Bare bottom

[New2plants]

Hey guys,
I recently mad my tank bare bottom with potted plants, again. I finished two days ago and all I have are a few potted swords with flourish tabs in the pot, flourite in the pot and I use flourish iron once a week after my 40% Sunday water changes. The water, as of two days ago, is 100% new with my filter still having the bacteria out of the old water. I am starting to see a green tint to my water. I cant feed less bc I am raising a few discus and they require a lot of feedings. What could be causing it and how do I fix it?

[lauraleellbp]

Don't leave your lights on so long (you might try a complete blackout for 4 days or so if the water gets really bad), and a UV sterilizer will keep the problem from coming back... you could also try some of Seachem's chemical media products in your filter.

What are your water params?

[New2plants]

I will test the water in a few, would making the lights go for a four hour cycle then an hour off and another four hour cycle work?

[lauraleellbp]

I don't know that would make any difference- if you're at 8hrs/day now, try reducing to 6 hrs? Or unscrew one bulb if you have 2 bulbs?

[New2plants]

I have a coralife and I only run 1 bulb at a time. They are 96 watts a piece. I run it from 9-5. When I do water changes, I began using a bacteria supplement, just recently b4 the problem started. Would that have anything to do with it?

[lauraleellbp]

Well, any change is suspect- though that would seem counter-intuitive to me? What bacteria supplement are you using?

96watts over how many gallons? AHSupply fixture?

[New2plants]

It is a 29 gallon and the bacteria supplement is the cheap top fin. I also stopped using my pH buffer not too long ago, although I doubt that has anything to do with it. I know its not the light because I have had the light for a while and never had GW.

[lauraleellbp]

I've never heard of the top fin bacteria supplement. Is it supposed to be adding live bacteria? From what I've been reading I'm starting to have serious doubts about all claims that products add live bacteria... if that's the only change you've made, I would discontinue it, do some serious water changes and reduce the hours of lighting, and see what happens?

[New2plants]

Ok, about the reduce in light hours, wont that also be bad for the plants? I am going to try the water change and use the pH buffer not the bacteria and see what happens. Would better water movement help?
The bottle says it introduces beneficial bacteria.

[lauraleellbp]

I doubt it- you've got some heavy duty lighting. You can always reduce it just long enough to get rid of all the green water and then try cranking it back up again once you're sure it's all gone, if your plants seem to be suffering.

[New2plants]

water movement? Your answering too fast! lol its ok though

[lauraleellbp]

oops sorry- I was answering your lighting question.

I doubt that increasing your water movement will help, unless your movement is super-slow or you have dead spots.

What was the reason you were wanting to add bacteria?

[New2plants]

I started using it because I messed up bad and restarted the nitrogen cycle again so I used it to speed that up. I dont know why I keep using it. The tank has 100% new water thats two days old and already is a little green. Something has to be throwing it quick. Maybe the flourish iron,? I have been using that for a lil bit now.

[lauraleellbp]

Are you sure this is an algae problem and not a bacteria bloom? What are your water parameters?

[New2plants]

The water has a green tint to it so I assume it is an algae problem.
The only tests I was told to buy are nitrite and pH
Nitrite 0 pH6.6
How can I tell if it is algae or bacteria?