Concerning blackouts for GW

EJSwanny · 12-11-2002, 07:31 PM

Is it necessary to completely cover the aquarium or would it be Ok to just not turn on the light for a few days or more. I'm just a lil hesitant to completely deprive my fish and plants of light for that long. It would kinda stress me out to be in the dark that long

cramramdon · 12-12-2002, 06:05 AM

How many days are we talkin? And have you considered getting a timer for your lights? Timers are very inexpensive and wonderful little gadgets!! Also I don't think it would do any harm to leave the lights off in your tank as long as its not for a long period of time. I know that fish probably prefer it. I have a few rearing tanks for my cichlids that don't have any lights at all, just indirect light from wherever it comes. I've taken all my plants out of a planted tank set-up and left them in a dark bucket for about a week and they were fine when I replanted them.

EJSwanny · 12-12-2002, 10:13 PM

I had read about using complete blackouts to get rid of green water and saw most say to do it for 3-4 days. I am instead just limiting my light for 2-3 hours a day for a while to see if that helps. Already today is is much better.

Steve Hampton · 12-13-2002, 04:44 AM

For the blackout to work all light must be removed for 3-4 days. This means covering the tank with heavy blankets or black plastic. Diatom filter is a much better choice for eliminating GW. If you don't have a Diatom filter, many LFS will rent them or let you borrow one. If that's not an option then go with the blackout. If done correctly and with patience it is usually successful.

corvus · 12-23-2002, 04:55 PM

New guy here.

I had GW bad when I first started my 90 gal. plant tank. (10 weeks ago)

I did a 5 day blackout, no lights, covered tank with dark blanket. It worked like a charm, and I lost no fish or plants. A bunch of stem plants got really long and weak looking like they were stretching out to find some light.

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 02-24-2003, 02:27 PM

3-4 DAYS?!!! Oh man, I am at wits end, worrying about my green water. My fish seem stressed and the plants look terrible. I blacked out my tank Saturday morning and the green water is still there. Another 2 days?? This is killing me.

I will NEVER EVER do drastic changes in my tank again. This is key, guys - make slow changes. I trimmed back way too many plants, uprooted and disturbed the substrate, cleaned out my filter, and this isn't a new tank syndrom thing. This tank has been running flawlessly for THREE years.

Be careful!!

corvus · 02-25-2003, 06:53 PM

GulfCoast, I think you just saved me from some sort of mess. I have aquascaping that really needs to be done (who do these plants think they are, not growing the way I expected!). I was going to do it all at once, but now I'm reading this, will be careful to do it a bit at a time.

THANK YOU!!!

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 02-26-2003, 02:16 PM

I've made a rule for myself to never bother more than 1/3 of the plants at one time and wait 24 hours before attending the next 1/3 section. I removed the blackout last evening and things are looking better. Plants sure do look funky, though!

12-12-2002, 06:05 AM	#2
cramramdon Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 48	How many days are we talkin? And have you considered getting a timer for your lights? Timers are very inexpensive and wonderful little gadgets!! Also I don't think it would do any harm to leave the lights off in your tank as long as its not for a long period of time. I know that fish probably prefer it. I have a few rearing tanks for my cichlids that don't have any lights at all, just indirect light from wherever it comes. I've taken all my plants out of a planted tank set-up and left them in a dark bucket for about a week and they were fine when I replanted them. __________________ can your conscience bear the strain of all the pain that makes your food

02-24-2003, 02:27 PM	#6
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	3-4 DAYS?!!! Oh man, I am at wits end, worrying about my green water. My fish seem stressed and the plants look terrible. I blacked out my tank Saturday morning and the green water is still there. Another 2 days?? This is killing me. I will NEVER EVER do drastic changes in my tank again. This is key, guys - make slow changes. I trimmed back way too many plants, uprooted and disturbed the substrate, cleaned out my filter, and this isn't a new tank syndrom thing. This tank has been running flawlessly for THREE years. Be careful!! __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

02-25-2003, 06:53 PM	#7
corvus Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 150	GulfCoast, I think you just saved me from some sort of mess. I have aquascaping that really needs to be done (who do these plants think they are, not growing the way I expected!). I was going to do it all at once, but now I'm reading this, will be careful to do it a bit at a time. THANK YOU!!! __________________ 90 gallon, flourite, HP Co2, jobes sticks, Leaf Zone. 440 watts VHO lighting, home built canopy.

02-26-2003, 02:16 PM	#8
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	I've made a rule for myself to never bother more than 1/3 of the plants at one time and wait 24 hours before attending the next 1/3 section. I removed the blackout last evening and things are looking better. Plants sure do look funky, though! __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

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12-11-2002, 07:31 PM	#1
EJSwanny Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicago land Posts: 23	Is it necessary to completely cover the aquarium or would it be Ok to just not turn on the light for a few days or more. I'm just a lil hesitant to completely deprive my fish and plants of light for that long. It would kinda stress me out to be in the dark that long

12-12-2002, 10:13 PM	#3
EJSwanny Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicago land Posts: 23	I had read about using complete blackouts to get rid of green water and saw most say to do it for 3-4 days. I am instead just limiting my light for 2-3 hours a day for a while to see if that helps. Already today is is much better.

12-13-2002, 04:44 AM	#4
Steve Hampton Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL Posts: 160	For the blackout to work all light must be removed for 3-4 days. This means covering the tank with heavy blankets or black plastic. Diatom filter is a much better choice for eliminating GW. If you don't have a Diatom filter, many LFS will rent them or let you borrow one. If that's not an option then go with the blackout. If done correctly and with patience it is usually successful.

12-23-2002, 04:55 PM	#5
corvus Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 150	New guy here. I had GW bad when I first started my 90 gal. plant tank. (10 weeks ago) I did a 5 day blackout, no lights, covered tank with dark blanket. It worked like a charm, and I lost no fish or plants. A bunch of stem plants got really long and weak looking like they were stretching out to find some light.