosman · 11-01-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissette

I've read that ammonia is one of the causes of green water. The other is too much light for too many hours.

I second this! Since we supplement Nitrate on a regular basis, we would have green water more often if, Nitrate were one of the causes. Since my tank has been established for a long time, the only time I get green water is if I get carried away uprooting to many plants at one time. It would be better to get your Nitrates below 20 ppm though.

IZZIE · 11-01-2009, 09:11 PM

I am wondering about this , as I have a 10 gallon, bare bottom . It has 6 male guppy and 5 small 2" Bn plecos growing out in it. and thats it !! no plants, no substrate, WHY is it green ??? I do water changes every week. It doesnt have too much lighting. And I am adding NO chemicals, other than prime with a 50% w/c . not meaning to hijack here, just trying to help find this source of green water' . Maybye its a cycle of some sort ? I left in the old' sponge filter, and now I dont have UV, so I added a carbon hob to try' and clean up' the green water ? Im not sure what is off with this one tank . I have 12 others, most are planted, and have never had this happen b4 . Anyway , so large water change ?? what do you guys/gals think ? TY ~~ HTH

Lissette · 11-02-2009, 03:41 AM

I've had green water in the past, and it's no joy. I hate not being able to see my fish and plants. I did many water changes, but, unfortunately water changes never worked.

The only thing that worked was a uv. Since then, my water is crystal clear and it cleared up in about 3 days time. Invest in one, it's worth it. You never know when you might need it.

**Crispino Ramos** · 11-02-2009, 04:31 AM

The Marineland HOT is good in filtering green water with its pleated 1 micron filter. It's almost like a water polisher.

7Matt7 · 11-03-2009, 08:19 PM

Thanks all, I was doing a lot of re-planting the day before, I heard that might have something to do with it.

I did about a 90% water change two days ago, and rinsed out the filters with water from my 75 gallon tank. It was a little cloudy after the water change, but not green. Now it looks pretty clear. Do you think this thing will come back?

Fingers crossed.

nillo · 11-11-2009, 01:31 AM

Its the NH4 not the NO3.

11-01-2009, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
7Matt7 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Georgia Posts: 82	Green Water - Nitrate to blame? I have a 10 gallon tank shrimp that I have been cycling. I woke up this morning to a Green Water Algae Bloom. It is not really bad now. Do they get progressively worse? It has been finished cycling (fishless) for 3 days, and I have been adding a drop or two of ammonia every day since then. It usually takes 1 day for the ammonia to drop back to zero. Nitrite stays at zero. The nitrates are really high, around 80. I was waiting until right before I got my shrimp to do the large water change. I read that high nitrates could cause algae blooms. Do you think that is the problem? Should I do the large water change now? And then do another right before I get the shrimp? Thanks!

11-02-2009, 04:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Crispino Ramos Renaissance Man (View User Tanks) PTrader: (66/100%) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 280	The Marineland HOT is good in filtering green water with its pleated 1 micron filter. It's almost like a water polisher. __________________ *"Living here and now is enough." - Eckhart Tolle*

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11-01-2009, 08:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lissette Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: us Posts: 356	I've read that ammonia is one of the causes of green water. The other is too much light for too many hours.

11-01-2009, 09:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
IZZIE Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: S.C. Posts: 24	I am wondering about this , as I have a 10 gallon, bare bottom . It has 6 male guppy and 5 small 2" Bn plecos growing out in it. and thats it !! no plants, no substrate, WHY is it green ??? I do water changes every week. It doesnt have too much lighting. And I am adding NO chemicals, other than prime with a 50% w/c . not meaning to hijack here, just trying to help find this source of green water' . Maybye its a cycle of some sort ? I left in the old' sponge filter, and now I dont have UV, so I added a carbon hob to try' and clean up' the green water ? Im not sure what is off with this one tank . I have 12 others, most are planted, and have never had this happen b4 . Anyway , so large water change ?? what do you guys/gals think ? TY ~~ HTH

11-02-2009, 03:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lissette Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: us Posts: 356	I've had green water in the past, and it's no joy. I hate not being able to see my fish and plants. I did many water changes, but, unfortunately water changes never worked. The only thing that worked was a uv. Since then, my water is crystal clear and it cleared up in about 3 days time. Invest in one, it's worth it. You never know when you might need it.

11-03-2009, 08:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
7Matt7 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Georgia Posts: 82	Thanks all, I was doing a lot of re-planting the day before, I heard that might have something to do with it. I did about a 90% water change two days ago, and rinsed out the filters with water from my 75 gallon tank. It was a little cloudy after the water change, but not green. Now it looks pretty clear. Do you think this thing will come back? Fingers crossed.

11-11-2009, 01:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
nillo Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 10	Its the NH4 not the NO3.

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